The State Health Department released its report Tuesday on instances of cancer found near the former Lake Ontario Ordnance Works (LOOW) and Niagara Falls Storage Site (NFSS) in the towns of Lewiston and Porter.
Based on community input, three study areas were identified: the Lewiston-Porter Central School District (No. 1), the entire former LOOW site (No. 2), and areas downstream and downwind of the former LOOW (No. 3). The study evaluated cancer incidence among people of all ages in each study area who were diagnosed with cancer from 1991-2000.
A summary of the study’s findings:
• Researchers found no unusual cancer patterns in areas No. 2 and 3, where people would have been most likely to have been exposed to any contaminants in the air, soil or carried away in surface water.
A high number of prostate cancers were found in areas 1 and 2. The higher numbers may be attributed to medical care practices such as prostate screenings.
• Statistically high numbers of several other cancers were found in area 1. There were greater-than-expected numbers of women with breast and bladder cancer. The cancers are not likely due to exposures received while the women attended schools on campus because most of the excesses were in older women who went to school before the campus was built.
• There was an excess in cancers of children living in area 1 and in children ages 10-14, not all of whom attended Lew-Port.
Unsual numbers of testicular cancer in young men and gonadal and germ cell tumors in children were also found. However, conclusions cannot be drawn about these higher numbers and a relationship to exposures to any contaminants from the sites because there is insufficient information about where the individuals went to school or other possible risk factors involved.
• More recent data shows that after the year 2000, the unusual numbers of childhood cancers in general, and childhood gonadal and germ cell tumors in particular, did not continue.
• The possibility that the occurence of the cancers was the result of chance can not be ruled out.
A public meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at the auditorium of the Lewiston-Porter High School. Experts from the state Department of Health will provide an overview and answer questions about the Lewiston-Porter cancer incidence investigation.
Environmental investigations related to past federal activities at the former LOOW are the responsibility of several federal agencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting environmental investigations on behalf of the federal departments of Defense and Energy.
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