x-ray dj

The Cathode Ray Tube site, old electronic glassware.

2008-04-28T14:29:00.000-05:00

The Cathode Ray Tube site, old electronic glassware.

This is a really great web site with some beautiful images of some antique scientific equipment. Definitely worth checking out.

Setting the recoud Straight

2008-04-24T08:25:00.001-05:00

(from BNL's web page)

Discussion of errors contained in new book, Welcome to Shirley: A Memoir from an Atomic Town

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Last week, author and former Shirley resident Kelly McMasters published her first book, Welcome to Shirley: A Memoir from an Atomic Town (PublicAffairs Books, $24.95). It is based on memories and anecdotes from her childhood, interwoven with the history of operations, contamination, and cleanup at BNL. The author relates several health tragedies from her former neighborhood, about six miles south of the Lab, and implies that BNL was responsible for them.

McMasters is promoting her book through book signings and national radio ads, and several local and at least one national publication ("O," the Oprah magazine) have reviewed the book.

McMasters writes in an author's note that the book is factual and based on extensive research - claims that are contradicted by multiple factual errors, especially in the sections relating to BNL. She also ignores several epidemiological studies that offer scientific evidence counter to her primary claim - that cancer clusters caused by BNL operations surround the Lab.

Other prominent errors include statements that the Lab is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Defense, and insinuations that Shirley residents were exposed to chemicals from BNL in groundwater (see below for accurate information on these topics). In addition, many lesser errors of fact, geography, and history, along with inaccurate inferences and insinuations, can be found throughout the book.

The BNL Research Library has ordered two copies, and they should be available now for anyone who is interested in reading the book.

In 2006, the Bulletin published a lengthy rebuttal to a McMasters' Op-Ed article called "The Nuclear Neighborhood" that appeared in The New York Times. Welcome to Shirley is similar to that Op Ed in that it also presents an often-inaccurate depiction of the Lab, the environmental cleanup at BNL, and health issues on Long Island. Below is an updated version of that original rebuttal, which responds to some of Welcome to Shirley's claims.

Claim: Cancer clusters surround Brookhaven Lab. For many of these cancers, including breast cancer, the only proven cause is exposure to low-level radiation.

McMasters

The Facts: McMasters uses anecdotes, innuendo, and selective information to imply that the Laboratory is responsible for an increase in cancer rates. She neglects to mention two epidemiological studies of cancer rates that found no relationship between BNL and cancer.

According to a 1998 report by the Suffolk County Environmental Task Force on BNL, which looked at rates within a 15-mile radius of BNL, "cancer rates of all types of cancers [the task force] studied are not elevated near BNL" for the years 1979-93. Task Force Chairman Roger Grimson, a biostatistician and an associate professor at Stony Brook University, concluded in a January 23, 1998, Newsday article, "There is no link between Brookhaven National Lab and cancer."

Regarding breast cancer, the study found that, compared to the rest of Long Island, rates were rising significantly, and more quickly, on the Island's East End, on both the North and South Forks. As Newsday reported: "Concerning breast cancer, Grimson said, the study does not implicate Brookhaven National Laboratory or any other particular facility or cause and noted that the breast cancer rate in the area immediately surrounding the lab is lower than on the North and South Forks."

An assessment of cancer in BNL workers conducted by the New York State Department of Health in 2001 (see full report [PDF]) concluded that the overall distribution of cancers in past and present Laboratory employees for whom data were available is similar to the patterns of cancers found in three comparison populations: residents of upstate New York, those living in Nassau, and those residing in Suffolk. "Of particular note," commented the author of the assessment report, Maria Schymura, Director of the New York State Department of Health Cancer Registry, is the fact that solid cancers that could be the result of radiation exposure "were not proportionally elevated" in the BNL population.

Claim: An epidemic of a rare childhood cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, has been identified within a 15-mile radius of Brookhaven National Lab. The only known cause of this cancer is exposure to low-level radiation.

