A comment on local cancer rates and the environment

The Times News has a story in today's paper titled "Rare blood disease hits home" about one man's experience with polycythemia vera and the public meeting slated for July 9 in Tamaqua about the plans for more research on the local cluster of that disease. I shared a comment at the paper's website that I also wanted to share with Hometown Hazards readers. Here it is in full.



Thanks to Mr. Wertman for having the courage to talk publicly about his illness, to Donnie Serfass for his reporting, and to the Times-News for publishing this story, which helps give a human face to a serious problem affecting the anthracite coal region.

I'd like to share my thoughts about one particular point, to wit: "Some believe the problem is based on industrial pollution, past or present. At the very least, environmental factors are considered a suspect."

That's true. But it's important to keep in mind who that "some" includes, because it's not only those of us who've lived in the area with open eyes and basic common sense who believe environmental pollution is a likely factor behind the unusual cancer patterns. The independent and government scientists who studied the local incidence of the disease also reached that conclusion.

"The close proximity of this cluster to known areas of hazardous material exposure raises concern that such environmental factors might play a role in the origin of polycythemia vera," the researchers said in their published study.

And that was not an easy thing for them to say. As study author Dr. Ronald Hoffman of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine revealed in his sworn testimony earlier this year during a U.S. House subcommittee hearing, ATSDR's management first tried to discourage that research and then tried to prevent the publishing of findings suggesting an environmental connection.

"My sense is that if the agency was left to itself, it would have preferred to ignore the problem," he said.

Hoffman also told Congress that ATSDR misrepresented the study's findings at the October 2007 community meeting in Hazleton (a meeting that lead ATSDR researcher Dr. Seaman missed because his bosses had dispatched him to Africa not long before), demanded that Hoffman not exhibit the maps showing a geographic relationship between PV cases and pollution sources at a national hematology meeting and -- when he refused -- pestered him with repeated phone calls demanding that he either withdraw the abstract of his research, tell the conference that the agency disagreed with him, or present an abridged version of the data.

He called it an "obvious attempt at intimidation."

Also keep in mind that polycythemia vera is not the only cancer that occurs in the tri-county area at an unusually high rate: The Pa. Department of Health Study of cancer rates from 1996 to 2002 also found statistically significantly elevated rates of other cancers:

* In Schuylkill County, buccal cavity and pharynx cancer for males and overall; colon and rectum for males, females and overall; liver cancer overall; pancreatic cancer for females and overall; bronchus and lung cancer for females; cervix and uterine cancer; prostate cancer; and Hodgkin's lymphoma overall.

* In Luzerne County, stomach cancer for males, females and overall; colon and rectum cancer for males and overall; larynx cancer for males and overall; bronchus and lung cancer for females and overall; uterine cancer; thyroid cancer for females and overall; and leukemias for males, females and overall.

* In Carbon County, melanoma of the skin overall.

Some of those cancers could probably be blamed on unhealthy lifestyle choices, sure -- but not all of them. The fact is, too many people in this area are suffering from serious diseases because of the unhealthy choices of polluters and the government.

Federal officials to hold Tamaqua public meeting July 9 about polycythemia vera research plans

The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the troubled Centers for Disease Control and Prevention subdivision that's investigating a Hometown-area cluster of the rare blood cancer polycythemia vera, will hold a public meeting this Thursday, July 9 to discuss how it plans to spend the $5.5 million Congress allocated for the official study into the problem, which researchers believe is environmental in origin.



The meeting will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Tamaqua Area High School auditorium. The ATSDR's press release about the event, posted below in full, says it will provide "an overview of the PV research and other activities that will be funded by a special appropriation. In addition, the principal investigators of three already-identified projects will be on hand for more detailed discussions of their work. The projects include: the Drexel epidemiological study, the McAdoo Superfund Site Water Outflow Study, and the ATSDR JAK2 screening project."

Please note that while the headline says the test indicating whether a person has the JAK2 genetic mutation associated with polycythemia vera is "to be available for area residents," blood draws will in fact be done in August and not at this week's meeting.

* * *

ATSDR Slates July 9 Public Meeting on Polycythemia Vera Issues - JAK2 Testing to Be Available for Area Residents

Carbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill County County, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

ATLANTA - The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will hold a public meeting in the Tamaqua High School auditorium, 500 Penn St, Tamaqua, PA., on Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. to inform area residents of recent efforts regarding polycythemia vera (PV).

At the meeting ATSDR officials will present an overview of the PV research and other activities that will be funded by a special appropriation. In addition, the principal investigators of three already-identified projects will be on hand for more detailed discussions of their work. The projects include: the Drexel epidemiological study, the McAdoo Superfund Site Water Outflow Study, and the ATSDR JAK2 screening project.

The JAK2 genetic marker was discovered in 2004 and found to occur in more than 95% of PV patients. Many experts believe people with PV and related blood disorders may test positive for the JAK2 marker for a number of years before ever exhibiting symptoms of PV. It is not known at this time if the JAK2 marker always leads to PV or another blood disease.

Since the rates of PV are higher in this area of Pennsylvania than other parts of the state, ATSDR will offer free blood tests to the community for the purpose of screening for the JAK2 gene marker. By volunteering for this testing, residents can learn if they carry this marker, even though they are currently without symptoms of PV. Early diagnosis and treatment of PV can prevent or delay complications.

Individuals aged 40 or older are deemed most likely to test positive for the JAK2 marker; however, anyone living in Carbon, Luzerne or Schuylkill County is eligible for the screening. Blood draw clinics will be set up in Hazelton, Tamaqua and Pottsville from August 3-6 and August 10-13, 2009. Individuals are encouraged to make an appointment ahead of time by signing up at the public meeting or by calling 1-877-525-4860.

MEDIA NOTICE: A media availability session with the presenters and ATSDR officials will be held on site prior to the start of the public session from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.