Dr Joseph Wiemels, University of California, San Francisco

An inexplicable outbreak of leukaemia occurred in Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada between 1997 and 2002. 16 children were diagnosed, of which three have died. Coincidence was ruled out on the basis that this kind of cluster could occur by chance alone in the USA once every 22,000 years.

Despite investigative efforts performed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other research groups, the distinct causative factor(s) of this cluster remain unidentified.

Dr Wiemels and colleagues will examine various biological and environmental factors that may be related to this cluster.

We are funding their investigations into Electromagnetic Fields (also known as Electric and Magnetic Fields) in Fallon.
Specifically, this includes:

• Exploring the potential role of Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) derived from home wiring, appliances, radio transmitters, and radar and other electronic aircraft emissions from the local US Naval Air Station.
• Electromagnetic Fields will be assessed at various locations within the homes of cases and within the town.
• In addition, EMF readings will be recorded during seasonal rain events. Dr Wiemels believes certain weather conditions can magnify EMFs. During periods of heavy rain, the ground becomes highly conductive. Electromagnetic Field exposure from the 0.5 million Watt LORAN transmitter in Fallon will be measured.

When it rains , the whole basin where Fallon is located becomes a transmitter for LORAN.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has provided funding for the other three project aims which are:

• to determine whether the leukaemia cells harbour a common viral or chemical signature. Biological samples will be collected from each case hospital for genetic testing, including viral RNA micro array analysis and mutation screening;
• to examine the concurrence of mortality and morbidity statistics to the leukaemia cluster using Nevada-based disease registries. The Nevada cancer registry data will be used to determine other space-time cancer clustering events in the town and to examine the timing of sentinel health-related incidence data concurrent with the leukaemia cluster;
• to create a preliminary assessment of the spatial characteristics of potential causative factors in relation to the leukaemia cases, and in comparison to demographically similar towns in Nevada. Existing data from jet fuel spills, arsenic concentrations, well levels, tungsten and cobalt and other factors will be examined according to cancer case distribution.

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