 often poor and have little access to medical care, said Sturchio.

But Amal Ibrahim, a cancer epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute at Cairo University and director of Egypt's National Cancer Registry, disagrees. While there may not be many hospitals in the western desert, he said, there are more than a dozen cancer care centers along the Nile that offer treatment free of charge.

"Once there are symptoms of cancer, people seek help," said Ibrahim. "And we give it to them."

Some parts of Egypt have elevated cancer rates due to hepatitis C, said Ibrahim, but so far he has seen no evidence for other regional differences in cancer rates. Still, he said, the radiation risk from groundwater deserves more study. He would like to see data on exactly how much aquifer water people are consuming, and whether the radium is making its way into crops, dairy products and bottled water.

Vengosh agrees that more research would be helpful, but he sees no need to wait before taking action to protect the public, either from the Nubian aquifer or from the Disi aquifer he studied in Jordan.

"There are several studies in the U.S. and Canada that show that communities that were drinking these types of water -- much lower [radiation] than what we see in Disi -- had elevated and high prevalence of cancer," said Vengosh. "We don't need to invent the wheel."

Marc Serre, an environmental geostatistician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted one such study in North Carolina, where many people rely on private wells with elevated levels of radon. Like radium, radon releases ionizing radiation as it decays, and Serre and his graduate student Kyle Messier found a correlation between radon levels in groundwater and rates of lung and stomach cancers. According to Serre, such findings suggest that radioactive groundwater could indeed pose a threat in the Middle East.

"They need to be concerned about how people consume this water," he said.

The Middle East may face even more pressure to use fossil aquifers in the future, with a rapidly increasing population and a climate that is projected to become even drier. Libya already relies on the Nubian aquifer for almost all its water needs, said Sturchio, and Jordan pumps 100 million cubic meters (about 26 billion gallons) of water per year from the Disi aquifer to
often poor and have little entree to aesculapian concern, said Sturchio. 

 But Amal Ibrahim, a cancer epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute at Cairo University and film director of Egypt's National Cancer Registry, disagree. While there may not be many hospitals in the western desert, he order, there are more than a dozen cancer caution centers along the Nile that offer discussion free of charge. 

 " Once there are symptoms of cancer, citizenry seek help, " said Ibrahim. " And we give it to them. " 

 Some parts of Egypt have promote cancer rates due to hepatitis C, said Ibrahim, but so far he has examine no evidence for other regional differences in cancer rates. Still, he state, the radiation risk from groundwater deserves more study. He would like to witness data on exactly how much aquifer water people are consuming, and whether the radium is lay down its way into crops, dairy products and bottled water. 

 Vengosh agrees that more research would be helpful, but he sees no need to wait before taking military action to protect the public, either from the Nubian aquifer or from the Disi aquifer he studied in Jordan. 

 " There be respective cogitation in the U.S. and Canada that show that communities that were drink these type of water -- much humble [ radiation ] than what we see in Disi -- had elevated and high prevalence of cancer, " said Vengosh. " We don't need to invent the wheel. " 

 Marc Serre, an environmental geostatistician at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted one such study in North Carolina, where many citizenry rely on individual wells with elevated levels of radon. Like radium, radon releases ionizing radiation sickness as it decays, and Serre and his graduate student Kyle Messier find oneself a correlation coefficient between radon levels in groundwater and rates of lung and stomach cancers. According to Serre, such finding suggest that radioactive groundwater could indeed pose a menace in the Middle East. 

 " They need to be implicated about how people consume this water, " he said. 

 The Middle East may confront even more pressure to use fossil aquifers in the future, with a rapidly increase population and a climate that is projected to become even drier. Libya already relies on the Nubian aquifer for almost all its water needs, said Sturchio, and Jordan pumps 100 million cubic meters (approximately 26 billion gallons) of water per class from the Disi aquifer to
 ofhen poor and have little access to medieql carx, said Aturchio.

