Database

Acoustic neuroma (AN) incidence has increased very significantly in the past decade; this paper explores some of the possible risk factors. Evidence from: ML Schoemaker et al. Int. J. Cancer (2006) Vol. 120 p 103–110 “Medical history, cigarette smoking and risk of acoustic neuroma: An international case-control study” Epilepsy, smoking and parity should be assessed in any future research into causes of AN. Further detail: 6#9-10 20

The answer seems to rely on whether or not there is evidence that fast food is inherently defective and whether or not the Big Food companies know it. The assertion is that it is not inherently defective and guilty knowledge would only be determined if a case went as far as the Discovery procedure. Evidence from: LS Pinchuk. Law.Com 28th Feb 2007 “Are Fast Food Lawsuits Likely to Be the Next ‘Big Tobacco’?” There is, apparently, no evidence that fast food is inherently defective. Further detail: 6#9-10 19

The statistical links between allergies and specific cancers continue to be reinforced and this paper finds that risk of glioma is reduced in those with a history of allergy. The lack of variation of protection with cancer type leads us to the tentative view that there would be unlikely to be an effect [protective or aggravating] of occupationally acquired allergy in the absence of atopy. Evidence from: MJ Schoemaker et al. Int. J. Cancer (2006) Vol.119 p 2165–2172 “History of allergies and risk of glioma in adults” It is tempting to propose that allergies have the effect of increasing the ability of the immune system to recognise, and eliminate, brain tumours. Further detail: 6#9-10 18

A link between emf exposure and poor prognosis for those with leukaemia has been proposed. This research sought evidence of associations between exposure and the recognised causes of poor prognosis and found none. Evidence from: DE Foliart et al. Bioelectromagnetics (2007) Vol. 28 p 69 – 71 “Magnetic Field Exposure and Prognostic Factors in Childhood Leukaemia” Lack of identifiable mechanism for a less good prognosis doesn’t mean there is no causal link. Further detail: 6#9-10 17

The case examined whether or not there was a duty of care to protect employees from exposure to noise of less than 90 dB(A) intensity. It concluded that in general 90 dB(A) was an acceptable threshold from 1963 up until 1987 when the case for an 85 dB(A) action level was first consulted on in public. It also established a method for determining noise induced hearing loss when loss was small and rejected a duty of care based on the prevention of harm when that harm could not be identified in an individual case. Harm from exposures at 85 dB(A) was probably undetectable. Evidence from: Parkes v Meridian Ltd [2007] EWHC B1 (QB) 14th Feb 2007. in an area where the hearing loss to be expected can be regarded as marginal, or minimal, or so small as not to be identifiable in individuals but only in a statistical sense there could in my view be no liability at common law for breach of duty in exposing employees at such levels. Degree of risk remains a valid test of the standard applied to the d

Early theories about the toxicity of nanoparticles include dependency on surface area, particle size and surface activity. In this case, surface activity [a measure of the ionic state of the surface] was the key variable in relation to lung inflammation. Evidence from: DB Warheit et al. Toxicological Sciences (2007) Vol. 95(1) p 270 – 280 “Pulmonary Bioassay Studies with Nanoscale and Fine-Quartz Particles in Rats: Toxicity is Not Dependent upon Particle Size but on Surface Characteristics” Surface activity can be measured in a standard way, but guidance as to safe or unsafe levels is not available. Further detail: 6#9-10 15