Study Links Cancer Rate to Mass. Dye Plant

[Judi Lynn]

Study Links Cancer Rate to Mass. Dye Plant
Study Links High Cancer Rate to Waste Ponds at Former Mass. Industrial Site

By MARK JEWELL

BOSTON Apr 26, 2006 (AP)— A disturbingly high number of cancer cases have been linked to a former textile dye-making plant and its waste ponds, where several people now battling cancer swam when they were children, state health officials say.

A seven-year study found that people who grew up in Ashland between the late 1960s and early '80s and swam in contaminated ponds were two to three times more likely to develop cancer than those who had no contact with the water.

The cancer rate was nearly four times greater among people with a family history of cancer and who also swam or waded in waste lagoons and contaminated wetlands near the Nyanza Inc. dye plant, the Department of Public Health said Tuesday.

Investigators interviewed 1,387 people who were aged 10 to 18 years old during the period 1965 to 1985 and lived in Ashland.

The study found 73 cases of cancer and eight cancer-related deaths. About two-thirds of the cancers were diagnosed before age 35, and many involved rare forms.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1891488

[Atman]

1. HOLY SHIT! I grew up in ASHLAND!

In the 1960s! Holy, holy shit! We used to go wade in the swamps and wetland grabbing frogs! I gotta looking into this some more!

[Judi Lynn]

4. Uh, oh, Atman. Very sorry to bring you scary news. Very, very sorry.

Really hope this threat won't affect you or your family or friends at all, not ever.

[matcom]

2. Mrs Matcom grew up in Ashland and was part of that study

and is a cancer survivor.

she tells of walking to school and jumping over florecent green puddles as a kid

[Judi Lynn]

5. Unbelievable! GREEN puddles. Who wouldn't be sick?

Hope Mrs. Matcom's worst days are completely behind her.

[matcom]

6. 6 years cancer free

Ashland is (was) a very small new england town. ALL the kids swam in the same ponds growing up. everyone knew each other. we live 2 towns over now. this is huge news up here today but not shocking to anyone

[HereSince1628]

3. And the corporate perps get to pay 25 cents on the dollar for

the clean up.

Sounds fair, doesn't it?