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Report: No evidence of cancer cluster in Flower Mound
By Chris Roark, croark@acnpapers.com
A report from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) last spring indicated that there is no evidence of a cancer cluster in Flower Mound, and a report released Wednesday reaffirms that.
TDSHS conducted a study last year in the 75022 and 75028 zip codes to determine if there is a cancer cluster. A cancer cluster is defined as a greater-than-expected number of cancers among people who live or work in the same area and who develop or die from the same cancer within a short time of each other.
Last year's study used data from the Texas Cancer Registry from 1998 through 2007, plus preliminary data from 2007 through 2009.
"We included more recent data because there had been concerns from town officials that there wasn't enough updated information," said Christine Mann, spokeswoman for TDSHS.
The conclusion was the same. When the average number of cases was compared to the rest of the state, the number of childhood leukemia subtypes, childhood brain/CNS cancer subtypes, all-age leukemia subtypes and all-age non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were within expected ranges for both males and females.
From 2008-2010, the average number of all cancers in Flower Mound were similar to the average from 1999-2008 in the town. In fact, the largest differential in average cases between the two timeframes was 2.3 average cases from 2008-2010 compared to 1.3 average cases from 1999-2008.
Mann said the preliminary data can change, but it's usually not a big change.
The report, like the one in 2010, also noted that the number of female breast cancer cases in those zip codes was statistically greater than expected compared to the rest of the state.
The average number of breast cancer cases from 2008-2010 (28.0) was also similar to that of the 1999 to 2008 timeframe (29.1).
The report went on to state that the increase is likely because of a rapid increase in population during the times in which the data was collected. There was a 41-percent increase in population from 1999 to 2008. The report also suggests that a higher mammography use compared to the rest of the state may have attributed to the greater-than-expected numbers.
The actual number of breast cancer cases in Flower Mound in 1999 was 13 cases, compared to 45 in 2008. But there were periods of increases and decreases within that span.
The study was originally requested because of residents' concerns of a higher-than-normal amount of cancer cases in the Wellington area of Flower Mound. From 2008-2010, there were three cases of childhood leukemia (all subtypes), and one case of childhood brain/CNS cancer.
Residents questioned if gas drilling activities, which produces a number of organic chemical compound including benzene, was the cause.
Flower Mound officials say despite the report, precaution is still necessary.
"What we know is what we don't know. And what we don't know is what the long-term health effects these industrial operations could be creating in our community," said Mayor Melissa Northern. "These findings give us reason for optimism, but it often takes time for cancer to develop and decades may pass between exposure to the original cause and the appearance of symptoms. For this reason, our efforts are to stop exposure before it happens must continue with intensity and as an added safeguard we must continue to be vigilant in our air quality monitoring."
Mobile air quality testing equipment has been acquired for staff inspectors, monthly air quality testing has been implemented, a new full-time oil and gas inspector was authorized, and the town worked with the state to install a permanent air quality monitoring station. Flower Mound's efforts are funded by gas well drillers who operate in the town through increased permit fees, not local tax dollars.
"There is a human side to this issue that can't be defined within the sterile numbers of a statistical study," said Mayor Pro Tem Al Filidoro. "As long as industrial practices exist in our community that have the potential to create adverse affects for our residents, we will continue to be vigilant."
The report added that there is no research that shows a link between environmental pollutants and breast cancer. It stated that there is no scientific link between benzene, which is associated with gas drilling, and breast cancer.
Also according to the report, the chances of a person developing cancer as a result of an environmental contaminant are slight, adding that most experts agree that pollution, occupational hazards and industrial hazards account for fewer than 10 percent of cancer cases. It stated that it often takes 10 to 40 years from the time a person is exposed to the carcinogen to the time the cancer diagnosis.
The report stated that long-term exposure to high levels of benzene has been associated with leukemia, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It stated that studies addressing the risk of leukemia associated with exposure to low levels of benzene, or less than approximately 1 part per million, have been inconclusive.
It stated that reports link benzene to several lymphatic tumors, but that the association between exposure to benzene and the development of non-hematologic tumors is also inconclusive.
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