[CPEO-MEF] Fallon Leukemia Cluster

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Scrutiny turns to jet fuel in Fallon cases

Frank X. Mullen Jr.
Reno Gazette-Journal
April 12th, 2001


As public health officials investigate a childhood leukemia cluster in
Fallon, the federal committee meeting there today is expected to focus
on jet fuel spills and jettisons from planes as a possible cause of the
cancer epidemic.

Navy officials Wednesday insisted the jet fuel, a toxin and known
carcinogen, has not harmed personnel on the base or town residents. But
Navy officials also said no independent oversight exists of fuel
inventories at the base, even though state and federal officials called
for it 12 years ago.

The demand for better inventory controls came after civilian contractors
covered up two jet fuel spills at the base’s tank farm — the largest jet
fuel spill in state history.

“When we talk about causes of the Fallon leukemia cluster, jet fuel is
the No. 1 thing mentioned,” said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. 

Reid will be joined today by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D- N.Y., and other
members of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee at a
public hearing in Fallon. The committee is scheduled to hear testimony
about the 12 cases of childhood leukemia diagnosed in and around the
military and farm community of 8,300 people. 

...

for the entire story, see
http://www.rgj.com/news2/stories/news/987138125.html
-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org


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