For questions contact:
Dr. Richard Clapp
(617) 638-4731
Well known epidemiologist and Boston University Environmental Health Professor, Dr. Richard Clapp is working together with Dr. Madeleine Scammell also from Boston University and Molly Jacobs of UMass Lowell in their review of a health study at the request of Citizens United for a Healthy Future. The review is regarding the high incidence rates of cancers in the vicinity of the Northampton, MA landfill.
The City of Northampton’s regional landfill which sits atop the Barnes Aquifer has contaminated the groundwater with such toxins as 1,4-dioxane, arsenic, cadmium, methyl ethyl ketone, and tetrahyrdofuran. The Barnes Aquifer supplies water to the communities of Easthampton, Holyoke, Southampton, and Westfield. The landfill has been known to (give) off gas such (as) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as acetone, benzene, and methyl ether ketone in the neighborhood surrounding the landfill.
The odors are part of the VOCs being dispersed in the air. The Northampton regional landfill has had odor problems for many years, stated the city hired attorney Tom Mackie, in a recent landfill zoning appeal defense. For years the residents of this area have been adversely affected by the environmental contaminants from this landfill.
The city of Northampton hired consultants, Gradient Corporation, to conduct an epidemiological health study concerning residents who live within the vicinity of the Northampton landfill. Gradient Corporation wrote in their study that "there does not appear to be an increased incidence of any cancer type examined in the area of the Northampton landfill."
However, a review of the study showed that the total female cancer incidence rate in the vicinity is higher than the state average. Some of the specific female cancers that were higher than what was expected were bladder, breast, lung and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Lung cancer was higher than expected in both males and females and the prostate cancer rate was higher than expected for males living in the vicinity of the landfill.
Dr. Clapp and his colleagues noted that Gradient Table 48, which includes the area most directly around the landfill, has some important findings which are not calculated (NC in the table) but which can be calculated.
The MA State Department of Health was asked by local concerned residents to conduct a health study a year ago. These local residents are also asking that Dr. Clapp’s review of Gradient’s health study be presented at the upcoming September health study meeting.
The Toxics Action Center, is a region-wide environmental and public health non-profit organization and their expert referral network, helped facilitate the connection between Citizens United for a Healthy Future and Dr. Clapp’s research group.
Thank you,
—
Linda Hiesiger
Citizens United for a Healthy Future
www.savingparadise.info
