Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say the capped-off General Electric landfills are not harmful, yet the last public health study that was conducted on them was in the 2000s. In January, the City Council s Public Health and Safety subcommittee requested that MassDPH provide an updated study on cancer cases in that area. The subcommittee on Thursday received news on the upcoming cancer evaluation from Julie Cosio, Jessica Burkhamer, and Brenda Netreba from the Bureau of Environmental Health at the Mass DPH. They are planning on looking at four of the six cancer types evaluated previously in a 2002 report: breast cancer, liver cancer, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Reportedly, epidemiological literature shows some evidence of association of these cancers with exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.
The Pittsfield Board of Health s plan to get state help in assessing the validity of a new cell tower s reported health consequences has been derailed. The state Department of Public Health has been offering information and referrals, but will not conduct a health study, a spokeswoman says. This new Verizon Wireless tower went into operation last summer, near Alma Street in south Pittsfield. EAGLE FILE PHOTO
PITTSFIELD â People unhappy about a new cell tower in south Pittsfield heard of two promising developments, when health officials took up their issue last month.
Neither, it turns out, will come to pass as described.
WOOSTER The latest COVID-19 data comes with the flush of a toilet.
The city’s wastewater treatment plant is one of 62 facilities in Ohio taking part in a statewide study that takes samples of wastewater to look for the presence of gene copies/fragments of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
“Participating in the statewide COVID testing falls in line with our goal of being responsible and helping out in any way that we can,” said Nathan Coey, Wooster’s utilities manager.
The study is providing communities another way to track the spread of COVID-19 before cases can be reported by testing people with symptoms, an indicator that lags behind the actual spread of the disease, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Temperature-Related Death and Illness
During extreme heat events, nighttime temperatures in the region’s big cities are generally several degrees higher than surrounding regions, leading to higher risk of heat-related death. In urban areas, the hottest days in the Northeast are also often associated with high concentrations of urban air pollutants including ground-level ozone.
Extreme Events
Much of the historical development of industry and commerce in New England occurred along rivers, canals, coasts, and other bodies of water, these areas often have a higher density of contaminated sites, waste management facilities, and petroleum storage facilities that are potentially vulnerable to flooding. As a result, increases in flood frequency or severity could increase the spread of contaminants into soils and waterways, resulting in increased risks to human health. When coupled with storm surges, sea level rise can pose severe risks of flooding, with consequent physical and mental h
From left, Big Bell Inc. president Kim Gap Soo, Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Office Director John Tagabuel, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. board member Edward âTofilaâ Deleon Guerrero, CHCC board chairperson Lauri Ogumoro, CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther Muna and Community Disease Investigation Inspector III Dwayne Davis participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Office on Navy Hill, Thursday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano