> UMass. LOWELL REPORT: TOXIC CHEMICALS CAN CAUSE CHILDHOOD CANCER;
NEW
> DATA ON CHILDHOOD CANCER RATES IN MA
>
> (Boston, MA) The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and the Boston
> University
> School of Public Health announce new report findings that chemicals,
such
> as pesticides, solvents, petrochemicals and industry byproducts can
cause
> childhood cancer. The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production report
> also found higher rates of cancer among African American and Latino
> children in Massachusetts.
>
> 3From the accumulating evidence, the picture is becoming clear that
some
> chemicals in our environment, food, and products we use everyday can
> cause childhood cancer,2 said Joel Tickner, ScD who co-authored 3Toxic
> Chemicals and Childhood Cancer: A review of the evidence,2 at the
> University of Massachusetts Lowell. 3This evidence is strongest for
> linking pesticide and solvent exposures to leukemia, brain and central
> nervous system cancers.2
>
> 3A panel of experts recently concluded that genetic predisposition
> accounts for no more than 20 percent of all childhood cancers and that
> environmental causes could account for 5 - 90 percent, depending on
the
> type of cancer,2 said Richard Clapp, professor of environmental health
at
> the BU1s School of Public Health. 3The good news is that these high
rates
> of childhood cancer are not inevitable, and that we can prevent
childhood
> cancer by removing toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards
take
> steps to better protect our children.2
>
> The report, based on examination of the published literature on
> epidemiologic studies, animal toxicologic data and other peer-reviewed
> sources, found evidence that:
>
> 1. Children have an increased likelihood of certain types of cancer if
> they or their parents have been exposed to pesticides and solvents.
One
> study found that children were 11 times as likely to develop brain
cancer
> if their mothers were exposed to pesticide sprays or foggers during
> pregnancy.
>
> 2. Children whose parents are exposed to petroleum-based products or
> combustion by-products such as dioxins and polycyclic aromatic
> hydrocarbons have an increased likelihood of leukemia, and possibly
brain
> and central nervous system cancers. A study found that children of
> parents exposed to petroleum products in their jobs were 2.4 times as
> likely to develop acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.
>
> 3. Children can face an increased likelihood of cancer if they or
their
> parents were exposed to these chemicals prior to conception, in the
womb,
> or in early childhood. One study found that children of fathers who
> worked with benzene or alcohols used in industry prior to pregnancy
were
> nearly 6 times as likely to develop leukemia
>
> 4. African American and Latino children in Massachusetts had
> approximately 25% more diagnosed cancers than white, Asian and Pacific
> Islander children.
>
> 5. In Massachusetts, approximately 2,688 children ages 0-19 were
> diagnosed with cancer and 394 died from 1990 1999.
>
> 3The pain the whole family suffers when your child is diagnosed with
> cancer is unimaginable,2 said Kathy Barry, spokesperson for Concerned
> Citizens Network of Wilmington. 3We must take every step to better
> protect our children and prevent this tragedy where possible.2
>
> "That communities of color are exposed to so many toxic chemicals
in
> their
> communities is a terrible injustice which must be stopped, 3 said Ali
> Noorani, Director of Public Health, Health Services Partnership of
> Dorchester. 3It is
> unacceptable that young children of color should bear the burden of
the
> toxic exposures which lead to cancer."
>
> 3It is very likely that children1s cells are particularly susceptible
to
> the effects of environmental agents,2 said Sarah Vargas, MD, pediatric
> pathologist at the Children1s Hospital. 3As a practicing pathologist
> involved in the diagnosis of benign and malignant childhood tumors
> virtually daily, I hope to raise awareness about this important
issue.2
>
> 3 The Brain Tumor Society, a national organization committed to
finding a
> cure for brain tumors and helping to improve the quality of life for
> brain tumor patients, survivors and families, supports the effort to
> probe epidemiological evidence that may determine potential causes of
> childhood brain tumors, the leading cause of solid tumor cancer
death,2
> said Neil P. Levitan, Executive Director, of the Brain Tumor Society.
>
> The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, a coalition of 110 health,
> community, labor, scientific and environmental groups, commissioned
the
> report to educate the public on the extreme importance of reducing
toxic
> chemicals as a means to prevent growing chronic diseases. The
coalition
> is pressing lawmakers to pass legislation that would launch a program
to
> require that toxic chemicals be replaced by safer alternatives
wherever
> possible.
>
> 3No one should bear the tragedy of childhood cancer unnecessarily,2
> concluded Deborah Forter, Executive Director of the Massachusetts
Breast
> Cancer Coalition. 3We must replace toxic chemicals with feasible safer
> alternatives.2
>
>
> **********************
> Cindy Luppi
> Clean Water Action
> Clean Water Fund
> 36 Bromfield St. #204
> Boston, MA 02108
> Ph: 617/338-8131 Fax: 617/338-6449
> E-mail: cluppi@cleanwater.org