The Facts: When this concern was brought to the attention of county and state agencies, they conducted several investigations to look into rhabdomyosarcoma rates in the area. No clusters or links to BNL were found. A November 14, 2002, article in Newsday reported that "An analysis of rhabdomyosarcoma rates by the state health department has found that the rate in central Suffolk, where the laboratory is located, does not differ significantly from rates in eastern and western Suffolk, and that Suffolk's overall rate does not differ significantly from the rest of the state."

In 1998, a study released by the Suffolk County Environmental Task Force, a group that included some of the Laboratory's most ardent critics, found "there is no statistical evidence showing higher than normal rates in either Suffolk County or a 15-mile radius of the Lab. In fact, there were fewer cases of rhabdomyosarcoma in Suffolk County from 1979 through 1993 than there were on average in other New York State counties, including Nassau, Brooklyn and Queens." According to the New York State Health Department, for each million people under age 19, rhabdomyosarcoma occurred annually at a rate of 4.1 cases in Suffolk, 5.3 statewide, 5.6 in Nassau, 6.4 in Queens and 7.0 in Brooklyn. McMasters' book also states that the "only" cause of rhabdomyosarcoma is exposure to low-level radiation. In reality, published risk factors cited on the American Cancer Society (ACS) website include five specific inherited medical conditions, with no mention of low-level radiation exposure. ACS also states that there are "no environmental factors (such as exposures during the mother's pregnancy or in early childhood) that are known to increase the chance of getting rhabdomyosarcoma."

Claim: Residents south of the Lab in Shirley have been exposed to chemicals in groundwater, and that is why DOE provided public water hookups to area residents.

The Facts: In 1996, off-site chemical groundwater contamination - related to Camp Upton and the Lab's historical use of solvents to clean metals - was discovered in the area south of the site. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services tested more than 800 private wells and found no contamination attributable to BNL - a finding that was confirmed by Newsday's yearlong investigative series in 1998 on the Lab's environmental impact. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, the Department of Energy funded the connection of more than 1,500 homes south and east of BNL to public water supplies.

Since 1996, the Lab has installed more than 3,000 temporary and permanent groundwater monitoring wells to accurately determine the nature and extent of the contamination. Sixteen treatment systems were installed between 1997 and 2005 and are operating to effectively remove solvents and similar chemicals from groundwater on and off the Lab site.

Claim: Brookhaven Lab is funded primarily by the Department of Defense.

The Facts: McMasters repeats this claim several times in the book. The Department of Defense (DOD) also funded the Long Island Breast Cancer Study, and she repeatedly implies that this supposed conflict of interest explains why the study's results were inconclusive with regard to breast cancer causes. She also insinuates that the Lab prospers from sales of breast cancer postal stamps, since a portion of the proceeds go to DOD.

In reality, the vast majority of BNL's funding comes from DOE's Office of Science. In fiscal year 2007, DOD funding represented 0.5 percent (one-half of one percent) of the Lab's overall budget. Over the past 15 years, DOD funding of BNL averaged 0.8 percent, with a high of 3 percent in 1995. Prior to 1993, DOD funding was never higher than 2 percent of the total BNL budget.

Claim: "Judging from appearances" BNL has become "a model neighbor."

The Facts: Near the book's conclusion, McMasters summarizes activities the Lab undertakes to open up to the community - including the formation of the Community Advisory Council in 1998, Summer Sunday tours, educational program initiatives, and environmental, safety & health improvements - but then uses the phrase "judging by appearances" to imply that BNL is not really a good neighbor.

While McMasters sounds doubtful, the examples of Lab openness she notes are true. The Lab regrets the negative environmental impacts of the past, but is proud of its achievements during the last 12 years in cleaning up the environment and becoming a good environmental steward and good neighbor. It has instituted international standards through the ISO 14001 registration - as well as an award-winning pollution prevention program. Managers consider how their programs may impact the internal and external communities, and work to keep stakeholders informed and involved.

Finally, the Lab's education and outreach programs have been active and creative in forming partnerships with the community.

