Letters.

Abortion story's aftermath

I have some questions regarding the statistics presented in "Study explores abortion's mental aftermath" (SN: 8/19/00, p. 117). The article states that up to 19 percent of women undergoing abortion experience regrets afterward. However, 50 percent of the women in the study have had multiple abortions. It seems reasonable to assume that these women would be far less likely to have regrets than their first-time peers and that to include them would bias the results. So, I conclude that as many as 38 percent of first-timers may have regrets, and the closing statement that "the findings boost confidence that [abortion] doesn't stoke psychological problems" may be based on understated reports.

Kevin Kilzer Chandler, Ariz.

The article says that the "definitive study of abortion's mental aftermath is ethically impermissible." However, reaction to abortion might be compared in two pertinent groups without violating ethics. One group would be those who carry their children to birth and give them up for adoption. Are their rates of dissatisfaction, regret, and depression higher or lower than those of women who chose abortion? The other group would be those who bore and raised their children. While few of them might express regret about not having aborted, comparing their rates of depression with those who had aborted or consented to adoption might be revealing.

Guy R. Loftman Bloomington, Ind.

A fear for aphaeresis 

As a regular platelet-aphaeresis donor, I was alarmed by "New concerns about phthalates" (SN: 9/2/00, p. 152). I would be very curious to know if the standard tubing and centrifuge harness used for aphaeresis contain DEHP. During an aphaeresis session, roughly half the blood of the donor passes through a centrifuge to be relieved of platelets before being returned to the donor. There is a high surface-to-volume ratio in the apparatus, and the blood is in constant motion, which would increase leach rates. Finally, aphaeresis donors can volunteer up to 26 times a year, and many do so for years on end. I would strongly urge those firms that developed alternative plastics to look into marketing them for platelet-aphaeresis apparatus.

Toby Everett Anchorage, Alaska

Tea tale

It's appropriate that research into the genes for caffeine in tea and coffee plants should be done at Ochanomizu University in Tokyo ("Gene find could yield decaffeinated plants," SN: 9/2/00, p. 149). The university is named for the Ochanomizu district of Tokyo, a name that literally means tea water. The name arose in the early 17th century, when the second Tokugawa shogun took such a strong liking to the water from a well in the area that he had the water brought regularly to Edo castle for the brewing of his tea.

Craig R. Bina Northwestern University Evanston, Ill.