ATSDR MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

ATSDR Assessment Finds No Unusual Patterns of Cancers

For Immediate Release: October 25, 2006

ATLANTA - Cancer incidence for the eight-county area surrounding the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Reservation, TN is consistent with most cancer levels across the state, concludes a report released by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

Using data from 1991-2000 from the Tennessee Cancer Registry, the Assessment of Cancer Incidence evaluated 42 cancer types for Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, Meigs, Morgan, Rhea and Roane counties.  Higher rates of some cancers and lower rates of others were found in several of the counties; however no consistent pattern of cancer occurs in the Oak Ridge Reservation area.

The assessment provides information about cancer rates and determines if any unusual pattern is occurring by comparing the individual county cancer data to state cancer data. It cannot determine the causes of cancer in the Oak Ridge area.

The assessment previously was made available to the public for review and comment. The final version includes public and peer review comments and ATSDR’s responses to these comments. It is available at the following locations:

Oak Ridge Public Library    Civic Center Oak Ridge, Tenn.		Harriman Public Library 1 Waldon Ave. Harriman, Tenn.
Kingston City Library        1004 Bradford Way               Kingston, Tenn.		Roane State Community College 276 Patton Lane   Harriman, Tenn.
Rockwood Public Library 117 N. Front Ave. Rockwood, Tenn.		Department of Energy Information Center 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike    Oak Ridge, Tenn.      865-241-4780

The Oak Ridge Field Office is now closed. Members of the community who have questions about this assessment may contact Epidemiologist Dhelia Williamson, at 404-718-8633 or DWilliamson1@cdc.gov.  For fact sheets and other questions, please contact Health Communication Specialist Loretta Bush, toll free, at 404-498-1742 or LSBush@cdc.gov. 

ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

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Members of the news media can request an interview with ATSDR staff by calling the NCEH/ATSDR Office of Communication at 770-488-0700.