Cancer worries trigger meeting

4/14/2005

Toledo-Lucas County health department officials will sponsor a public meeting at 6:30 tonight at the Chester Zablocki Senior Center, 3015 Lagrange, to discuss concerns about a perceived increase in cancer cases in neighborhoods southwest of the new DaimlerChrysler plant.

Dr. David Grossman, health commissioner for the city and county, said a lengthy investigation by local and state officials found nothing out of the ordinary.

"Right now, it does not appear there are any significant cancer clusters," he said.

The issue arose at a "Meet the Mayor" meeting in February when a resident told Mayor Jack Ford he thought there was an unusually large number of cancer cases in his neighborhood. Mayor Ford then asked Dr. Grossman to look into the concerns.

With the assistance of the state health department, local health department officials examined cancer incidence in the area. The area in question has about 10,000 people and is roughly bounded by Central Avenue on the south, Stickney Avenue on the east, Detroit Avenue on the west, and Matzinger Road on the north.

Dr. Grossman said cancer cluster concerns arise from time to time throughout the country, but after investigation often nothing out of the ordinary is discovered. Nonetheless, he said his department wanted to offer local residents a chance to ask questions. Local and state health officials will be on hand during the meeting.