In the late nineties, the State Department of Health looked into a possible cancer cluster in St. Lucie County. There were 28 cases of brain and central nervous system cancers in kids.
No pattern was established. No cluster proven.
As well and soil tests wrap up this week, some sobering facts about providing clusters exist. The centers for Disease Control conducted 108 cancer cluster investigations between 1961 and 1990. None of them found an environmental cause for cancer.
Local and State Health Departments now bear the burden of investigating clusters and there are 1,000 reported in the U.S. every year. Since 1995, only about 50 clusters have been confirmed in the country.
The DEP tests of wells and the counties tests of soil at schools go forward with the knowledge that in only one case, at Southside High School in Elmira New York, have children been victimized by toxic exposure. 20 cases of testicular cancer was documented.The school had been built near an industrial site.
Toms River, New Jersey, one of three clusters where elevated childhood cancers, particularly neuroblastoma have been tied to chemical leaks from industries into wells and into the local water system.
In Ashland Massachusetts rare cancers in children were linked to kids playingin waste lagoons near a dye plant.
In Libby Montana, a vermiculite mine owned by WR Grace produced asbestos that may have killed as many 100 people. Grace paid 250 million to clean up the waste and covered more than 300 million in medical bills.
In the 90s Attorney Nancy LaVista represented familes in St Lucie County who were convinced their children were sickened by waste from the nuclear power plant. She hopes no stone is left unturned.
"Back then there were 450 different elements to be tested, I would think by 2009 they would be able to test for very possible toxins," said LaVista.
Senator Bill Nelson is leaning on the federal EPA to get its eye on the ball. In a stern letter to the EPA refuted the agencies claim that its data bases found "no knowns sites or releases of hazardous substances in the Acreage" Nelson countered..."to the contrary, two decades ago, the government considered putting a manufacturing site near The Acreage on the Superfund list and considered the Pratt and Whitney site for inclusion on that list. Cleanups got Pratt off the list.
Multiple forms of cancers tend to shoot down cluster theories which is why the states date of type of cancers to be released next week is so critical. If you had any problems obtaining a mortgage in that area, we want to hear from you. Send us a note at Newstips@wptv.com
