Woburn Health Studies husetts DPH, 1979 ewed mortality statistics 1969 -1979 chusetts DPH, 1981 er incidence and environmental hazards Considered contaminated air, soil & usetts DPH & CDC, 1981 ence of childhood leukemia, kidney, liver, adder cancers and environmental hazards Lagakos and others Lagakos and others – Positive associ – Positive associ between access to water from wells G between access to water from wells G and the incidence of childhood leuke and the incidence of childhood leuke School of Public Health, 1985 effects and contaminated well water ldhood leukemia cases: 1964 -1983 f & Cleary (1983) water distribution model
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Woburn Health Studies Massachusetts DPH, 1979 reviewed mortality statistics 1969 -1979 Massachusetts DPH, 1981 cancer incidence and environmental hazards.
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Massachusetts DPH, 1981• cancer incidence and environmental hazards Considered contaminated air, soil & waterConsidered contaminated air, soil & water
Massachusetts DPH & CDC, 1981• incidence of childhood leukemia, kidney, liver, and bladder cancers and environmental hazards
Lagakos and othersLagakos and others – Positive association – Positive associationbetween access to water from wells G between access to water from wells G && H Hand the incidence of childhood leukemia. and the incidence of childhood leukemia.
Harvard School of Public Health, 1985• health effects and contaminated well water• 20 childhood leukemia cases: 1964 -1983• Waldorf & Cleary (1983) water distribution model
19601962
19641966
19681970
19721974
19761978
19801982
19841986
19881990
19921994
19961998
2000
0
1
2
3
Num
ber
of C
ases
Dia
gnos
edDiagnosed Cases of Childhood Leukemia in Woburn: 1969-1997
No recordsavailable
Wells G Wells G && H on line H on line Wells G Wells G && H off line H off line
U.S. EPA / U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. EPA / U.S. Geological SurveyJanuary 1986 - Wells G & H January 1986 - Wells G & H pumpingpumping
= -565 gpm= -565 gpmLosing StreamLosing Stream
(after Myette and others, 1987)
BOSTONCourtroom No. 6
McCormick Courthouse
BOSTONCourtroom No. 6
McCormick Courthouse
Walter J. SkinnerWalter J. Skinner
Federal JudgeFederal Judge
Jan SchlichtmannJan Schlichtmann
PlaintiffsPlaintiffs
Mike Keating Mike Keating
W.R. Grace & Co.W.R. Grace & Co.
Jerry FacherJerry Facher
Beatrice FoodsBeatrice Foods
Judge Skinner’s Ruling on Trial Plans
Judge Skinner’s Ruling on Trial PlansFederal Rules of Civil Procedure #42 – Separation of Trials
Phase 1 – Determine whether either defendant (W.R. Grace or Beatrice Foods) was responsible for the toxic chemicals found in municipal wells G & HLIABLE
Phase 2 – Determine whether the toxic chemicals found in wells G & H and delivered to the Plaintiffs’ residences could cause leukemia
Phase 3 – Evaluate other health claims
Phase 4 – Decide punitive damages
LIABLE
SW - NE Geologic Cross SectionSW - NE Geologic Cross SectionSW - NE Geologic Cross SectionSW - NE Geologic Cross Section
River infiltration: 1 monthRiver infiltration: 1 month
W.R. Grace’s CaseW.R. Grace’s CaseW.R. Grace’s CaseW.R. Grace’s Case
May1979May1979
River infiltration: 1 mo, 50%River infiltration: 1 mo, 50%
The TrialThe Trial
Phase 1 – Determine whether either defendant, W.R. Grace or Beatrice Foods, was responsible for the toxic chemicals found in municipal wells G & H
Beatrice Foods = Not Liable W.R. Grace = Liable TCE arrived in Sept. 1974
Beatrice Foods = Not Liable W.R. Grace = Liable TCE arrived in Sept. 1974
$8 MILLION SETTLEMENT REACHED BEFORE RE-TRIAL$8 MILLION SETTLEMENT REACHED BEFORE RE-TRIAL
March – July 1986
Phase 2 – Determine whether the toxic chemicals found in wells G & H and delivered to the Plaintiffs’ residences could cause leukemia
Mistrial
GOALSGOALS• understanding scientific inquiryunderstanding scientific inquiry• developing problem-solving skillsdeveloping problem-solving skills• enhancing communication skillsenhancing communication skills• defending work and opinionsdefending work and opinions
METHODSMETHODS• learn enough geology, hydrology, learn enough geology, hydrology, and aqueous chemistry to becomeand aqueous chemistry to become an expert witness in a mock trialan expert witness in a mock trial• use data sets from real trial to solveuse data sets from real trial to solve problems that become trial exhibits problems that become trial exhibits • write an expert opinionwrite an expert opinion• survive depositionsurvive deposition• participate in mock trial participate in mock trial
Honors course for science and non-science majors
Honors course for science and non-science majors
SCIENCE IN THE COURTROOMSCIENCE IN THE COURTROOM
PREREQUISITESPREREQUISITES• geology 100 or 121geology 100 or 121• math 151math 151• chemistry 110chemistry 110
$15,000 to develop $15,000 to develop coursecourse