[CPEO-MEF] Scientists say tungsten a promising clue to leukemia cluster

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Nevada
Scientists say tungsten a promising clue to leukemia cluster
Frank X. Mullen Jr.
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
2/6/2003 11:24 pm

FALLON — Federal scientists said Thursday that tests on 205 residents
suggest no links between environmental pollution and the town’s leukemia
cluster but have revealed tungsten as the most promising clue.

Bolstering previous warnings about known, high levels of arsenic in the
water, the researchers urged Fallon residents to drink bottled water
instead of tap water to minimize their exposure to tungsten and arsenic.
The town is building a treatment plant that will filter out arsenic from
water, but so far has no plans to remove the tungsten.

They said tungsten — found in high levels in the urine of study
participants and in the town’s drinking water — could be critical to
solving the epidemic, which has sickened 16 children and killed three
since 1997.

The biological tests also revealed elevated levels of seven other metals
and some pesticides in the study participants, but the scientists said
none of the other contaminants — including arsenic — has been associated
with leukemia.

The federal investigation did not indicate why Fallon residents carry
such high amounts of tungsten. Officials said naturally occurring
tungsten probably accounts for the high levels but they could not rule
out an industrial source.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.rgj.com//news/stories/html/2003/02/06/33913.php

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~