David Cassuto (x post from Animal Blawg)
Thirty-some years ago, researchers attempting to determine if tobacco smoke was toxic put mice in boxes filled with smoke. The mice didn’t develop cancer at the rate human smokers did. One could conclude that tobacco was not a carcinogen but, of course, that would be wrong. The problem lay with the experiment, including the fact that mouse and human physiology are vastly different.
Fast forward to the present where researchers are attempting to determine if cell phone use causes cancer in humans. Building on the knowledge gained over the last three decades of rigorous scientific method, researchers have elected to study the question by — wait for it; wait for it — putting mice in boxes. Is it because they will learn anything of value regarding cancer, cell phones and humans? Not hardly. They will, however, get $25 million in funding from the NIH.
“There really are no alternatives to animal studies,” says John R. Bucher, associate director of the National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. As coincidence would have it, Mr. Bucher’s division is in charge of the study. Henry C. Lai, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington, disagrees. He has already found compelling evidence that the electromagnetic radiation from cellphones damages human and animal cells on the molecular level. Professor Lai wonders why it makes sense to experiment on animals that live only a few years in order to to predict cancers that may take decades to develop in people. “Ten years, 30 years, for brain cancer, is not unusual,” he says.
Clearly, Professor Lai is unhinged. It must make sense or we wouldn’t continue to throw government money at people who do it. Right? Right? of course it is.
h/t: Chron of Higher Ed (pay site)
Update: If you’re interested in the cell phone cancer nexus, check out Devra Davis‘ new book: Disconnect. It will chill your blains. Read more about it here.