Mercury in Mothers Milk: Report Sets off Controversy
Professor may be tried over scientific report
Friday, May 20, 2011
ISTANBUL
(HERE)
Research showing that mother’s milk and babies’ excrement contain traces of heavy metals, leading to increased risk of cancer, has put experts against officials in the northwestern province of Kocaeli. While both district and city mayors file a complaint against the professor leading the study, the professor claims that the officials are trying to prevent scientific research. ‘People will protect the values of Dilovası, as the awareness has been created,” professor says.
A complaint has been filed over a report published by an expert saying a high amount of heavy metals, including mercury and arsenic, were detected in mother’s milk and babies’ excrement in Turkey’s northwestern Kocaeli province. The professor is accused of threatening to incite fear and panic among the population.
Mothers’ milk and babies’ excrement samples from residents in the Dilovası district were found to contain high amounts of mercury and arsenic, according to an eye-opening report released Jan. 8 by Onur Hamzaoğlu, head of the Public Health Department at Kocaeli University.
Both the Kocaeli mayor and the Dilovası mayor have filed a complaint against Hamzaoğlu and the court case files have been sent to the university’s rector’s office, daily Milliyet reported Friday.
If the university decides it does not have jurisdiction, then the prosecutor’s office will launch an investigation against Hamzaoğlu, who may face two to four years in prison.
Hamzaoğlu told the Hürriyet Daily News it was hard to discuss the situation. “We are scientists who are working hard for the good of society, not for money or fame,” he said, adding that even with the case brought against him, he has not lost hope.
Hamzaoğlu said the case was an obstacle put up by someone who wants to prevent the studies.
“We are waiting for the university’s decision, “ said the professor, according to daily Milliyet.
Referring to the discipline regulation of the High Education Board, or YÖK, Hamazaoğlu listed the possible outcomes that may occur according to the university’s decision. “[The university] might say there is no need for any discipline punishment or investigation.”
“On the other hand the university may say that a crime has occurred and detail the consequences that we may face or may send the files to the prosecutor’s office as the content of the file is beyond the authority of both the university and YÖK.”
No favor from court
“I do not believe the decision in the case will be in our favor, as the issue has already been heard by the public,” Hamzaoğlu said. “People will protect the values of Dilovası, as the awareness has been created.”
Recalling that the report has not been finished yet, Hamzaoğlu said the draft that was prepared through taking samples from both mother’s milk and babies’ excrement shows the risks. The complete report will be announced in June, he said.
Fight with official bodies
In a letter written to YÖK, the provincial anti-cancer directorate also claimed that Hamzaoğlu misinformed the public. The Kocaeli rector after receiving the letter launched another investigation into Hamzaoğlu.
Meanwhile, Hamzaoğlu filed a complaint against Kocaeli Mayor İbrahim Karaosmanoğlu, saying the mayor called him a “charlatan.”
The cancer cluster
In 2005, Hamzaoğlu was enlisted by the Parliamentary Research Commission to analyze Dilovası, where several industrial facilities work with heavy metals and chemicals. In 2006, the commission released a report featuring data from Hamzaoğlu’s study that said the rate of death from cancer in Dilovası is three times the world average.
According to research conducted in the area, the industrial development should be restricted. However, the number of facilities has continued to increase.
Industrialization cannot be prevented
Dilovası has been an industrial center for decades due to its geographical position near road, sea and rail transportation.
Industrialization started in the 1960s in Dilovası. There are now five organized industrial regions, one industrial site, 193 industrial organizations and more than 20,000 employees in the region. The population of the town, through which the E-5 and TEM highways pass, is about 45,000.
The town’s industrial development has been uncontrolled, leading to heavy pollution and spiraling rates of serious diseases and cancer, according to local residents who previously spoke to the Hürriyet Daily News.
This is terrible for the people living in Turkey. Terrible for the people living in China too. I am so very sorry for them and may God be with them as they fight a good fight to stop people from poisoning them.
Here in the United States we are suppose to have the EPA and guidelines. From what I can see of the fire coal plants-- they do indeed follow those guidelines. I don't want to pay "EVEN" higher prices for electricity because I already am in order to keep populants out of the air, water, soil. I would hate to think I had to freeze and all for really nothing.
Also, I would like to repeat, I saw my kids react to their DPT shots - I did not notice anything from them turning up the heat,drinking the tap water, riding in the car--- well actually they rode in a car to get to the ped's office and to get back home where they did react to what ever it was. But; they only reacted after those specific car rides that took them to and from the peds office - and only those ped visits in which they received the DPT shot.
Posted by: Benedetta | May 29, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Google "Mercury Soon Driessen" That works even better for finding "The Myth of Killer Mercury." Look at the beautiful shade of green elemental mercury is. Just gorgeous ;)
Posted by: Carol | May 29, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Taximom,
Yes, when I go from AofA I have the same problem. But if I go to Google and type "Mercury Soon" and click through from there, I get all of "The Myth of Killer Mercury." That works for now at least.
Posted by: Carol | May 28, 2011 at 03:13 PM
Interesting how you can tell the public some things but not others.
Posted by: Heidi N | May 27, 2011 at 10:30 PM
How much mercury is in their teeth? I had 2 amalgam fillings drilled out while exclusively breastfeeding my neonate. Unsurprisingly, she's autistic.
Posted by: HFAmomto3HFAgirls | May 27, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Carol, we have to log in or subscribe to view the entire article--but it looks like something we ought to read (so we know what lies they are perpetrating). Is there any way you could copy/quote the article in its entirety in a comment post here?
Thanks!
Posted by: Taximom | May 27, 2011 at 06:15 PM
This is some nifty recent propaganda about mercury in the Wall Street Journal. You probably didn't know that elemental mercury is a beautiful shade of green:
"The Myth of Killer Mercury"
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703421204576329420414284558.html
Posted by: Carol | May 27, 2011 at 04:08 PM
How do you say "Wakefield" in Turkish?
Posted by: Jonathan | May 27, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Turkey is no different than north America. Any real scientist will tell you that that putting mercury in a vaccines is insane, yet the best we can hope for from the scientists responsible for protecting the public... is a recommendation to remove it from childhood vaccines.
The wrong scientists are being sent to jail
Posted by: Barry | May 27, 2011 at 08:32 AM
To the gallows! These scientists think they can come in here, not for money or fame but to save lives from horrible diseases, and ruin our Industry? Who cares if some mercury is in the air and water, and then in the people? We give them jobs and they should be grateful!
Posted by: Canary Supplier | May 27, 2011 at 07:12 AM