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Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma News - Return to News Menu
Cancer group turns adviser
Parent group formed to investigate cases of lymphoma has become broad-based advocate for clean environment
BY MITCHELL FREEDMAN
STAFF WRITER
EAST HAMPTON November 19, 2004 Seven years ago, people began to notice a disturbing number of lymphoma cases among recent graduates of East Hampton High School. Eight cases of Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma were eventually found, a startlingly high number for a school district with fewer than 2,000 students.
Based on state averages for incidences of lymphoma, a community the size of East Hampton would on average see less than one case a year. Over the years, at least four more graduates who are now 18 to 30 were diagnosed with other types of cancer. In response, some parents formed the East Hampton Cancer Task Force in 1998, and demanded investigations by local and state health officials. But no cause was ever found.
And the people who once lobbied for the problem to be investigated have taken on a new role. They've changed their name to the East Hampton Town Environmental Health Committee and advise the town board. The group, whose members believe that pollution adds to the threat of cancer, also works to reduce environmental pollution.
Until its recent reincarnation, the group had a different focus. People were interviewed by researchers and examined by physicians, and soil and water samples were taken throughout the community. Even though the cases were officially designated by the state health department as a cancer cluster, they never found a source.
Farm chemicals in the soil were no different than the chemicals used on farms in neighboring Southampton or on the North Fork, places that did not have comparable rates of cancer. There were no distinctive airborne pollutants. "In the end, they said they couldn't find a smoking gun," said Sue Avedon, one of the community activists who lobbied for the testing. "The good news is they're all alive," said Prudence Carabine, about the students, one of whom is her son. "But they have to go for testing every three months."
On Wednesday night, the renamed committee held a forum at the East Hampton Middle School to talk about the dangers of household cleaning agents. While their guest speaker canceled at the last minute, the members still discussed ways to substitute common household cleaning agents with materials considered environmentally friendly and nontoxic, such as soaps without additives or boric acid.
On Wednesday, the group also gave its support to Suffolk Legis. Jay Schneiderman (R-Montauk), who has introduced a bill to ban the use of nonessential pesticides, including compounds used by homeowners to treat their lawns.
His bill defines nonessential pesticides as any chemicals used to control or destroy pests and registered with the Environmental Protection Agency that is used primarily for "achieving an aesthetic landscaping goal." It would not cover chemicals used for swimming pools, or on golf courses or for farm use.
Schneiderman tried to pass a similar bill in 2000 when he was East Hampton town supervisor. However, the law was not adopted because state law mandates that federally approved pesticides can be regulated only by New York State.
A spokesman for Schneiderman said the state is likely to make the same argument, but that Schneiderman wants to bring public attention to the issue again on a larger stage.
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