|
Jan. 23, 2009
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - Two separate state studies have concluded
that no link exists between cancers identified among Susquehanna
University alumni and environmental factors in the surrounding
community of Selinsgrove.
A new report issued Jan. 23 by the Pennsylvania
Department of Health confirms earlier findings by the state Department
of Environmental Protection that rule out environmental threats
to student health. To support the unprecedented DOH study, administrators
at Susquehanna University voluntarily supplied the records of
thousands of alumni to state epidemiologists.
Using state cancer
registries, the agency measured the reported number of cancer
cases among alumni who graduated from 1985-2004 against the number
of cases for the general population of Pennsylvania. Two types
of cancer—melanoma and testicular cancer—were more prevalent in
Susquehanna alumni, but according to the report, they have no
known association with environmental factors.
"Although the total
number of cancers detected in the alumni cohort exceeded the expected
number, there is no evidence that this results from an environmental
exposure that occurred at the university, or that it is associated
with university attendance," the DOH report said. "The overwhelming
preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion.
"First, there
is no similar increase in the surrounding community that would
[indicate] greater exposure to environmental risks. Second, the
types of cancer responsible for the excess identified cases have
known alternative explanations or are not ones associated with
known environmental toxic exposures. Third, the sampling done
by PADEP (the Department of Environmental Protection) did not
identify hazardous elements in and around the location of greatest
concern."
DOH officials noted that the study is the largest ever
undertaken by the department. They said they know of no other
university that has undergone such scrutiny.
"Thanks to the exhaustive
work by two state agencies, we now know that nothing in the Selinsgrove
environment is harming our students—past or present," said Susquehanna
University President L. Jay Lemons. "We can now speak with greater
confidence and certainty than any other university in the nation
about the safety of our environment. While the findings related
a greater-than-expected incidence rate of cancer overall, and
melanoma and testicular cancer in particular, state officials
have told us that they would expect similar findings in any study
involving similar institutions."
Melanoma and testicular cancer
are on the rise in Pennsylvania and the country. Paul Chrostowski,
Ph.D, a Maryland-based environmental health engineer and applied
toxicologist with more than 30 years' experience, added that the
cancers also are more prevalent in white populations. For the
period in question, 90 percent or more of Susquehanna alumni were
white, compared with 82 percent in Pennsylvania.
"Further, these
cancers are more prevalent in young people," Chrostowski said.
"And one might expect higher recorded incidents among an educated
population because it is more likely to have access to health
care screening and detection."
Both studies were prompted by speculative
reports in the Harrisburg Patriot-News suggesting that environmental
contamination may have caused cancer among SU students and Selinsgrove
residents. Begun in March 2007 and completed that May, the DEP
study used a variety of sampling and collection methods to test
for 68 volatile organic compounds and 99 semi-volatile organic
compounds — common chemical compounds ranging from benign to dangerous.
Researchers found no imminent public health risks in the area,
nor evidence of any past threat.
The DEP report said "while no
absolute conclusions on what may have been present in the past
can be drawn, the investigation did not find any residual contamination
in the soil or groundwater that would indicate that a significant
unknown source of exposure was formerly present that would have
posed an unacceptable health risk."
DEP officials say the study
was more extensive than any previous non-Superfund study conducted
by the agency. Chrostowski added, "The sampling program is virtually
unprecedented in the United States with respect to both number
of samples and the sophisticated analytical equipment employed."
|
Contact: Gerald Cohen
570-372-4118
|
|
Information on the Web:
Pa. Department of Health Report, 1/23/09
Pa. Department of Environmental Protection Report, 5/8/2007
Susquehanna's Environmental Information Web Pages
Melanoma information from the American Cancer Society
Testicular Cancer information from the American Cancer Society
and National Cancer Institute
| 
