Study Sees 42 Groups Of Diseases In 13 States

Cancer Cells

There are 42 so-called disease groups in 13 U.S. states, show the incidence of various cancers and other chronic diseases, the Natural Resources Defense Council reported.

A study by NRDC and the National Alliance on disease clusters, from research by the federal, provincial and local officials peer university, and urges coordination and support of the federal government help confirm these groups and determine their causes.

"Before we are able to detect such clusters, and the sooner we can determine the reasons, we can better protect the residents of communities affected" NRDC Dr. Gina Solomon, a co-author of the study, said in a statement.

The study examined the clusters that have occurred since 1976, when Congress passed the Toxic Control Act, which was intended to govern the use of toxic chemicals in industry, commerce and consumer goods.

U.S. Center for Disease Control define a research group as "an examination of an unusual number, real or perceived, of health events (such as reports of cancer) grouped in a time and place."

Monday ', the search is the first of many they are scheduled. It examined the clusters in Texas, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas.

Only one of 42 groups - in Libby, Montana - showed a specific source of chemical contamination: asbestos. In the other groups, NRDC has seen signs that the documented exposure to toxic chemicals that harm people living nearby.

The Senate Environment and Public Works has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, groups of diseases and environmental health.