Cancer Clusters in Long Island – Fact or Fiction?

Long Island has been known to have slightly higher cancer rates than any other area in the New York-Metropolitan area. Scientific studies still cannot prove the link to these cancer clusters, but many cancer sufferers and survivors have their own notions. Some blame pesticides sprayed through a wide portion of the Island every year, others blame the tap water possibly laced with carcinogens, and a few blame the high exposure to electromagnetic fields in towns. Could any of these put Long Islanders at risk for specific cancers?

While pesticides have good intentions, some elements in the chemical have been classified as possible human carcinogens. Pesticides have been used to kill off unwanted feasters (i.e. animals, fungi, insects, microorganisms) on crops, and over the past decade has been used to lower the possibility for spreading the West Nile virus. Chlordane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) have been noted as possible carcinogens to humans. Those most at risk for obtaining this are the normal candidates; farmers, crop dusters, pesticide applicators, and similar occupations. However, some pesticidal remains might stay on fruits and vegetables when shipped to markets. Those who do not wash their produce prior to eating might also be at risk for digesting some carcinogens. Eating chemicals is not that delicious, especially on products that are supposedly clean. Please, wash your fruit and veggies prior to eating.

Studies have found that many carcinogens have been discovered in traces in tap water in many studies, which makes a lot of people slightly frightened. What’s even more frightening is the amount of violations found in many of New York’s water facilities. Evidence has shown that elements such as chlorine and fluoride have been found in tap water, which can do major damage to a person’s physical being. While there has been no real evidence to prove the link between higher cancers rates on the Island to tap water, tap water itself is still a bit unsafe. While there is not much one can do in terms of filtering the water used in showers, drinking water can be easily cleaned by investing in a filtration system such as Brita. Aside from not worrying about carcinogens in your drinking water as much, filtered water has a much cleaner, crisper taste to it. That can’t hurt anybody, right?

Exposure to electromagnetic fields is seen as a big deal to Long Islanders, especially in certain towns. For example, in my hometown of Levittown, NY, power lines that are surrounded by EMFs are scattered in large amounts in our medium-sized town. Not only are houses placed right near these lines, but kids also like to play around these lines like it’s no big deal. The latter is a major concern because studies have proven that heightened exposure to EMFs bring about childhood leukemia. For others, there hasn’t been a study proving any links between sickness and living near power lines yet.

While it has been reported over a decade ago that none of these factors have been proven to increase cancer rates on Long Island, this may not hold true today. Regardless, it seems like everyone should be aware of the carcinogens in his or her everyday life. Seeing as there are many MANY different types of carcinogens existing in our world, it seems more and more likely that everything in our lives causes cancer. Morbid to think about, isn’t it?

~ by jessicaobscura on October 20, 2009.