Agenda - 06-13-2006-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~a Summary of the Cancer Assessment Studies The Orange County Health Department concludes that results gathered through the Mill Creek Cancer Assessment Survey do not indicate a cancer cluster. This is confirmed through the findings of the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry. Of the 86 responsive households containing 198 persons, 29 cancer diagnoses (14.6%) were reported, Twelve different cancers were reported with no single cazicer being reported more than four times, Single cases of most cancers were the norm in the survey results. The most often reported cancers were breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate (45% of those reported) that have high incidence rates within the county, state, and nation. In addition, most of the reported cancers were diagnosed aniong people who were within the typical age gr°oup for being diagnosed with their particular cancer.. The absence of a cancer cluster is further indicated when comparing the year of cancer diagnosis to the year the person moved into their Mill Creek area home. Four of the 29 (13.7%) of the cancer diagnoses were found before the person moved to the Mill Creek Road area. The Health Department concurs with the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry in concluding that the data do not suggest any further study is indicated. Water Quality Assessment This section of the report includes the water and air sample results from the Mill Creels study area, with a compazison of water sample results countywide where there is an established database. The countywide results are based on sampling tlu~oughout Orange County from July 2004 through January 2006. The number of'sampling points are reflected on each chart. Staff recognizes that the samples taken and analyzed are a point in time evaluation of the water supplies,. There are many factors that cazi influence a water supply over time and these results should not be taken as an assurance that the well water system will be the same over time. Periodic water tests are the best way to ensure the water supply is continually safe for human consumption. Methodology All households in the defined Mill Creek Road community who completed and returned azi application for water samples from September 12, 2005 through December 14, 2005 were included in the assessment. Once the application was received in the Environmental Health office, it was logged into an electronic database and put into the list for a field visit to collect the array of samples. That array included: • bacteriological, inorganic chemical, pesticides, • frill petroleum, • radon in air, and radon in water Wells were sampled regardless of the age, depth, condition, or construction of the well. To assure integrity in the study, Enviromnental Health Specialists who are also Registered Sanitariazis in North Carolina were the only staff involved in the collection of samples. They generally worked in the community in teams of two and also delivered informational and educational Page 10 of 47