Where is series on cancer cluster?

[Guest guest]

Q. Barbara, where can I find a copy of the investigation on cancer clusters

in Florida. I remember you wrote something about it a while back but can't

find it. S.A.

A. If I remember correctly, I posted the URL of an extensive investigation

by the Pensacola News Journal into increased cancer in Escambia and Santa

counties. The URL for this series is

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/environment/hidhaz.shtml

One of my favorite parts of this series is the following story:

SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2001

Health Dept. concerned about toxic exposure

Concerns about the amount of toxic pollution legally discharged each year in

Escambia County have sparked many questions about the possible health

impacts these chemicals are having on our community.

Dr. Lanza, director of the county's Health Department, shares those

concerns. Following are Lanza's answers to questions posed by News Journal

reporter Streater:

Q: Escambia County is one of the leaders nationwide in the amount of toxic

chemicals released into the environment. Is all this pollution making us

sick?

A: Based on anecdotal information that I've picked up over the years, and

especially speaking with other doctors and pulmonary physicians in the area

concerned about the fact that our infant mortality rate is going up instead

of going down ... I can't believe that the amount of toxic materials that

are put into the air, water and soil is not affecting us in some way.

One of the stories I keep hearing all the time is that people, especially

military people who have lived all over the world, don't have allergies or

they don't have respiratory problems until they come to Escambia County. I

think it's more than just allergies. It may be allergies plus the irritants.

I don't think it's any one smoking gun. I think it's a combination of a lot

of different things.

Q: Does it concern you that Escambia County ranks No. 38 nationwide in the

release of neurological and developmental toxins?

A: Yes, it does. Especially as a pediatrician. To any pediatrician it's very

significant because as brain studies have shown ... the first three years

are the most significant to determine what that person is going to be for

the rest of their lives.

So if we are in an area where there are materials that could potentially

affect a child's development, it's going to affect them for the rest of

their lives. And that's a great concern to any health- care provider, or any

parent, and I'm a parent.

Q: Will we ever know for sure whether releases of toxic chemicals locally

are hurting us?

A: We could have more information available if appropriate, well-planned

studies are performed in our community. Unfortunately, they are very

expensive studies to perform. They take many years.

We've made some steps towards doing that by applying for some federal

grants. But with the budget crunches that are going on locally in our county

and statewide, our only hope of long-term studies ... is to try to find some

federal funding, or private sources.

Q: Why haven't local physicians and health experts tackled this issue?

A: This is not something that is typically covered in medical school.

There are local people who are interested in toxic problems. But generally,

it's probably lack of knowledge, lack of information. One of the things that

we're trying to do at the Health Department is educational programs for the

physicians. We had a first environmental health symposium here at the Health

Department back in October. We're planning another environmental health

symposium for physicians and other health-care providers on May 11 at the

conference center at Sacred Heart, and we would invite all physicians who

are interested to come. So, we are getting the word out.