Top 1% US researchers find ‘significantly increased cancer incidence’ for those living near nuclear power plants at a level that would mean an additional 10 000 avoidable cancer cases 30km around Hunterston if Scottish Labour get their way

Professor John Robertson OBA From the highly-rated Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health in the USA yesterday: In Massachusetts, residential proximity to a nuclear power plant (NPP) was associated with significantly increased cancer incidence, with risk declining by distance, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study was published Dec. 17 in Environmental Health. It was conducted by researchers in the Department of Environmental Health, including corresponding author Yazan Alwadi, PhD student, and senior author Petros Koutrakis, professor of environmental sciences. Despite widespread—and potentially expanding—reliance on nuclear power in the U.S., epidemiologic research investigating … Continue reading Top 1% US researchers find ‘significantly increased cancer incidence’ for those living near nuclear power plants at a level that would mean an additional 10 000 avoidable cancer cases 30km around Hunterston if Scottish Labour get their way

Part-time MSP and GP allowed to malign Glasgow’s leading Cancer hospital based only on a few rain buckets after rain and contrary to official inspections finding no issues with building condition

Professor John Robertson OBA Sandesh Gulhane MSP, Conservative Shadowy Health Secretary has a casual visit to Scotland’s leading cancer care centre and spots rain-bins, after several days of rain last week. We don’t hear the number nor see any photos but with no other evidence offered, he and his Herald chums work up the above disgusting account. A Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspection report in January 2025 is glowing and makes only two requirements for action. Neither concerns the building.1 Not, of course mentioned by the Herald or Gulhane: The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow is widely regarded … Continue reading Part-time MSP and GP allowed to malign Glasgow’s leading Cancer hospital based only on a few rain buckets after rain and contrary to official inspections finding no issues with building condition

If you didn’t already have enough reasons NOT to vote for Scottish Labour how about this cancerous threat?

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Telegraph today, the above and: Ed Miliband has pledged to start immediate work on building new nuclear power stations in Scotland if the SNP is kicked out of office in next year’s Holyrood election. That’s a clear threat then. To what? First, increased child leukaemia: I asked the Elicit AI for scientific research which claims to help researchers be 10x more evidence-based: How dangerous is it to live 5km from a nuclear power station? After more than 5 minutes, it responded: Studies show mixed results on living within 5km of nuclear power plants, with some European research finding … Continue reading If you didn’t already have enough reasons NOT to vote for Scottish Labour how about this cancerous threat?

‘North Scotland among highest rates of Huntington’s’ – yes, but why?

Professor John Robertson OBA BBC Scotland and STV today have short reports on the higher level of Huntington’s disease in the North of Scotland but with no useful content to inform and to educate readers in the manner they often claim to do, leaving readers with just another ‘Scotland is ****’ story that they can quietly associate with 18 years of SNP-rule. When I saw this, I thought straightaway, vitamin D deficiency, as with MS, also more prevalent in the north. While as yet not conclusive, emerging evidence can be found: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common in older … Continue reading ‘North Scotland among highest rates of Huntington’s’ – yes, but why?

Potentially fatal hypothyroidism far more common in Scotland, on the prevailing sea currents from Sellafield than in England, especially London

Many thanks to reader Alan Gordon for alerting me to this. From the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, in October 2024, Hypothyroidism:How common is it?: A review article notes that the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism in Europe varies between 0.2–5.3%, depending on the definition of hypothyroidism used. A retrospective analysis of General Practice data in the North East of England (n = 66,843) found the overall single-point prevalence of treated hypothyroidism was 4.5% in 2016. A review of UK national databases found the prevalence of treated hypothyroidism increased from 2.3% (1.4 million) to 3.5% (2.2 million) of the total … Continue reading Potentially fatal hypothyroidism far more common in Scotland, on the prevailing sea currents from Sellafield than in England, especially London

US ferry firm used toxic paper coating on tickets with risks to children including behaviour problems, cancer and disrupting hormone levels in fetuses

From our regular ‘Imagine CalMac did this in Scotland’ series Yesterday in the Kitsap Sun of Seattle, Washington State, USA, GDP twice that per head of Scotland: Ferry riders may want to wash their hands after being handed a receipt for a car-and-driver fare, made with a paper that’s now in the process of being phased out. After a state worker flagged a potential safety hazard, this month Washington State Ferries will be the first state agency to phase out “thermal receipts” which contain the potentially harmful substance bisphenol [BPA].  https://eu.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2024/11/19/washington-state-ferries-ditches-chemical-laden-receipts/76342951007/ Yes, yes, they’re phasing them out but imagine the … Continue reading US ferry firm used toxic paper coating on tickets with risks to children including behaviour problems, cancer and disrupting hormone levels in fetuses

Emergency issue of potassium iodine tablets to those living near to US nuclear plant and research showing significant cancer risks casts serious doubt on Scottish Labour plans

By Professor John Robertson Yesterday, in the Philly Voice, USA: People living near active nuclear power plants are advised to have potassium iodide, or KI, tablets on hand in case of a radiological emergency. KI is an over-the-counter medication that protects the thyroid from absorbing nuclear radiation. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is offering free KI tablets to people who live within 10 miles of the Limerick Generating Station in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, on Wednesday, June 12. Radioactive iodine released into the environment during a nuclear accident may be absorbed by the body, increasing the chance of thyroid cancer. Saturating the thyroid … Continue reading Emergency issue of potassium iodine tablets to those living near to US nuclear plant and research showing significant cancer risks casts serious doubt on Scottish Labour plans

Cheese producers are dodging Scottish Government regulations to follow lower UK standards and risk E.coli deaths

I’ve had a bit of a reaction to my previous post suggesting that cheese production in Scotland could not use raw milk (unpasteurised) like the Lancashire dairy whose cheese has recently killed one man in Scotland. The Food Standards Agency Scotland regulation is clear: It is an offence to place raw milk or cream on the market for direct consumption in Scotland – this includes distribution. The ban includes sheep, goats, buffalo and any other species farmed for its milk. Raw drinking milk and cream has historically been recognised as a high risk to public health as it was linked … Continue reading Cheese producers are dodging Scottish Government regulations to follow lower UK standards and risk E.coli deaths