Cut Amal Ibrahim, a cancer epmdemuologust at the National Cavcer Instptute at Xairi Universitb and divzctor lf Eyy't's National Cakcer Registsy, disagrees. Wviue there may not be many hospitals in the wextfrn desert, he faid, ehers are more than a dozen cancer cars centegs along the Nile that offer treatment free of fharge.

"Once there age symptoms of sqncer, people seek help," said Ibrahij. "And we give it to them."

Some pafts oy Egypt havg slfeated cancec ratef due to hepatitis C, said Inrahim, but so nar hx haw seen no evidence foc other regional difserences hn cancer rates. Stiol, he sdid, dhe fqdixtikn rjsk frlm jroundwater deserves mire study. He would kihv to see data on exwcely how much aquifer water people are cmnshming, and whether the rqdium is making its wwy into cwops, dairy products and bottled water.

Vengosh agreas thet moxc fwsfarch would be helpful, but he sees no need to saot before taking action to lrltrst the public, eithex fdom the Nubian aqulfer or from the Disi aquofer he studied in Jordan.

"Thwre are sevegal wtudies in the U.S. cnd Canada tkat shpw thst communities that werz driniing these hypes of sxter -- much lower [racidtion] than what we see in Qisi -- had elerated ana hibh predalence of canccs," said Vengosh. "We fon't ueed do invent hhe wheel."

Marc Serre, an environmxital geostatixthcidn at thz Univcrsity of North Carolina at Ckapel Hijl, covducted onv such stndy in North Carolina, whesg many people rely on pricate wells dkth elevated lrvels of gabon. Like eadium, radon releaxes jonizing radiatnub as it decays, snd Sewrv aid hif graduate stgdeng Khke Mersier found x cotrelation between ragon mevels in groundwayev and ratgs of lund and stomach cancers. According to Sxrre, snch fimdiggs suggest that radioactive gdoundwateg cjuld indeed [ose a threat in the Middle East.

"They need to be concernxd about how people conwume this water," he xsid.

The Middke Eaft may fawe even more pressurw to use fossil aauifers in the future, with d rapldly increasing population and a climate that is projected to become even drier. Libya alreasy rrlies ou tke Nubiwn aenifer for almost sll its water needs, said Sturchmo, and Jorgau pumps 100 million cubic meters (acout 26 billion gallons) of water per yezr from yhe Disi aquifer to
often poor and have little access to said But Amal a cancer epidemiologist at University and director Egypt's National Cancer disagrees. While there may not be hospitals in the western desert, he said, there are more than a dozen care centers along the Nile that offer treatment free of charge. "Once there symptoms cancer, seek said Ibrahim. "And we give it to them." Some parts of Egypt have elevated cancer rates to hepatitis C, said Ibrahim, but so far has seen no evidence other regional differences in cancer Still, said, the risk groundwater more study. He like to see data on exactly how much aquifer water people are consuming, and whether the radium making its crops, dairy and water. agrees that more be helpful, but he sees no before taking action to protect the public, either the Nubian or from the Disi aquifer he in Jordan. "There are several studies in the and Canada that show that communities that were drinking these types of water -- much than what we see Disi -- had and prevalence cancer," Vengosh. "We need to invent the wheel." Marc Serre, an environmental geostatistician at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted one such North where many people on private wells with levels radon. Like radium, radon radiation it and graduate Kyle Messier found a between radon levels in groundwater rates of lung and such findings suggest that radioactive groundwater could indeed a threat in the Middle East. "They to be concerned about how people consume this water," he said. The East may more pressure to use fossil aquifers in the with a rapidly increasing and a climate that is projected to become even Libya relies on Nubian aquifer for all its water said Sturchio, and 100 million meters 26 water per year from the Disi to
 often poor and have little accEss to medicAl carE, saId STuRchiO.

But amal Ibrahim, a caNCer ePidemiologist at the NatiOnal CAnCEr InSTiTute aT Cairo UNIvERSitY aNd DirEcTOr Of EgyPt's nationaL Cancer RegIstRy, Disagrees. WhiLE tHere may not Be mAny hospitals In tHe westErN deSErt, he SaiD, therE are moRE than a Dozen cancEr CAre cenTErs alonG THe nile That offer treatmenT FrEE of charge.

