Lambton Public Health released research showing there is no basis to indicate higher incidents of cancer rates in Sarnia-Lambton caused by the petrochemical industry.
The research used 1989-2009 data from the Ontario Cancer Registry to compare cancer incidents rates in Lambton County to other health units in the province. The data is based on place of residence at time of diagnosis and is not legally required to be submitted to the Registry.
Epidemiologist Crystal Palleschi from Lambton Public Health attempted to answer whether or not the petrochemical industry is tied to cancer incidents in Sarnia-Lambton.
She says it's not a yes or no answer, but data for Lambton County is very similar to other areas in the province.
"I do think that the numbers I've presented can put people at ease," says Palleschi. "I don't think that we have significantly higher rates of most types of cancers."
Palleschi adds that rates for mesothelioma and melanoma in Sarnia-Lambton were higher than Ontario numbers.
Incidents are also slightly elevated for lung cancer in males and females, and colorectal and prostate cancer in males. Palleschi believes lung cancer incidents are tied to the higher smoking rates in the area.
Lower liver cancer rates were recorded for males in Sarnia-Lambton, and lower incidents of stomach and thyroid cancer for women when compared to the provincial average.
There are more than 100 different diseases that the research analyzes and organizes by types of cancer, age and gender of the population.
Lambton Country ranked 11 out of 36 for standardized-age incidents of all cancers by health unit.
