Chip Implants Linked to Animal Tumors

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Chip Implants Linked to Animal Tumors By TODD LEWAN

The Associated Press

Sunday, September 9, 2007; 7:35 AM

-- When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved implanting

microchips in humans, the manufacturer said it would save lives,

letting doctors scan the tiny transponders to access patients' medical

records almost instantly. The FDA found " reasonable assurance " the

device was safe, and a sub-agency even called it one of 2005's top

" innovative technologies. "

But neither the company nor the regulators publicly mentioned this: A

series of veterinary and toxicology studies, dating to the mid-1990s,

stated that chip implants had " induced " malignant tumors in some lab

mice and rats.

" The transponders were the cause of the tumors, " said , a

retired toxicologic pathologist, explaining in a phone interview the

findings of a 1996 study he led at the Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, Mich.

Leading cancer specialists reviewed the research for The Associated

Press and, while cautioning that animal test results do not

necessarily apply to humans, said the findings troubled them. Some

said they would not allow family members to receive implants, and all

urged further research before the glass-encased transponders are

widely implanted in people.

To date, about 2,000 of the so-called radio frequency identification,

or RFID, devices have been implanted in humans worldwide, according to

VeriChip Corp. The company, which sees a target market of 45 million

Americans for its medical monitoring chips, insists the devices are

safe, as does its parent company, Applied Digital Solutions, of Delray

Beach, Fla.

" We stand by our implantable products which have been approved by the

FDA and/or other U.S. regulatory authorities, " Silverman,

VeriChip Corp. chairman and chief executive officer, said in a written

response to AP questions.

The company was " not aware of any studies that have resulted in

malignant tumors in laboratory rats, mice and certainly not dogs or

cats, " but he added that millions of domestic pets have been implanted

with microchips, without reports of significant problems.

" In fact, for more than 15 years we have used our encapsulated glass

transponders with FDA approved anti-migration caps and received no

complaints regarding malignant tumors caused by our product. "

The FDA also stands by its approval of the technology.

Did the agency know of the tumor findings before approving the chip

implants? The FDA declined repeated AP requests to specify what

studies it reviewed.

The FDA is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services,

which, at the time of VeriChip's approval, was headed by Tommy

. Two weeks after the device's approval took effect on Jan.

10, 2005, left his Cabinet post, and within five months was a

board member of VeriChip Corp. and Applied Digital Solutions. He was

compensated in cash and stock options.

, until recently a candidate for the 2008 Republican

presidential nomination, says he had no personal relationship with the

company as the VeriChip was being evaluated, nor did he play any role

in FDA's approval process of the RFID tag.

" I didn't even know VeriChip before I stepped down from the Department

of Health and Human Services, " he said in a telephone interview.

Also making no mention of the findings on animal tumors was a June

report by the ethics committee of the American Medical Association,

which touted the benefits of implantable RFID devices.

Had committee members reviewed the literature on cancer in chipped

animals?

No, said Dr. Stack, an AMA board member with knowledge of the

committee's review.

Was the AMA aware of the studies?

No, he said...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/09/AR2007090900467.\

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