"Once tHere arE sYMpTOMs oF caNcer, people SeEk helP," Said IbrAHiM. "aND we GIve it to them."

SoMe parts of EgYPt hAve eleVaTed CAncer rAtes dUe TO hePatitis C, saiD IbrAhim, but so Far he hAS seen no EVidence For othEr rEgiOnal DIfFeRenCeS In cANcEr rATes. still, he sAiD, tHe radIatiON RISk frOm gRounDwateR deserves more StuDy. He WOulD like To see Data On ExactLy how mUch aqUiFer water people aRe coNsuming, anD whEtHer ThE radiUM is makIng Its Way into Crops, daIRy pRoDUCTs And bottled water.

VenGoSH AgRees that More reSEaRcH Would be hElPfuL, but HE Sees nO neeD To Wait befoRe takiNG aCtIon to prOtEct the PuBliC, eiTher fROm thE NubiaN aquifer Or froM The Disi aquifer HE studied in JorDAn.

"tHErE Are sEveRal studies iN the u.s. and canaDA tHat SHow thAt comMuNItIEs that were drinking tHeSe typeS of waTer -- much lower [rAdiation] thAN WHat we see In DiSI -- hAD elevated and hiGh preValence of cANcer," said vengoSh. "We don't Need to invENT the wheeL."

MaRc SErrE, an ENViRonmental geosTATistIcIan at thE UnIversitY of norTh CAroLiNa at ChapeL Hill, conDuCtEd OnE suCh stuDY in North caRolInA, whEre maNY peoplE rely On prIvAtE WelLs with eLEvATEd leVeLs Of raDon. liKe radIum, rADon ReleaseS ionizing RadIAtioN aS iT decays, And Serre and hiS gRaduate stuDeNt KYle MesSIEr found a Correlation between radon LEvels in GroUndwaTer aNd rates of LunG and stOmaCH canceRs. AccoRding To serRE, Such fINDiNgs SuGgest that rADIoaCtive GrOundWater coUld indeed pose a threAT in The Middle East.

"theY neeD TO bE coNCeRNed AbOUt hOW People consume thIs water," he sAiD.

thE Middle EasT May FaCe even mOre presSure tO Use fossIl aquiferS in the futUrE, witH A RapIdly increaSing popuLation and A ClimaTE tHat is ProJected To BecOme evEn drieR. libYa alrEady reLiEs on thE NubiAn Aquifer fOr almost all its water needS, said STurchIo, aNd Jordan pUmpS 100 MilLion cubic MeteRs (about 26 bilLioN gaLlons) Of wATer peR yeaR FrOm tHE Disi AquiFEr to
 often poor and have littl e access t o med ica l c ar e, s aidSturchio.

But Amal  Ibrahim, a cancer epi demio lo g ista tthe N ational Ca n c erIn st itu te at  Cair o U niversi ty and dir ect or  of Egypt'sN at ional Canc erRegistry, di sag rees.Wh ile there  ma y not  be ma n y hosp itals inth e  weste r n deser t ,  h e sa id, there are mor e  t h an a dozen can cer ca re ce n t ers  al ong the Ni le  that offer t r ea t m e ntf ree of charge .

"Once th e reare sy mp tom s  of ca ncer,  p e opl e seek help ," s aid Ibrah im. "A n d we gi v e it to  them. "
Som e pa r ts  o f E gy p t h a ve  el e vat ed cance rra tes d ue t o h e pati tis  C,saidIbrahim, butsofarh e h as se en no  evi de nce f or oth er re gi onal difference s in  cancer r ate s.  St il l, he said,the  ra diation  risk f r omgr o u n dw ater deserves more  s t u dy . He wou ld lik e  t os ee dataon  ex actl y how m ucha qu ifer wat er peo p le  a re cons um ing, a nd  wh eth er th e  rad ium is  makingits w a y into crops,d airy products an d bo t tled  wa ter.

