Childhood Cancer
Update – September, 2002
Greater Pottstown Area Statistics
Pottstown Borough, West Pottsgrove, Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgove
North Coventry, and Douglass Berks Township
Source: PA Cancer Registry Data for 1995–1999
Childhood Cancers Compared to the National Average
(Ages 0-19) All Cancers Diagnosed from 1995–1999
for the Greater Pottstown Area, Tri-County Area, and State
| Greater Pottstown Area | + 92.5% |
| Tri-County Area (Montgomery, Berks, Chester) | - 0.8% |
| Pennsylvania | - 2.9% |
Leukemia and brain/central nervous system cancers comprise half of these childhood cancers.
Greater Pottstown Area Children have cancer rates
almost 100% higher than the remainder of the Tri County Area and PA, and 92.5 % higher than the national average.
Children Are The Barometers Of Our Society
The youngest in society are most susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of pollutants. Because the developing fetus, infant, and child are most susceptible to the harmful effects of pollutants, childhood cancer is often a key indicator of any potential hazards. Nationwide, cancer is the #1 disease-related death in children.
Greater Pottstown Area children have been compared to children across the nation, state, and in the remainder of the Tri County area. All children are exposed to similar environmental pollutants, including pesticides and herbicides, cleaning chemicals, mold, second hand smoke, vehicle emissions, and even genetic factors.
So what is the difference between our children and those who live in other parts of the county, the state, and the nation?
Greater Pottstown Area children face a “CHEMICAL PLAGUE”.
They are overexposed to massive cancer causing chemicals emitted into the air they breathe 24 hours a day, every day, close to their homes, schools, athletic fields, and parks. The TOXIC TRIANGLE is the MAJOR DIFFERENCE!
These shocking childhood cancer statistics
demonstrate the need for immediate action to reduce and/or eliminate cancer risks for Greater Pottstown Area children.
Montgomery County - Rising Death Rates
- Childhood (age 1-14) Cancer Death Rate Rose 71% from 1980s to 1990s Childhood cancer deaths are down in surrounding counties, state, & nation
- Asthma (all ages) Death Rate Rose 33% from 1980s to 1990s
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease control (CDC)
For more information on these statistics contact Joseph Mangano (718) 857-9825
Montgomery County - Rising Cancer Incidence
1985-1986 to 1996-97 - largest increases in newly-diagnosed cases
| Prostate | +132% |
| Thyroid | +128% |
| Kidney | + 96% |
| Multiple Myeloma | + 91% |
| Melanoma (Skin) | + 72% |
| Hodgkin's Disease | + 67% |
| Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma | + 61% |
| Breast | + 61% |
| Pancreas | + 54% |
| Leukemia | + 48% |
Source: Pennsylvania State Cancer Registry
For more information on these statistics contact Joseph Mangano (718) 857-9825
People In Montgomery County Need Toxic Release Reductions
Over 670,000 people in Montgomery County face a cancer risk more than 100 times the goal set by the Clean Air Act.
(Environmental Defense Scorecard)
Common sense suggests a correlation between Montgomery County Cancer Statistics and our Significantly Elevated Cancers in the Greater Pottstown Area. We are directly exposed to the HAZARDOUS emissions from the #1 polluter in the county (Occidental Chemical), a massive industrial waste landfill (the Pottstown Landfill), and the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant.
HAZARDOUS Pollution Scorecard
How does Montgomery County Compare to Other U.S. Counties?
Reported by Environmental Defense Scorecard - EPA Toxic Release Inventory Data
- Air Releases of Recognized Carcinogens -Top 10%
- Air & Water Releases of Cancer Risks -Top 10%
- Air Quality – Top 10% Worst in the Nation # of person-days exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- Air & Water Releases of Health Hazards(non-cancer) -Top 20%
- Total Toxic Releases -Top 20 %
Air Quality – Top 10% WORST in the Nation
In Number of Days Exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Environmental Defense Scorecard says over 670,000 people in Montgomery County face a cancer risk more than 100 times the goal set by the Clean Air Act.
Is there a link between
Montgomery County’s Shocking Cancer Statistics &
Hazardous Releases to the AIR & Water in Montgomery County?
Research on the chemicals released and common sense say a link is undeniable!
Montgomery County and parts of Chester County
are downwind from the Greater Pottstown Area’s hazardous emissions.
- The industrial waste Pottstown Landfill emits hundreds of extremely hazardous chemicals and their even more toxic combinations in addition to very concentrated heavy metals such as lead and mercury. This gas contains radiation and produces dioxin by-products from 5 sources of combustion at the Pottstown Landfill. Pottstown Landfill’s hazardous air emissions travel about 4 miles downwind into …
- Occidental Chemical’s cancer causing vinyl chloride and dioxin emissions. According to the Environmental Scorecard, Occidental is the largest polluter in the nation of vinyl chloride. For Details on toxicity of vinyl chloride refer to www.pbs.org “Trade Secrets”. Vinyl chloride is a potent cancer-causing chemical found in many parts of Montgomery County and parts of Delaware County to be 10 to 20 times EPA’s health benchmarks. According to DEP, Occidental is the only listed emitter of vinyl chloride in Montgomery county. Occidental’s extremely hazardous air emissions travel downwind just .7 of one mile into the…
- Limerick Nuclear Power Plant’s radiation emissions, which add on to and synergize with Occidental and Pottstown Landfill hazardous air emissions. Some of the most hazardous substances known to mankind are combined and intensified in the emissions of these three facilities, then travel downwind into the rest of Montgomery and parts of Chester County.
PA DEP permitted Occidental to INCREASE HAZARDOUS air emissions by burning toxic Pottstown Landfill gas as fuel. This will CONCENTRATE the most the most hazardous air emissions, which then travel directly into the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant’s radiation emissions. How could DEP allow Occidental, one of the worst polluters in the state, to increase Occidental’s threat to so many people downwind?
Tell Governor Rendell He Must Reverse DEP’s Dangerous Decision.
ACE
P.O. Box 3063
Stowe, PA 19464
ace@acereport.org
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