600 U.S. Neighborhoods Have Air That Could Cause Cancer

WASHINGTON — Millions of people living in nearly 600 neighborhoods across the country are breathing concentrations of toxic air pollutants that put them at a much greater risk of contracting cancer, according to new data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The levels of 80 cancer-causing substances released by automobiles, factories and other sources in these areas exceed a 100 in 1 million cancer risk. That means that if 1 million people breathed air with similar concentrations over their lifetime, about 100 additional people would be expected to develop cancer because of their exposure to the pollution.

The average cancer risk across the country is 36 in 1 million, according to the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment, which will be released by the EPA on Wednesday.

That's a decline from the 41.5 in 1 million cancer risk the EPA found when it released the last analysis in 2006. That data covered 1999 emissions.

"If we are in between 10 in 1 million and 100 in 1 million we want to look more deeply at that. If the risk is greater than 100 in 1 million, we don't like that at all ... we want to investigate that risk and do something about it," said Kelly Rimer, an environmental scientist with the EPA, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Parts of Los Angeles, Calif., and Madison County, Ill., had the highest cancer risks in the nation _ 1200 in 1 million and 1100 in 1 million, according to the EPA data. They were followed by two neighborhoods in Allegheny County, Pa., and one in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.

People living in parts of Coconino County, Ariz., and Lyon County, Nev., had the lowest cancer risk from air toxics. The counties with the least toxic air are Kalawao County, Hawaii, and Golden Valley County, Mont.

"Air toxic risks are local. They are a function of the sources nearest to you," said Dave Guinnup, who leads the groups that perform the risk assessments for toxic air pollutants at EPA. "If you are out in the Rocky Mountains, you are going to be closer to 2 in a million. If you are in an industrial area with a lot of traffic, you are going to be closer to 1100 in 1 million."

The analysis predicts the concentrations of 124 different hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer, respiratory problems and other health effects by coupling estimates of emissions from a variety of sources with models that attempt to simulate how the pollution will disperse in the air. Only 80 of the chemicals evaluated are known to cause cancer, EPA officials said.

The information is used by federal, state and local agencies to identify areas in need of more monitoring and attention.

The data to be released Wednesday covers pollution released in 2002.

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On the Net:

EPA National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA): http://www.epa.gov/nata2002

Comments

[StephenJK]

I grew up around the Bay Area in California and moved to Chicagoland when I was 14 years old. Guess what? I developed Asthma (along with a host of allergies) in the first 6 months I was here. I had to quit running X-country due to my respiratory difficulties. I moved to Germany when I enlisted in the Military and the Asthma symptoms totally disappeared. I was running 2 miles in under 11 minutes with NO breathing problems whatsoever, obviously.

What is really disgusting is that it isn't only our air supply. It is our water supply. Our food supply. Everything is becoming polluted in the US. All in the name of corporate profits. How sickening. Literally.

[Cambridge9]

I developed COPD chronit bronchitis, plus allergies. I had moved to Maine because the people were friendly, the countryside beautiful and the air seemed clean - but I forgot one thing. Weather (including all the toxins in the air) travels east so, while everything here smells clean this state (from reports a few years ago) has one of this country's highest risks of upper respitory problems.

[StephenJK]

Where did you move from? I'm back in Chicagoland now and it appears that I've outgrown most of what I had or just gotten so used to it I don't notice it at all.

I'm actually debating on moving back to Germany. I loved it there and there! Beautiful country. Well maintained. Modern. Food is fantastic. Don't get me started on the beer. OR the women. YOWZAH!

This country has lost its way in the name of the corporation. The corporation has polluted everything. Including our political landscape.

[Lasnoe]

so what do the geniuses in Washington propose???? to cut CO2 emissions!

Unbelievable......

[LeftCoastLarry]

Are you feeling all right? You're being rather incoherent.

[Oakland]

Great map. This law is nothing. It is so watered down, why bother.

[zizyphus]

First, legalize cannabis-hemp so we can grow our economy. By using hemp as a biofuel, and also making biochar from it, we could be sequestering carbon, as well as drawing carbon out of the atmosphere.

It is estimated that if biochar and agrichar were implemented globally, the earth could be carbon negative in a decade. This simple, ancient technology is not being funded because it doesn't benefit the bankers or oil companies. It would, however, benefit everyone else, and give our descendants a chance at life.

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/May07/biochar.climate.ssl.html

[zizyphus]

So the best air in Hawaii is the former Leper Colony? Good news.

[loki]

by the way, Madison Illinois is the home of major oil refineries. I wonder if that has a little to do with the problem..

[loki]

Uh, if I recall correctly Madison County Illinois is directly across the river from St. Louis Missouri. Im talking less than 1 mile away. And there is not wall or filter between Madison county and St. Louis, or other surrounding towns and cities of that county. So would that mean the St. Louis air is just as cancer causing as Madison's? Or does the EPA make reports tailored to political positions and power?

[zizyphus]

You are right. Alton, home of the legendary Piasa Bird and Robert Wadlow, the Alton Giant, is in Madison County.

[rshrink]

So, it might be a good idea to clean up the air, to reduce health problems? Is this a new idea? One has to wonder about these numbers. The truth is 1 in 3 people will get cancer at some point in their life. Could pollutants in the air, food and water be responsible for that? Given our track record of finding causes and cures, it seems highly likely. Humans seem to be a self destructive species indeed. Lets see how many ways we could poison ourselves.

[SierraClubGreenHome2]

Of course everything is relative. I think as a whole, the vast majority of the US isn't too bad and hopefully we're headed in the right direction with new legislation. Could be worse. Check this out:
http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/featured-article/the-cleanest-and-the-most-polluted-cities/

[Lobo72]

The best answer is what we've known now for years: Get off fossil fuels now, starting with coal.

[ohiodem250]

If you follow the link and look at the maps the EPA has prepared you will notice the major areas of concentration are the metropolitan areas and heavily populated areas of the country. Did we really need a study to tell us that? This seems like a waste of time. Stop studying - start researching effective solutions that incentivize businesses instead of punishing them for operating within their means.

[cluedweasel]

Interesting stuff. On a state by state basis, the real shock, to me at least, is that Oregon comes 3rd. My own county of residence does badly. We are on the east of the Cascades in the high desert. The elevation is around 4,000 ft, we have no freeways, no heavy industries (we barely have any to be honest) and about 130,000 people spread out over 3,000 square miles.
Maybe the guy i thought was a nutter, posting on CL about chemtrails was right after all.

[BannedNBoston]

Cut NOX 70% Cut Carbon Particulates 50%
Halo Spark Plugs $10
Pulstar Spark Plugs $25
FITCH FUEL CATALYST $200
Turbinator $40
25% MORE MPGS

[ronnald]

stop the chemtrails.

[ronnald]

if the government would stop the chemtrails,that would be a start.