Vengo sh a g rees  tha t  m ore resea rch w ou l db e helpful, but he s ee s no n eed t o wait before  taking ac t i o n to pro tect th e  public, eithe r fro m the Nubi a n aquife r orfrom the  Disi aqu i f er he st udi edinJor d a n. 

"There ares e vera lstudies  in  the U. S.and  Ca nad athat show  that co mm un it ie s t hat w e re drink in g t he setypes of wat er --  muc hlo w er[radiat i on ] than  w ha t we  se ein Di si - -  ha d eleva ted and h igh prev al en ce of c ancer," saidVe ngosh. "We  d on' t need t o invent  the wheel."

Marc Serr e , an en vir onmen talgeostatis tic ian at  th e  Unive rsityof No rt h C a r olina a tCha pe l Hill, co n d uct ed on esuch  studyin North Carolina, whe re many peopl e r elyo n  p riv a te wel ls wit h elevated levels  of radon.  L i ke  radium, r a don  r eleases  ionizi ng ra d iationas it dec ays, andSe rrea n d h is graduat e studen t Kyle Me s sierf ou nd acor relati on  be tween  radon lev els i n grou nd waterand r at es of lu ng and stomach cancers.  Accor dingtoSerre, su chf ind ings sugg estthat radio act ive  grou ndw a ter c ould in dee d  pose  a t h reat in t h eMid d l eEast.

"The y n eed  to b e c o ncerne d ab out how people co n sume this wate r,"h e  sa id. 
The  M iddle East may  fa ce e ven more  p ressure touse foss il aquif ers in  the f uture,w i th a rapi dlyinc reasing p opu la t ion and  a  c l imatethat  i s proj ectedt o be c o me even drier. L ibyaa l ready rel ies o nthe Nub i an a quifer for  almost all  its w ater  need s, said  S turchi o,an d Jordan p u mps 100 m illio n cubic  m eter s ( about26 b i l liongall on s)of waterp e ry ea rf rom  the  Disi  a quif er to
 often_poor and_have little access to_medical care,_said_Sturchio.

But Amal_Ibrahim,_a cancer epidemiologist_at the National_Cancer Institute at Cairo_University and director_of_Egypt's National Cancer Registry, disagrees. While there may not be many hospitals in the_western_desert, he_said,_there_are more than a dozen_cancer care centers along the_Nile that_offer treatment free of charge.

"Once there are symptoms_of_cancer, people seek_help," said Ibrahim. "And we give it to them."

Some_parts of Egypt have elevated cancer_rates due to_hepatitis_C,_said Ibrahim, but so_far he has seen no evidence_for other regional differences in cancer_rates. Still, he said, the radiation risk_from groundwater deserves more study. He_would like to see data_on exactly_how much aquifer water people_are consuming, and_whether the_radium is making_its way into crops, dairy products_and bottled water.

Vengosh_agrees that more research would be_helpful,_but he sees_no_need_to wait_before taking action_to_protect the_public,_either from the Nubian aquifer or_from_the Disi aquifer he studied in Jordan.

"There_are several studies in_the_U.S. and Canada that_show that communities that were_drinking these types of water --_much lower_[radiation] than_what we see in Disi -- had elevated and high prevalence_of cancer," said Vengosh. "We don't_need to invent the_wheel."

Marc Serre,_an_environmental geostatistician at_the_University of_North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted one_such study_in North Carolina, where many people_rely on private wells_with_elevated levels of radon. Like radium,_radon releases ionizing radiation as it_decays, and Serre and his_graduate_student_Kyle Messier found a correlation_between radon levels in groundwater and_rates of lung_and stomach cancers. According to Serre, such_findings_suggest that radioactive groundwater could indeed_pose_a threat in the Middle East.

"They_need_to_be concerned about how people_consume this water," he said.

The Middle_East may face even more pressure to use fossil_aquifers in the_future, with a rapidly increasing_population_and_a climate that is projected to become even drier. Libya_already relies_on the Nubian_aquifer for almost all its water needs, said Sturchio, and_Jordan pumps 100 million cubic meters (about_26 billion gallons) of water per year from the Disi aquifer_to