Document Qg4jZwN0KKqwgMVdMqg6yYRgE

March 25, 1991 Editor Lake Charles American Press P. 0. Box 2893 Lake Charles, LA 70602 Dear Editor: As a resident of Calcasieu Parish and an employee of local industry, I was disappointed to see the March 10 letter to the editor, "Chemical War at Home." The author encouraged a "bunker mentality" complete with gas mask. I specifically refer you to the following quotes from the letter, ^ "the high incidence of cancer and respiratory illness.. .in Lake Charles" and 1 "Lake Charles is a hotspot for these illnesses." While an article in the * March 14 American Press, "High Cancer Rate Not Connected To Environment," did an excellent job responding to these statements, I felt some specifics about Southwest Louisiana were in order. It Is very important to compare the March 10 letter writer's opinions with the factual information concerning health and the environment in Louisiana. Facts prove that the Lake Charles Area is NOT a cancer hotspot. LSU recently updated Louisiana's Tumor Registry which Is a compilation of cancer cases that have occurred in Louisiana. The data In the Registry show that for the latest period (1983-1986) the annual average cancer rate is 311 cancer cases per 100,000 residents in the Lake Charles region. This compares to 373 cancer cases in the New Orleans region and 351 cases In all of South Louisiana. And the National Cancer Institute's data shows the national average to be 360 cancer cases per 100,000 residents. So the Lake Charles Area's cancer incidence rate is not only below the New Orleans and i llli IIRIII10IIUHfill UHII!lf] nm III II VPA14144-1 Page 001 VPA 000014144 South Louisiana rates. It is also below the national cancer Incidence rate. These facts, based on actual cancer data collected by LSU and the National Cancer Institute, completely discredit the opinion that Lake Charles is a cancer hotspot. The Louisiana. Tumor Registry also has data on respiratory system cancers, including lung cancer. Of the 311 cancer cases expected yearly per 100,000 residents in the Lake Charles region, 70 of those are respiratory system cancers. For the New Orleans region, the number is 86; for all of South Louisiana, it Is 79; and for the nation, It is 62. The Lake Charles Area is lower than the rest of South Louisiana, but higher than the national average for respiratory cancers. ^ This excess of respiratory cancers In Louisiana is addressed by the American Cancer Society in their fact-based brochure entitled, "Questions * and Answers; The Louisiana Cancer Problem." The brochure states, "Extensive studies in Louisiana have determined that 90% of It (the excess respiratory cancers) can be attributed to smoking and could be avoided by eliminating smoking from our society. The second most important factor Is diet." The brochure also says, "Based on research done to date, it is estimated that occupational exposure and environmental pollution account for 4-6% of the lung cancer cases." Unlike the March 10 letter writer's opinions, the American Cancer Society and the LSU Medical School do not believe that the high lung cancer rates in Louisiana are due to pollution. These conclusions are based on actual cases, reported by doctors and hospitals, compiled and analyzed by independent, non-profit agencies such as the American Cancer Society. The simple fact is the Lake Charles Area's cancer incidence rate is below the South Louisiana and national cancer rates. Also, although our * limillHIIlllllHH VPA14144-2 Page 002 VPA 000014145 lung cancer rate 1$ higher than the national average, the American Cancer Society says 90% of our lung cancers are caused by smoking while only 4-6% may be attributed to pollution and occupational exposure. In addition, the environmental and occupational exposure totals are probably declining because of the substantial emissions reductions that have occurred over the last 20 years, and because of the major reductions in occupational exposures that occurred over the same period. And, the emissions decreases will continue. 4613 W. Quail Hollow Lake Charles, LA 70605 VPA14144-3 Page 003 VP* 00Ql4i46