Microchip Cancer Report
From Katherine Albrecht
[email protected]
11-20-7
CASPIAN Sets record straight after misleading claims by HomeAgain and
VeriChip implant manufacturers.
A new paper titled "Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and
Dogs: A Review of the Literature 19902006" has been released today by
CASPIAN. The full, 48-page paper provides a definitive review of the
academic literature showing a causal link between implanted
radio-frequency (RFID) microchip transponders and cancer in laboratory
rodents and dogs. In addition, a brief, four-page synopsis of the full
report is being made available.
Eleven articles previously published in toxicology and pathology
journals are evaluated in the report. In six of the articles, between
0.8% and 10.2% of laboratory mice and rats developed malignant tumors
around or adjacent to the microchips, and several researchers suggested
the actual tumor rate may have been higher. Two additional articles
reported microchip-related cancer in dogs.
In almost all cases, the malignant tumors, typically sarcomas, arose at
the site of the implants and grew to surround and fully encase the
devices. In several cases the tumors also metastasized or spread to
other parts of the animals.
Public revelation of a casual link between microchipping and cancer in
animals has prompted widespread public concern over the safety of
implantable microchips. The story was first broken to the public in
September through an article written by Associated Press Reporter Todd
Lewan. Prior to the AP story, the journal articles were completely
unknown outside of small academic circles.
"The AP did a superb job informing the public of the existence of these
journal articles," said Dr. Katherine Albrecht, a leading privacy expert
and long-time VeriChip opponent who authored the new paper.
"Unfortunately," Dr. Albrecht added, "a lot of misinformation about the
cancer research has circulated since Mr. Lewan's article was published.
I wrote the report to set the record straight."
The animal-microchip study findings were so compelling that one of Mr.
Lewan's sources, Dr. Robert Benezra, head of the Cancer Biology Genetics
Program at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, was
quoted as saying, "There's no way in the world, having read this
information, that I would have one of those chips implanted in my skin,
or in one of my family members."
Nevertheless, representatives of the chipping industry have made
inaccurate public statements about the research findings in an effort to
confuse the public.
Scott Silverman, CEO of the VeriChip Corporation which makes the
controversial VeriChip human implant, recently provided inaccurate
information to Time Magazine. Mr. Silverman is quoted as saying that
none of the tumors found in mice in a 2006 French study were malignant.
In fact, not only were the tumors malignant sarcomas, but most of the
afflicted animals died prematurely as a result of the
microchip-associated tumors.
In addition, Destron Fearing, makers of the HomeAgain pet implant,
dismissed a finding of fibrosarcoma--a highly lethal cancer--as 'benign'
in a recent report.
A fibrosarcoma is a type of sarcoma, a malignant tumor of soft tissue
that connects, supports or surrounds other structures and organs of the
body. Dr. Timothy Jennings, an expert on implant-induced cancers in
humans, said he was "not aware of any nosology incorporating an entity
of 'benign fibrosarcoma'" and agreed that "any tumor classified as
sarcoma should be viewed as malignant."
"Either VeriChip and the makers of HomeAgain actually don't understand
the difference between a benign fibroma and a malignant fibrosarcoma,"
noted Dr. Albrecht, "or they're deliberately lying to the public. Either
way, it's clear they can't be trusted. We hope our new report will set
the record straight."
The report includes a one- to three-page writeup on each of the original
studies. In addition to a detailed review of the academic literature,
the report contains recommendations for patients, pet owners,
veterinarians, and policy makers, including the following: (1) Further
microchipping of humans should be immediately discontinued; (2)
Implanted patients should be informed in writing of the research
findings and offered a procedure for microchip removal; and (3) Policy
makers should reverse all animal microchipping mandates.
As part of its public awareness campaign, CASPIAN will be issuing copies
of the new report to leading policy and decision makers.
The full 48-page report and four-page synopsis are also immediately
available for public download at www.antichips.com/cancer/