A No-Frills Kitchen Still Cooks - New York Times

2008-03-06T21:46:00.000-05:00

A No-Frills Kitchen Still Cooks - New York Times
This is from a while ago, but it's a nice reference for what cookware you "really" need.

Remote shutter trigger for Digital Cameras - Instructables - DIY, How To, photography, tech

2008-02-21T16:38:00.000-05:00

Remote shutter trigger for Digital Cameras - Instructables - DIY, How To, photography, tech
This is a great and very quick little add-on for your digital cameras assuming they have a 2.5 mm jack for the shutter trigger.

80 Useful Tools for Flickr | Tech Magazine

2007-10-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

80 Useful Tools for Flickr | Tech Magazine

Improve Your Photos 60 Seconds at a Time

2007-10-15T14:31:00.000-05:00

Improve Your Photos 60 Seconds at a Time
A cool site with some quick tips on photography.

Atlantic Antic - a photoset on Flickr

2007-10-05T13:31:00.000-05:00

Atlantic Antic - a photoset on Flickr
Zoya, Stephen, Laila, and I at the Atlantic Antic street fair.

The World's Healthiest Foods

2007-10-03T13:40:00.000-05:00

The World's Healthiest Foods
This is a pretty good little page. It's a compilation of healthy foods that are dense in nutrients, affordable, and easy to find. It includes a large list of foods, with their nutritional descriptions as well as links to reputable scientific articles validating their claims.

Endangered Machinery :: Industrial and Industrial Heritage Photography :: Haiko Hebig

2007-08-29T07:53:00.000-05:00

A great photography blog of old industrial equipment.

Food blog

2007-05-01T13:32:00.000-05:00

Check out this interesting food blog for geeks like me- Cooking For Engineers

Enjoy.

Scales of the universe

2007-04-02T10:04:00.000-05:00

This web page presents a great little interactive view of the scales (both time and space) of the universe. It's the same basic idea as the "Scales of the Universe" exhibit at the Natural History Museum in NYC.

Nikon | Universcale

Cool lamps

2007-03-26T17:40:00.000-05:00

FRANK BUCHWALD MASCHINENLEUCHTEN | Design von Lampen, Leuchten, Lichtobjekten

Hamlet Organic Garden homepage

2007-03-21T14:33:00.000-05:00

Hamlet Organic Garden homepage

I'm thinking about possibly joining this co-op for the summer. Not sure if I'll eat 5-18 lbs/week of produce though.

A "true" atomic time clock

2007-03-21T08:33:00.000-05:00

planetary orbit clock [technabob]

Camp Upton-trained

2007-03-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

A picture of the 7th regiment NGNY from Camp Upton

CampUpton

2007-03-20T12:15:00.000-05:00

CampUpton

Brookhaven National Lab is on the site of Camp Upton a US Army training facility during WWI and WWII. This site presents several historical images from around WWI.

Shorpy | The 100-Year-Old Photo Blog

2007-03-20T12:08:00.000-05:00

Shorpy | The 100-Year-Old Photo Blog

Radioactive Boy Scout | Technology | DISCOVER Magazine

2007-03-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

Radioactive Boy Scout | Technology | DISCOVER Magazine
Somehow it seems like my high school years were wasted now.

Death and Taxes: A Visual Guide to Where Your Federal Tax Dollars Go

2007-03-20T08:21:00.000-05:00

Death and Taxes: A Visual Guide to Where Your Federal Tax Dollars Go

Best of Gadget Lab: Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Watch

2007-03-20T08:15:00.000-05:00

Best of Gadget Lab: Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Watch
A great little devise for geeks like me that (sometimes) exercise.

procrastination

2005-11-01T11:32:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted since I was a citizen of the great state of North Carolina. For those of you who are out of the loop, I'm now living in the beautiful confines of Brookhaven National Lab about 75 miles east of New York City on Long Island. So, I'm pretty much living in a scientific monastery. Vows of silence are unnecessary here because you are unlikely to have to opportunity to speak to anyone in the normal course of a day. As anticipated, the move up here has been taxing on a personal level--leaving all my friends in Raleigh behind--but has been incredibly productive on a PhD-progression level.

