A scientist who attempted to scare the pants off the population has been admonished for discarding 93% of the data that didn't agree with his premise. In proving (to his satisfaction) that electromagnetic radiation from high voltage power lines was harmful, he published "his" results. When confronted with problems in his data, he, in a round-about way, admitted that he had selected the data, but refused to withdraw the paper, retract the data or alter conclusions based on the bias.
Shamefully, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science said that the issue is still unresolved, since it could be true that electromagnetic radiation is harmful. The Agency has said that invisible fields created by power lines "cannot be recognized as entirely safe", although some twenty studies have failed to confirm the premise. This makes them even more guilty of fraud than the scientist. They are awaiting data to prove the point, and until the data appears, they refuse to concede. That's bureaucracy at its worst, and they don't even have to run experiments!
August 13, 1999
I have been reluctant to offer up names when there is a controversy brewing, but the author of the above studies is recalcitrant. In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, on Friday the 13th, 1999, Robert P. Liburdy beats a dead horse.
In his letter entitled, The Truth About My Cancer Studies, he says; "A July 27 editorial-page article by Elizabeth Whelan (Regulatory Power is the Dangerous Kind') discusses allegations of misconduct against me. It and earlier erroneous news reports alleged that my research linked "cancer" to "electricity" and supported the claim that "electromagnetic fields near power lines cause cancer." Some journalist also reported that I was alleged to have "systematically distorted data" and engaged in "falsifications of data."
Independent scientist who have reviewed the facts do not agree with these charges. ...."
Now fair reader, interpret the statement: "...erroneous news reports alleged that my research linked "cancer" to "electricity" and supported the claim that "electromagnetic fields near power lines cause cancer." What is alleged? Didn't Dr. Liburdy allege the relationship between electricity and cancer? Didn't he make the claim, "electromagnetic fields near power lines cause cancer."(?) The so called news reports (of which the journal, Science, is one) made none of the allegations, no they were questioning Dr. Liburdy's interpretation of his own data and his allegations!
Unfortunately Dr. Liburdy who by the way isn't sure what he is studying, i.e., his studies are not cancer studies, they are electromagnetic radiation studies. His interpretation of the effects is that there may be a relationship to incidence of cancer, so the good doctor is either data dredging to support a conviction, or he is making measurements of electromagnetic radiation. Which is it? We are left to draw our own conclusions. However, when he spins a tale of electromagnetic radiation blocking the action of melatonin (the stuff that stands between you and the sun giving you a nice tan) or tamoxifen (a chemical effective some kinds of breast cancer, which is extracted from the juice squeezed from a particular variety of evergreen, or more recently synthesized) we must wonder if his field of specialization is in the area of these two substances?
Well ,no, is the answer that must be given.
To bring up the unrelated subject of possible use of tamoxifen as a prophylactic to reduce incidence in "high-risk" women, is just another diversionary tactic used by Dr. Liburdy to avoid the obvious. He will not admit that he attempted to deceived the Scientific Community, was caught and is now seeking wiggle room to escape the obvious, irreparable harm to his name.
Saying your sorry has been used more than once recently to avoid admission of guilt. Worse yet is what has been taught; when caught, change the subject. Or better yet, blame the accusers for having caught you in your own web. Shame!!!!
Dr. Robert P. Liburdy should be in politics not the laboratory; politicians distorting information to serve the cause of the moment is to be expected.
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