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 Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:37:17 -0500
 Subject: [Caspian-press-l] CASPIAN Releases Microchip Cancer Report Today

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 November 19, 20007


 CASPIAN RELEASES MICROCHIP CANCER REPORT
 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 1990–2006" 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 http://www.antichips.com/cancer/

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 ABOUT CASPIAN

 CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering)
 is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes
 since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With thousands of
 members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN
 seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that invade their
 privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits across the
 retail spectrum.

 See: http://www.antichips.com
 http://www.spychips.com
 http://www.nocards.org

 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT:
 Katherine Albrecht (kma@spychips.com) 877-287-5854 ext. 1

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