HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10181983 - 2.13 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on October 18, 1983 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers , Fanden, TIcPeak, Torlakson , Schroder
NOES: None ;
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Final Report from Dr. Donald Austin on Occupational
and Environmental Causes of Cancer in Contra Costa County
The Health Services Director having forwarded the Board the final report
from Dr. Donald Austin on the occupational and environmental causes of cancer in
Contra Costa County and having commented thereon in a memorandum dated October 13,
1983, and having noted that there has been established within the Public Health
Division an epidemiology unit which can provide considerable expertise in many
areas, including biostatistics, biochemistry, industrial hygiene, toxicology,
epidemiology, environmental surveillance and medicine, and requesting support from
the Board to apply for grants to initiate further studies of the causes of cancer;
and -
Jean Siri of E1 Cerrito, and Marie MacMartin having addressed the Board
on various aspects of the problem; and
Larry Cohen, Prevention Coordinator for the Health Services Department,
having suggested that the Department was prepared to suggest further steps for the
Board to take in relation to cigarette smoking; and
Board members having variously discussed the issues involved, and having
noted that several related items are already on referral to the Internal Operations
Committee; and
Supervisor McPeak having recommended that in recognition that environ-
mental and occupational hazards pose a potential threat to the public health and
further in recognition that the high incidence of cancer is a major health problem
which must be addressed, and further in acknowledgment that while cigarette smoking
is clearly the most significant identified factor associated with the incidence of
lung cancer, but realizing that there remain many unanswered questions about the
causes of cancer, the Board of Supervisors DIRECTS the Public Health Division of
the Health Services Department to develop and design a proposal for a prospective
environmental/occupational health study to examine the potential relationships
between environmental and occupational hazards and public health problems, including
the incidence of cancer, said proposal to be reviewed by the Cancer Advisory
Committee established by Supervisor Powers, including seeking representation and
input from the private medical community; the proposed design for such a study,
including input from the Cancer Advisory Committee, to be reviewed by the Internal
Operations Committee, which is requested to recommend to the Board of Supervisors
the scope of details of a prospective study, and the magnitude and sources of
potential resources and funding required to implement such a study;
The Board unanimously approves the recommendation of Supervisor McPeak,
and further refers to the Internal Operations Committee the recommendations of the
Health Services Department relating to smoking.
1 hereby certify that this is a true and correct copyof
an action taken and entered on the,minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED:
Orig. Dept.: County Administrator J.R. OLSSO , r.OU�`TY CLERK
cc: Health Svcs. Asst. Director-- and ex off CiO,,,, Of tho Board
Public Health Div.
Health Services Director 'O�Z' , Deputy
Internal Operations Committee B
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