Article published November 11, 2009
Study finds no cause for cluster of cancer in Clyde
Pollutants near Clyde not a factor, state says
By TOM HENRY
BLADE STAFF WRITER
State environmental and health officials acknowledged yesterday they are no closer to determining the cause of the childhood cancer cluster in the vicinity of Clyde, Ohio, and conceded in a new report it "is possible that a cause may never be known."
The report, discussed privately Monday with families of area cancer victims who have been part of the ongoing study, listed trace amounts of pollutants that have been detected and provided an inventory of what has been gleaned from file reviews of major industries, such as the Whirlpool Corp. and Vickery Environmental Inc.
But it showed nothing out of kilter. Pollutants in water wells, public water supplies, air, and soil were found at levels within U.S. Environmental Protection Agency safety guidelines.
In fact, the Clyde area's numbers for air pollutants so far in 2009 are below those in more industrialized areas such as Cleveland, East Toledo, and Cincinnati, said Dina Pierce, a spokesman for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. "Most of our work is now concluded," she said.
The report can be accessed at www.epa.ohio.gov/pic/clyde.aspx. A copy is available at the Clyde Public Library.
The Ohio EPA will continue taking air samples through the end of the year and will produce a report based on water sampling from area streams this year, she said.The Ohio Department of Health, with assistance from the Sandusky County Health Department, has scoured health records, radiation sources, industry practices, spills, and other potential sources.
The two health agencies likewise have hit a roadblock.
"We may never find a smoking gun," said Robert Jennings, the state health department's public affairs director.
He said it is continuing with research into the area's birth weights, infant mortality, and other reproductive outcomes.
Officials have ruled out many possible causes, which they said has some value.
But they remain baffled.
"They're running out of places to look," said Dave Hisey, whose son Tanner, 11, is among the area children being treated for cancer. The boy got his latest chemotherapy treatment injected through his spine yesterday at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.
"I'm hopeful, but I'm pretty frustrated. It tends to get to you," said Mr. Hisey, manager of a Clyde grocery store.
Warren Brown, Sandusky County clerk of courts, said he and his wife, Wendy, will meet with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) and U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) in Washington next week.
The couple, who live in Clyde, will make presentations to key officials and aides involved with appropriations committees. The Browns want to get the federal government to release more money for childhood cancer research.
The couple lost their 11-year-old daughter, Alexa, to cancer in August.
"We have a whole bunch of [new] data. But they're no closer to determining the cause," Mr. Brown said of the new report.
He said he believes the agencies have done their best but "have an extremely difficult uphill battle."
"Unfortunately, I just don't feel there will ever be a smoking gun in this case," Mr. Brown said.
Contact Tom Henry at:
thenry@theblade.com
or 419-724-6079.
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