I have been heading into NYC whenever I get a chance. I have several close friends living there, so visiting the city is sort of me time of interpersonal relations recharging. I haven't really made much of an effort to get to know people at the lab, partially because people don't seem to be particularly friendly--not that people are mean, they just have their own thing going on--and partially because I really want to keep my focus on writing my dissertation until I defend in December.

Well that's enough procrastinating for now.

I'm published!

2005-08-01T19:11:00.000-05:00

I received an email from the journal "Nuclear Instruments and Methods" today, and they have (finally) published my article. You can read the abstract if you would like. So yeah, I'm published. I am somebody.

Beamline life (part 2)

2005-06-20T13:46:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm still up on Long Island. Things are going relatively well. We are still waiting to receive the detector that was supposed to be here by the beginning of June. I feel pretty bad for Chris because he has a bunch of data that he needs to get before graduating and he sort of needs the new detector to get it. Because the detector isn't here yet, things are pretty laid back. We are doing what we can, but mostly are just twiddling our thumbs. I think we are going to make a video that we will use for our PhD presentations. Most of the members of our committees have never been here to Long Island so they don't really know what the research facility is like. Plus I think it would be nice to show to any friends or family members that are interested in where I spend my time when I'm up here.

Beamline life

2005-06-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

So I've made it up to Long Island now. It has actually been a much nicer trip than usual. Having a coworker (Chris) up here has made things much more bearable, even enjoyable. Research has been coming along slowly, but I'm making some progress on my paper (which is a lot better than the zero progress I had been making lately).

I was playing around on Google Maps the other day and stumbled upon a restaurant about 10 minutes from the lab that looked intriguing. It's a bar/restaurant/art gallery that is in this old building. I'm not exactly sure what the building was originally--it sort looks like a club house at a country club that has been redecorated by artists. It is a great place. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was great. They have pool tables and several very comfortable looking couches. Chris and I will probably head over there again sometime soon to utilize their free wifi and comfortable couches. See this kind of a find may not seem like too big of a deal, but in a land of strip malls and Applebees, this place is a godsend.

prepping

2005-06-06T07:08:00.000-05:00

I am about to embark on my longest trip to Long Island to date. 22 days. For those of you who have yet to have the opportunity to visit that fine island, let me tell you how exciting a place it is. The good is that Brooklyn is on one side and the Hamptons are on the other. The southern side is all beach with barrier islands. The north side is full of pretty, rocky shores. Everything that is enclosed within these boundaries is a large strip mall. When I travel to Long Island it's to do research at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). This is about 75 miles east of New York City. It sort of marks the boundary between the far reaches of New York City urban sprawl and the farmland that used to take up the majority of Long Island. Most of the old farm land has been converted to vineyards or summer houses for the non-uber-rich New Yorkers.

The lab itself is an interesting place. The portion of the lab I use, the National Synchrotron Light Source, has multiple experimental facilities each of which has a group of users that will come in and take data for some period of time (a couple days, a week, 22 days). This makes the lab an interesting place because you get people that are incredibly focused on their work--the data they are taking might be the only data they get for 6 months, so they have to be meticulous in everything. What this adds up to is a whole lot of people working at the same time while completely ignoring each other. It's fun. You can walk around the facility and walk past 10 people before someone acknowledges your existance.

This trip should actually be exciting though. We have improved our experimental facilities, so I should be able to get much better images than I've been able to get in the past. Plus Chris from my research group will be up there and we always have good times and we're productive when we work together.

over

2005-05-14T11:25:00.000-05:00

Now all of my teaching stuff is officially, officially over. Which is nice. The excitement of finishing up that chapter was sort of cut down by the news that the article that I submitted about a month ago was rejected by the journal. Those jerks. It's one of those things I guess you have to get used to in research, but that doesn't make it suck any less. I was pretty much pissed for the next couple days.

