Radar and Office EMFs Suspected in Census Bureau Brain Tumor Cluster

Census Bureau employees in Suitland, MD, are suspicious that electromagnetic radiation could be responsible for a cluster of up to 20 brain tumors among the staff. Concerns are focused on a powerful air traffic control radar that operated nearby until 1982 and on the electrical equipment, computer terminals and wiring in the bureau’s offices. In an April 11 memo, however, the acting director of the bureau, Harry Scarr, assured employees that electromagnetic field (EMF) levels “are well within tolerance and thus the equipment and the work area do not pose a health risk to our employees.” He did not mention the radar. Scarr based his views on the findings of Federal Occupational Health (FOH) researchers, but their investigation leaves many unanswered questions. The size of the cluster is still disputed, and assessments of possible radiation sources are incomplete. A magnetic field survey conducted for FOH found magnetic fields of 4-8 mG throughout the Census Bureau offices and much higher fields near many types of electrical equipment. Bureau managers said that they had no information about the radar or other possible sources of radiofrequency and microwave (RF/MW) radiation. When contacted by Microwave News, however, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson Paul Laude confirmed that a radar had been in operation at Suitland until 1982. The radar, which was located approximately one-half mile from the bureau offices, was the same type of radar as the one that is suspected as a possible cause of clusters of Hodgkin’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in South Patrick Shores, FL (see p.13).