Pediatric cancer cluster exists in The Acreage; cause unknown

2010-02-04 05:18:49 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Justice News Flash, Personal Injury)

Legal News for Florida Personal Injury Attorneys. Months of studies have confirmed the presence of a pediatric ‘cancer cluster’ in The Acreage.

Florida personal injury attorney alerts- Pediatric brain tumor and brain cancer occurrences led to Acreage cancer cluster discovery.

Loxahatchee, FL—Palm Beach County Health Department (PBCHD) officials confirmed that there is indeed a ‘cancer cluster’ in The Acreage after months of studies, interviews and screening were conducted in the area. The study was prompted by about a dozen pediatric cancer occurrences in which several children living in The Acreage were diagnosed with brain tumors or brain cancer between 1993 and 2008. However, although it was recently recognized that a ‘cancer cluster’ does exist in the community, the cause remains unknown, according to information provided by WPTV.com and previous news coverage by Justice News Flash.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) http://www.cancer.gov, a ‘cancer cluster’ is defined as “The occurrence of a larger-than-expected number of cases of cancer within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time.” Previously, it was announced that radon testing would be conducted in the area, given that the radioactive gas was allegedly deemed a factor shared by Acreage residents. Although elevated levels of radium were found in several homes within The Acreage, it was seemingly not found to be the source of pediatric brain tumor/cancer occurrences.

In regards to the affirmation of a ‘cancer cluster’ in The Acreage, Dr. Alina Alonso of the Palm Beach County Health Department reportedly stated, “It definitely validates something is going but it even adds more frustration both to the families and to ourselves as scientists because now we’re saying something is going on but not what is.”

Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Florida Personal Injury Attorneys.