This research world is an interesting one. I can work hard designing a good experiment. I can carefully perform the experiment. I can carefully process the data. I can sift through the processed data to determine its significance. I can write up a well thought out--and much revised--paper summarizing my finding. Then I submit the paper only to hope that someone who really has no interest in me or the progression of my career or research will deem my paper worthy of his/her journal.

But, not all is lost. I will find another journal to send my paper off to. I will get to send it to some other anonymous reviewer to determine my experiment's worth.

The upside of this is that these anonymous reviewers themselves get to be reviewed by other anonymous reviewers whenever they submit a paper. Maybe I will get to return the favor one day :)

i've got class

2005-05-03T08:44:00.000-05:00

So I'm about to finish up my first full semester of teaching. I'm sort of deciding to go out with a bang--stayed up until 3am last night finishing up the exam so a student could take it a day early. And of course I had to be in before 8am to give the exam. So tomorrow I give the real exam then I get to spend two full days grading them and preparing final grades. Exhausting, but then I'll be done and will have lots and lots of free time to do research in. There's that whole PhD thing I would mind wrapping up.

Overall I feel pretty positive about the teaching thing, which is nice because I have several friends that got education degrees then decided to give up on it after their student teaching. College teaching is nice because the kids are pretty mature. And you can always kick people out and/or fail them. Just kidding. But really you can.

The main thing I didn't like about teaching this semester was that I was teaching if for the first time. My overall view for the semester and its goals seemed pretty solid, but goals with individual lectures and how I plan reaching those goals needs a lot of developing. I was spending a fair amount of time--probably too much--preparing for each lecture, but I still feel that I can do a lot better. Teachers that have taught the course before have a pretty big advantage in that respect.

The Accident

2005-04-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

So I get home at lunch time and look out on my back "porch" and this is what I see just outside the sliding door.

I'm thinking now that some poor little bird has fallen out of its nest and now it has been abandoned. It is always odd to me that we can all of the sudden really care about something that we don't know and may never see again.

My mom was driving down Telegraph Rd. We were probably heading back from skating but I don't recall. The area was still somewhat new as we had moved there only about six months before. The tricky thing is that all of the street lights hang from wires suspended above the intersections here, not on posts in the middle of the intersection like in Wisconsin. So she made a simple mistake. We were all ok, but the other car was different. There was blood. My mom lost it. Here we are--the oldest of us in middle school--having to comfort my mom, having to take control.

The bird was just fine. It was actually an older bird that had puffed its feathers out to stay warm. It flew away as soon as I opened the door.

beauty

2005-04-15T20:14:00.000-05:00

"Wesley has said that he married the most beautiful woman he ever saw and learned the irrelevance of beauty." from Three Popes Walk into a Bar by Amy Hempel

The Man in Bogota

2005-04-12T20:27:00.000-05:00

The police and emergency service people fail to make a dent. The voice of the pleading spouse does not have the hoped-for effect. The woman remains on the ledge—though not, she threatens, for long.

I imagine that I am the one who must talk the woman down. I see it, and it happens like this.

I tell the woman about a man in Bogota. He was a wealthy man, an industrialist who was kidnapped and held for ransom. It was not a TV drama; his wife could not call the bank and, in twenty-four hours, have one million dollars. It took months. The man had a heart condition, and the kidnappers had to keep the man alive.

Listen to this, I tell the woman on the ledge. His captors made him quit smoking. They changed his diet and made him exercise every day. They held him that way for three months.

When the ransom was paid and the man was released, his doctor looked him over. He found the man to be in excellent health. I tell the woman what the doctor said then—that the kidnap was the best thing to happen to that man.

Maybe this is not a come-down-from-the-ledge story. But I tell it with the thought that the woman on the ledge will ask herself a questions, the questions that occurred to that man in Bogota. He wondered how we know that what happens to us isn’t good.

from reasons to live by Amy Hempel