The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released a press release last week regarding an investigation they did concerning a possible elevation of cancer in Flower Mound, TX. Flower Mound is northwest of Dallas, TX and one of the towns swept up in the air quality concerns as it relates to Barnett Shale drilling. The investigation was in response to local citizen’s concerns that benzene from drilling could be causing an increase of cancer in the area.
According to the DSHS report, Summary of Investigation into the Occurrence of Cancer, “Since benzene has been shown to have an association with leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the scientific literature, and to a lesser degree with childhood leukemias, the TCR [(Texas Cancer Registry)] evaluated complete, statewide incidence data (1998–2007) for childhood leukemia subtypes (0-19 years), all age leukemia subtypes, and all age non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Breast and childhood brain/central nervous system (CNS) cancers were included in the analyses because of separate requests from concerned citizens.”
The TCR then compared the 1998-2007 data to more recent cases from 2008-2009 for the same Flower Mound zip codes; 75022 and 75028. The result of this investigation was, as stated in the report, that “There is no evidence of a cancer cluster in zip codes 75022 and 75028.” This is great news for the citizens of Flower Mound but being that the 2008-2009 data is preliminary data, the DSHS will continue to confirm reported cases and work with the TCR to verify their initial findings.
To learn more visit the Barnett Shale Regulatory, Environmental Info folder in the DI Unconventional Updates.
Anne Leonard
Latest posts by Anne Leonard (see all)
- Quebec: New Oil Discoveries from North of the Border - June 23, 2015
- Offshore Drilling in The Gulf of Mexico: US and Pemex Activity - February 3, 2015
- Mexican Oil & Gas Shales: Opening to the World - December 18, 2014
