Barnstable County Report Barnstable County Report By George R. Heufelder, MS, RS
Director, Barnstable County
Department Of Health & Environment
For more than three years, a group of Boards of Health in Barnstable County, along with other representatives and known as the PAVEPAWS Public Health Steering Group (PPPHSG) have steered studies aimed at investigating possible health effects posed by the operation of the U.S Air Force early warning system known as PAVEPAWS.
The facility, which began operation in 1979, is located in the Sandwich portion of the Massachusetts Military Reservation. While the radar is considered a vital part of the national security, some have feared that in fulfilling its mission, PAVEPAWS has been subjecting the surrounding population to unsafe levels of non-ionizing radiation.
The controversy over possible health effects began from PAVEPAWS’ first operation, when a report from the National Research Council (NRC) concluded that the installation “may be anticipated to expose a number of members of the general public intermittently to low intensities of pulse-modulated microwave fields.” From that time, many individuals have attempted to relate the operation of the facility with increased cancer rates, and other illnesses.
PPPHSG was formed to investigate whether there is any plausible connection between the operation of PAVEPAWS and illness rates on Cape Cod.
To this end, PPPHSG has held regular public hearings and received input from many sources. Concern by a medical doctor and researcher who contends that the unique characteristic of the PAVEPAWS signal may affect certain biological processes and produce negative outcomes prompted the measurement of aspects of the PAVEPAWS signal waveform that have never been measured before.
In addition, standard power density measurements have been taken throughout Barnstable County in the most comprehensive study to date. Finally, PPPHSG received a large scale epidemiological study of the area using data from hospital records and the state’s Cancer Registry. In addition, PPPHSG enlisted the National Academy of Sciences (National Research Council), the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, and a host of local experts to review and comment on the studies.
What are the results? By and large, they are reassuring. The National Research Council concluded that there is no evidence of adverse health effects to Cape Cod residents from long-term exposure to radiofrequency energy from PAVEPAWS. That council specifically investigated whether the PAVEPAWS radar might be responsible in part for the reported higher rates of certain cancers in the area and concluded that there were no higher rates due to radiation exposure. A study by the International Epidemiology Institute also found no smoking gun.
So, is PAVEPAWS definitely safe? It is not possible to prove ultimate safety of any activity or exposure. In the case of PAVEPAWS, there always will remain some unanswered questions.
And the various reports have not completely let PAVEPAWS off the hook. Reviewing the literature, the NRC found two significant studies relating to biological effects that they believe should be refined and replicated since they represent cellular level biological effects.
Those with questions should continue to visit their local libraries to remain informed. All the studies, correspondence and meeting minutes of PPPHSG are there. In particular, watch for the release of the International Epidemiological Institute study, since it represents a comprehensive comparison of cancer rates pre- and post-PAVEPAWS, as well as a comparison of Barnstable County cancer rates with a comparable area.
No matter what you conclude, the research guided by PPPHSG represents a substantial expenditure of public funds in an attempt to put the questions to rest. You owe it to yourself to stay informed.