Press Release
MARCH 22nd, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
Contact: DOH
Communications
Phone: 850-245-4111 |
TALLAHASSEE, FL – As
part of the ongoing cancer
cluster investigation in the
Acreage community of Palm
Beach County, the Florida
Department of Health (DOH)
conducted a gamma radiation
survey of 21 control and
study homes and properties.
Results showed no gamma
radiation levels above
normally occurring
background levels (less than
10 micro R/hour), other than
the slightly higher levels
we expect to find at
properly working water
treatment systems. A letter
detailing the survey process
and specific findings has
been sent to each tested
home.
“I am very pleased to be able to report that our testing
indicates external gamma
radiation exposure does not
pose a health risk to
residents of the Acreage.
These results are important
in that they add to our
existing body of knowledge
about the Acreage
environment and they allow
us to move forward
investigating other factors
that may be contributing to
the current heightened
levels of pediatric brain
cancer,” said State Surgeon
General Ana M. Viamonte Ros,
M.D., M.P.H. “The Department
of Health remains committed
to the investigation and
will continue to work toward
finding answers and
resolution for the Acreage
residents.”
For each residence, a DOH radiation health physicist used a
radiation detection
instrument (calibrated micro
R meter) to measure the
gamma radiation levels in
each room inside the home,
on the outside property and
on the home’s water
treatment system. The
inspectors also measured the
radiation level on the
inside wall closest to the
water treatment system.
While some water treatment
systems did indicate levels
slightly above background
when the detection
instrument was placed
directly on the filter
system, the level was
reduced to background levels
when the instrument was
moved 12 inches from the
treatment unit. This
indicates the treatment
system is functioning
properly and does not pose a
health hazard.
DOH is casting a wide net for sources and causes to ensure
its investigation is as
complete as possible and is
continuing to work with
state and federal partners
including the Florida
Department of Environmental
Protection, the Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention, the National
Cancer Institute and the
United States Environmental
Protection Agency.
DOH remains committed to providing up-to-date information to
residents and interested
parties. A function has been
added to the Palm Beach
County Health Department’s
webpage at
www.pbchd.com
that allows individuals to
sign up for email alerts
that notify them when new
information is posted.
The mission of DOH is to promote, protect, and improve the
health of all people in
Florida.
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