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Earlier this month Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed into law a bill aimed at shedding light on cancer data in Delaware.
A Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) study released in April identified eight cancer clusters throughout Delaware, including high incidents of lung cancer in the Millsboro area.
The study was presented to the General Assembly and spurred concern from legislators and Lt. Gov. John Carney, who proposed Senate Bill 235 in response to the Division of Public Health’s refusal to release the data. The legislation, signed into by Minner on July 3, requires DPH to regularly release cancer data at the census tract level.
“This law will ensure that Delawareans get the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” Carney said. “I know this was a difficult decision for the Governor. I believe she made the right decision for the people we serve as elected officials.”
DPH cited privacy concerns in their initial refusal to release the information, but Carney, for one, said the issue is too important to ignore.
“[It’s] about giving the public the information it should have,” he said. “The Division of Public Health had concerns about privacy. I understand that. But this is about building trust between the people and their government.
“Government must take more responsibility for giving Delawareans access to this data. Delawareans need to know that their government is giving them all the information it can about their health and safety.”
Locally, lung cancer rates in the Millsboro area are almost 30 percent above the state average, with an estimated 19 additional new cases annually per 100,000 people (about five “extra cases” per year according to DHSS study).
Although no specific link between environmental elements and cancer rates were provided in the April study, pollution is listed as a potential cause for clusters and the Indian River Power Plant near Millsboro ranks as the highest air polluter in the state according to 2005 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) numbers.
Officials from NRG Energy Inc., which operates the Indian River Power Plant, did reach an agreement with DNREC last August that would cut back nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions by 2012.
“We understand the concern a report of this kind generates,” NRG Communications Manager Dave Knox said after the study’s release, emphasizing the lack of direct linkage in the DHSS report between the plant and cancer rates.
“We support epidemiological studies that can begin to identify the reasons for the higher than average lung cancer rates in Millsboro,” Knox said.
In overall cancer rates between 2000 and 2004, Millsboro ranks just below the state average at 481 new annual incidents of cancer per 100,000 people. All other Sussex County areas ranked near or below the state average as well.
To view specifics about S.B. 235, visit the Delaware General Assembly Web sit at legis.delaware.gov.
For the April DHSS report on cancer clusters, visit www.dhss.delaware.gov.
Earlier this month Gov. Ruth Ann Minner signed into law a bill aimed at shedding light on cancer data in Delaware.
A Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) study released in April identified eight cancer clusters throughout Delaware, including high incidents of lung cancer in the Millsboro area.
The study was presented to the General Assembly and spurred concern from legislators and Lt. Gov. John Carney, who proposed Senate Bill 235 in response to the Division of Public Health’s refusal to release the data. The legislation, signed into by Minner on July 3, requires DPH to regularly release cancer data at the census tract level.
“This law will ensure that Delawareans get the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families,” Carney said. “I know this was a difficult decision for the Governor. I believe she made the right decision for the people we serve as elected officials.”
DPH cited privacy concerns in their initial refusal to release the information, but Carney, for one, said the issue is too important to ignore.
“[It’s] about giving the public the information it should have,” he said. “The Division of Public Health had concerns about privacy. I understand that. But this is about building trust between the people and their government.
“Government must take more responsibility for giving Delawareans access to this data. Delawareans need to know that their government is giving them all the information it can about their health and safety.”
Locally, lung cancer rates in the Millsboro area are almost 30 percent above the state average, with an estimated 19 additional new cases annually per 100,000 people (about five “extra cases” per year according to DHSS study).
Although no specific link between environmental elements and cancer rates were provided in the April study, pollution is listed as a potential cause for clusters and the Indian River Power Plant near Millsboro ranks as the highest air polluter in the state according to 2005 Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) numbers.
Officials from NRG Energy Inc., which operates the Indian River Power Plant, did reach an agreement with DNREC last August that would cut back nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions by 2012.
“We understand the concern a report of this kind generates,” NRG Communications Manager Dave Knox said after the study’s release, emphasizing the lack of direct linkage in the DHSS report between the plant and cancer rates.
“We support epidemiological studies that can begin to identify the reasons for the higher than average lung cancer rates in Millsboro,” Knox said.
In overall cancer rates between 2000 and 2004, Millsboro ranks just below the state average at 481 new annual incidents of cancer per 100,000 people. All other Sussex County areas ranked near or below the state average as well.
To view specifics about S.B. 235, visit the Delaware General Assembly Web sit at legis.delaware.gov.
For the April DHSS report on cancer clusters, visit www.dhss.delaware.gov.
