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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Jerald Fagliano, MPH, PhD1, Michael Berry, MPH1, James Pasqualo, MS1, Patricia Haltmeier1, James Blumenstock1, and Juan Reyes2. (1) Consumer and Environmental Health Services, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 369, Trenton, NJ 08625, 609-588-3120, jerald.fagliano@doh.state.nj.us, (2) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Executive Park MS-E42, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333
In March 1996, residents of Dover Township, New Jersey, met with federal, state and local officials to voice concerns about elevated childhood cancer and environmental issues in the community. In response, a “public health response plan” was developed to provide a framework for an investigation. The plan included: an updated and expanded evaluation of childhood cancer incidence in the community; assessments of potential exposures and public health impacts of hazardous sites and other environmental pollutant sources; extensive testing of the public water supply; and community and health care provider education. Overall childhood cancer incidence was confirmed to be elevated during the period 1979-1995, primarily due to excesses in leukemia in female children; brain and central nervous system cancer was also elevated among females in a portion of the town. There appeared to be a peak in incidence from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s. Environmental evaluations identified past exposures related to two public water supply well fields, private wells in specific areas, and air pollutant emissions from a chemical manufacturing facility. Findings from the public health response plan led to the development of a case-control epidemiologic study to examine specific hypotheses about childhood cancers and environmental exposures.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Children's Health, Environmental Exposures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.