Environmental and Health Concerns
The PAVE PAWS radar station in Massachusetts has been investigated as a possible source for health concerns on Cape Cod. The Air Force was sued in the United States District Court prior to the operation of PAVE PAWS on Cape Cod regarding the alleged insufficiency of the government's environmental studies. Plaintiffs were represented by Anne M. Vohl, Esq. The suit was dismissed by Judge Tauro on national security secrecy grounds. General studies have found that there is no elevated cancer risk from the station. However, it was recently cited as a possible cause of elevated Ewing's Sarcoma rates on the Cape. According to the National Academies' National Research Council, in 2005 available data did not support those concerns. According to a local news broadcast, "Two years ago, concluded that PAVE PAWS was probably not to blame for elevated cancer rates in the general population. But that study did not address Ewing’s sarcoma." The Massachusetts state Department of Public Health conducted an investigation into specific incidences of the cancer on Cape Cod and their possible relationship to the PAVE PAWS radar station. The state hired a company to test the levels of radiation received on certain Cape Cod streets in order to look for correlations in peak power levels in local communities with incidence of the cancer. According to the father of one of patient, "All of occupied places for a significant amount of time that received a high level of radiation from PAVE PAWS," though there is currently no published research verifying the claim and the final report indicated that levels were not high. In December 2007, the Massachusetts Department of Health released their report which concluded that it "appears unlikely that PAVE PAWS played a primary role in the incidence of Ewing family of tumors on Cape Cod."
An Air Force Medical Study conducted in 2005 included radiation density measurements at the facility and concluded power densities outside the 15 metres (49.2 ft) roped off area in front of the array were within the controlled permissible exposure limits in place. According to the report, no hazard exists to personnel outside of the roped off area per set standards.
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