Tungsten and Cobalt in Fallon, Nevada: Association with Childhood Leukemia
Author Information
Author(s): John E. Schell, Michael Pardus
Hypothesis
Is there a causal link between elevated levels of tungsten and cobalt and the incidence of childhood leukemia in Fallon, Nevada?
Conclusion
The data indicate that the increase in tungsten levels occurred after the onset of childhood leukemia cases, suggesting no causal link.
Supporting Evidence
- The increase in tungsten levels in Fallon occurred after the majority of leukemia cases were diagnosed.
- Comparisons between tree species may not accurately reflect environmental tungsten levels.
- Data from the original study did not include error bars or standard deviations.
Takeaway
The study looked at tungsten levels in trees in Fallon, Nevada, and found that higher levels came after many leukemia cases were already diagnosed, so they probably aren't related.
Methodology
The study involved dendrochemistry (tree ring) analysis to assess tungsten levels over time.
Potential Biases
The comparison of different tree species and environments may introduce bias in interpreting tungsten levels.
Limitations
The original study did not provide actual data or error bars, making it difficult to fully assess the findings.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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