Thursday, January 28, 1999
Pollution may increase risk for cancer
HEALTH: Contaminants in environment contribute to likelihood of
disease
By Angela Sveda
Daily Bruin Contributor
In recent years, concern about the environmental effects on
human health have become a primary concern for scientists
throughout the nation.
Among these concerned scientists is Dr. Sandra Steingraber, who
recently lectured at UCLA on the possible environmental links to
cancer. Steingraber is a member of Clinton’s National Action Plan
on Breast Cancer.
Steingraber voiced concerns about the state of our environment
and its potential effect on the population. Citing studies that
illustrated the environment’s detrimental effect on the surrounding
population, Steingraber said, "Cancer is not a random tragedy."
Among the examples she cited was a study conducted in Long
Island that found the closer a woman lived to a chemical plant, the
higher her risk of breast cancer.
Attributing cancer to sources such as chemical plants, air
particulates and pesticides, Steingraber said most people are not
aware of cancer-causing agents.
In fact, Los Angeles has the highest number of deaths attributed
to air-borne particles, followed by New York, Chicago, Philadelphia
and Detroit, said Curt Eckhert, a professor of environmental
health. He added that in Los Angeles, a major source of
particulates is diesel fuel generated by trucks, trains and
boats.
Studies suggest that tail pipe emissions cause tiny blisters in
the lungs where cancer cells can collect and grow, Steingraber
said.
Since 1945, the Cancer Registry Data, which adjusts for tobacco
consumption and the aging population, has found a slow increase in
the number of cancer incidents since 1945. This trend has become
more severe since the 1970s, Steingraber said.
There is, however, a revolutionary new view suggesting that it
is not the amount of carcinogens one is exposed to, but rather the
time in life when one is exposed, that determines risk factors, she
added.
Unexplained increases in brain cancer in 5-year-olds and a
tripling of testicular cancer in males ages 19 to 40 may indicate
that this is the case.
Steingraber notes that of the about 500 known carcinogens, the
average person in the U.S. carries 200 of them, revealing that
pollution from our environment resides in our bodies.
Pesticide residues have even been found in the fluid surrounding
human eggs. In Los Angeles, people carry carcinogens such as dry
cleaning fluids in their bodies. The environment also poses
additional threats to human health, other than cancer.
In the Santa Monica Bay, people who swim too close to storm
water run-off as it enters the ocean suffer from higher rates of
cold and flu. Therefore, swimming at least 100 yards away from the
source is advisable, said Eckhert.
Storm water run-off is the major problem facing Los Angeles.
Bacteria from animal fecal matter, oils, and metals, drain from
streets, roofs and freeways into the ocean after rainfall, added
Eckhert.
Environmental pollution also affects other organisms. Birds
along Catalina Island now have problems laying eggs as a result of
consuming fish containing DDT, another carcinogen.
To address such environmental issues, UCLA’s Institute of the
Environment issues an annual Southern California Environmental
Report Card.
The Institute combines university-wide environmental programs
into one cohesive body, said Devon Deming, with the Institute of
the Environment.
The Report Card gave a "C" to both the future outlook based on
present policies for air quality and to coastal waste water
plants.
Stressing the potential negative effect political struggles can
have on the environment and thus on the health of the nation’s
population, Steingraber concluded, "Medical problems have political
roots."
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