HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05221990 - I.O.8 -�............. Contra Costa County
•-' - — Health Services Department
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PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION
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_ l Administrative Offices
1111 Ward Street
Martinez;California 94553
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May, 11', 1990
To: Supervisor Sunne McPeak
Supervisor Tom Powers
Internal Operations Committee
From: Wendel Brunner, M.D.
Director of Public Health
Re: Status Report on Study of Cancer Incidence and Control
in Contra Costa . County
The Prospective Cancer Review Committee has evaluated the outline
of study methodology for a Prospective Study of the Incidence of
Cancer in Contra Costa County and has developed a preliminary draft
of recommendations to the Health Services Department.
Prospective Study of Cancer Incidence.
The Review . Committee is very concerned that 'a prospective
environmental and occupational epidemiologic study of cancer in
Contra Costa or. the Bay Area is unlikely to be ''funded .by the
National Cancer Institute, or other major funding agency. The
methodologic difficulties of environmental epidemiology, which have
become increasingly. apparent in the last. several years, mean that
it would be almost impossible to detect air pollution-induced
cancer by this study. The number of cancers 'that may be caused by
air pollution in the Bay Area, while devastating to the individuals
affected,' are too, few to be detected in an environmental
epidemiologic study
These difficulties 'with,statistical power, coupled with the decades
of time which would be required to implement such a study', leave
the proposal, in the opinion of the Committee, unlikely to be
funded. I have my own concerns about repeating the experience with
the Austin Study. In that case, large amounts. of money were
invested and the community' s expectations were raised, only ;,to have
the results prove to be inconclusive:
The - Committee did suggest, however, that the difficulties they
perceive with the prospective cancer study and its possible funding
should be further explored with several other academic experts in
the community before finally deciding that ther proposal, as
outlined, is not feasible. I am following up with the assistance
of the Committee to obtain this additional consultation.
A372 (1/89)
Additional Recommendations .
The Committee 'did feel, however, that it is very important not to.
await the results of decades-long studies, but instead carry out
proactive activities to reduce known, existing public health
threats . In particular they recommended:
1) Work with the BAAQMD and other agencies to reduce toxic air
pollution both from industrial sources and vehicle pollution.
2) Reduce occupational exposures to toxics and other health
hazards through education of workers in small businesses .
Support and. expand public health occupational clinical
services. Implement occupational reporting in the State
Tumor Registry.
3) Develop an environmental epidemiologist position for the local
Health Services Department, perhaps funded from environmental
health fees, to investigate cancer and other chronic disease
clusters, follow-up on occupational health problems, evaluate
community health impacts from fires or toxic emissions, and
implement community health surveys .
Bay Area Cancer Coalition.
The Cancer Review Committee was quite supportive of a number of
initiatives of the Contra Costa County Health Services Department
and the Contra Costa Board of . Supervisors, particularly the Bay
Area Cancer Coalition, whichwasinitiated by the Contra Costa
Board. That Coalition has been effective in integrating local
health departments, State Health Services Department, volunteer
agencies, academic -institutions, and public policy makers in a
program to identify the causes of cancer and develop. effective
prevention programs . Many members of the Review Committee. have
been involved in the Bay Area Cancer Coalition, and feel that it
has been a truly innovative initiative in cancer control.
The Prospective Cancer Review Committee is developing a- detailed
set of recommendations to the Health Services Department., which is
currently being reviewed by Committee members. I am also following
up with the additional academic consultants suggested. I will
report back to the :Internal Operations Committee on the final
report of the Prospective Cancer Review Committee and the
additional consultants .
WB:lh
cc: Mark Finucane, Health Services Director
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