By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-938296.mp3
Albany, NY – Cancer Action New York wants public and private health care organizations to place more focus on reducing the public's exposure to pollutants and carcinogens. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
The New York State Department of Health and the American Cancer Society are in the process of creating the 2011 New York State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan or CCCP. The 2003 NYS CCCP (currently in effect) included a goal for reducing exposure to pollution. However, no pollutant carcinogens were named in the 2003 Plan. Cancer Action New York is calling on New York State government to take action on reducing exposure to the most significant of these so-called "body burden" substances...Dr. David O. Carpenter, Director of the SUNY Albany Institute for Health and the Environment, warns that if we want to reduce rates of cancer we must target reducing exposure to those chemicals best known to cause human cancer, "Persistent Organic Pollutants."
Donald L. Hassig, Director of Cancer Action NY, alleges that DOH does not target specific carcinogenic pollutants for exposure reduction efforts because the choice of substances would spark a considerable amount of controversy. He says designating POPs exposure reduction for immediate action will bring family farms and the food production corporations to Albany in protest of potential damage to their sales of animal fat containing products. Hassig claims the department of health's inaction amounts to "an outrageous failure of government to use existing scientific knowledge to prevent cancer."
The New York State Department of Health did not return calls for comment in time for broadcast.