Study suggests link between pollution and cancer

[Arwen]

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A University of Texas study found a possible link between childhood leukaemia and living close to the city's refinery row along the Houston Ship Channel, one of the study's co-authors said on Thursday.

The study found that living within two miles (3.2 km) of elevated levels of 1,3-butadiene around the ship channel's petrochemical complex was associated with a 56 percent increased incidence of childhood acute lymphocytic leukaemia compared with those living more than 10 miles (16 km) away, according to a statement from the city of Houston, which financed the study.
"When we looked at distance from the ship channel we find data that suggests there is an association with chemicals in the air and childhood leukaemia," said Ann Coker, professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston.
Houston Mayor Bill White said the city would use the study to support efforts to reduce pollution from petrochemical plants.
"The science supports our claim that reducing hazardous air pollutants must be a high priority for Houston," White said in a statement.
White has used the threat of tougher enforcement of anti-pollution laws to win agreements from petrochemical plants to reduce pollution. The substance 1,3-butadiene is used to make petrochemicals like ethylene.


I read this and found it to be informative,just goes to show that all pollution is nasty

[TGLucario]

i kno....we need to stop polution & NOW

[Saurgrist]

Yes, we do need to stop it, but it's very hard to stop... soon we will hopefully have water powered cars or something, which would really cut down on it.

[Oyabun]

Originally Posted by Saurgrist

soon we will hopefully have water powered cars or something, which would really cut down on it.

Hope to god we do saurgrist, yes they should stop polluting in such a close area from houses, moving the refinery will cost way over too much, i think for the people that live there at best should sell and move for the safety of there kids or just stop and refine somewhere where no one will get hurt from leukaemia, but they should stop all together but.. what are you going to do we need it for fuel and other reasons.

[stubacca68]

we had a some study like this done in Hull years ago, the smelt works outside hull where shut down as a result, hundreds of jobs lost, and then the kids were still getting ill, so although yers it was not good for the enviroment etc it was not giving kid illnesses! so IMO these studies should be taken with a pinch of salt.

but good find Tank Girl!