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Pollution And Cancer....
A possible link between pollution and cancer has been found by a University of Texas study.
One of the aims of the study undertaken by the University was to see if
there was a possible link between childhood leukemia and living close to
the city’s refinery.
The study found that living within two miles of elevated levels of 1,3-butadiene
around the ship channel's petrochemical complex was associated with a 56 percent
increased incidence of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia compared with those
living more than 10 miles away, according to a statement from the city of Houston,
which financed the study.
One of the authors of the report, Ann Coker, professor of epidemiology at the
University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston said: "When we looked
at distance from the ship channel we find data that suggests there is an association
with chemicals in the air and childhood leukemia," This would seem to suggest
a strong link between pollution and cancer.
The Mayor of Houston, Bill White, is reported as saying that the city would use
the University study to support efforts to clean up the area and reduce pollution
from petrochemical plants. It is hoped that other members of the council will
pay attention to the report and investigate how pollution and cancer affect the
children of the area.
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