Wilmington Families Thank State For Study Of Childhood Cancers

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington families whose children were diagnosed with cancer thanked the state's Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment for the childhood cancer study released Wednesday.

The state study found a link between contaminants in the town's water supply and a cluster of 1990s childhood cancers including lymphoma and leukemia. The families thanked state officials, scientists, legislators and activists who worked on getting the study done.

"We appreciate their investment of time and resources to secure a finding that is unquestionable, valid, and complete," the families said. "They recognized the importance of pairing their public health study with a scientific groundwater model investigation so as to definitively conclude and determine a causal connection of environmental exposure to childhood cancer in Wilmington."

The study found an association between maternal, pre-natal exposure between two carcinogens in the town's water and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer fell to normal levels starting in 2001 and the town's water no longer poses any known risk to public health, the state said.

"The families, in particular the cancer-surviving children who are now young adults, are optimistic in and enthusiastic about seeing how science and technology can effectively merge with community health investigations to produce meaningful answers and undeniable truths," the families said. "These brave survivors hope that this historic work and collaboration can provide answers and insights to other communities with similar issues, nationally and around the world."

The town's public water supply no longer contains either of the two chemicals studied, the state said. An underground aquifer is still contaminated with NDMA, but it no longer supplies water to the town.

"They wish to express that this example of fact-based study can provide societies with informed and complete answers and welcome a future where public health studies will automatically include scientific fact analysis," the news release reads. "They envision a healthier world where Science and Technology can routinely engage in and guide all types of businesses toward tangible investments in sustainable environments in order to protect our natural resources and potable water supplies against future contamination."

The families specifically thanked late state Rep. James Miceli, "who proudly and tirelessly represented us in finding an answer."

The Olin chemical site, which was the source of the chemical n-nitrodimethylamine, is now an Environmental Protection Agency-managed Superfund Site, with a $48 million proposed cleanup plan announced last year.

The executive summary, full study and other information is available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.