Where You Live May Increase Your Risk of Cancer

Millions of people living in the United States have an increased risk of cancer, based on the neighborhoods where they live, according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report. Those living in California, New York and Oregon have the highest risk of cancer, caused from increased levels of toxic chemicals released by cars, factories, and other sources.

During the largest study of the United States air quality, the EPA’s National-Scale Air Assessment or NATA, it was determined those living around major cities, including New York and Los Angeles, had increased risks of cancer due to air pollution. However, the study found a couple of rural areas in Mississippi and Kentucky also had significantly higher risks of cancer, according to USA Today. The community with the highest risk was located outside of Los Angeles in Cerritos, California, in a neighborhood tucked between two freeways. Those living in this community have increased risks for cancer of 1,200 in every 1 million people, according to the EPA, compared to the national average of 36 in every 1 million people. The newly released study actually shows a decline from 41.5 in 1 million people, found in the 2002 EPA report that was based on 1999 pollutant data.

While there are several communities across the U.S. with increased risks of cancer due to air pollutions, there are also those which have low risks, based on their air quality. Kalawao County in Hawaii and Golden Valley County in Montana, according to the EPA’s report, have the least toxic air. Those with the lowest risk of cancer from air toxins were Coconino County, Arizona and Lyon County, Nevada. Dave Guinnup, a member of the EPA and leader of the team which performed the assessments for toxic air pollutants said, “Air toxic risks are local. They are a function of the sources nearest to you.” He added, “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 closer to 1100 in 1 million.”

The EPA established a baseline of any risks over 100-in-a million as unacceptable. However, based on the newly released data, there are millions of U.S. residents living with risks of developing cancer from air pollutants much higher than these baseline standards. The EPA’s report, NATA, consisted of county-by-county analysis of air pollution, covered 181 air toxics, with only 80 known by the EPA to be cancer-causing pollutants. The study determined 30 percent of all air pollutant cancer risks are from mobile emissions, 25 percent are from industry emissions and 45 percent are from “background toxics,” those with no known emission sources, such as tetrachloride.

Based on the new 2006 study, recently released by the EPA, we can see improvements to air quality, with the overall cancer risks to Americans decreasing to 36 in every 1 million people who are exposed to air toxins. However, it seems several areas within the United States still have significantly increased risks of cancer, based on the neighborhoods or areas where they live, depending on the proximity to automobile traffic or industries. John Walke, a senior attorney at the National Resources Defense Council said, “The implication for me is we still have a long way to go to reduce toxic air pollution to protect the public.” He added, “It still shows an unacceptable number of Americans being exposed to cancer risk solely attributed to air pollution on top of all the other risks from smoking and indoor air pollution and other risks.”