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'Alarming' elevated cancer risk in South Seattle linked to air pollution

  2. MeganMcKenzie
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Residents of a broad swath of South Seattle from Seward Park to West Seattle face elevated cancer risks because of air pollution, according to a soon-to-be released government study.

The risks are significantly elevated in pockets of industrial pollution – and skyrocket within about 200 yards of highways, says the long-awaited study by state and federal scientists.
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Even miles from factories and major freeways, cancer risks appear to be elevated when people breathe wood smoke from chimneys, says the study, believed to be the first of its kind in Washington.

"It's alarming; it's a shock," said Georgetown civic activist Kathy Nyland, who stumbled onto a prerelease version of the study on the Internet this week and lives in one of the most polluted neighborhoods.

"We have to have a conversation about what we're going to do about the health of the people who live around here," she said. "I want to know about the cumulative effect."
MeganMcKenzie

10 responses // 'Alarming' elevated cancer risk in South Seattle linked to air pollution

  • For me this is just more evidence that we must keep taking action and make air quality a #1 national priority.
    MeganMcKenzie
  • As someone who intends to move to Seattle this caught my eye. Of course if one asked Bush he would deny that there is any worry....
    karnathis
  • Since I have had cancer three times this interests me. More attention needs to be given to this subject.
    EdieJane
  • This should be a wake-up call, because the air quality up there, with all the rain, is pretty darn good - as far as cities go that is - so people... politicians... WAKE-UP, STOP POLLUTING OUR MOTHER EARTH!
    dafunkyaztec
  • As a resident of Seattle, this is not surprising. I-5 cuts right through downtown. Housing towers over it, because of the wonderful views. When the freeway was built in the 1950s, traffic flowed easily, and the population density was much smaller.

    During contemporary rush hour thousands of vehicles sit emitting toxic fumes. The sooner we take Gore's advice to switch to electric, the better off we will all be.
    uroborus8
  • If Seattle is that bad then I'm already screwed after having lived in LA for 10 years.

    Can't even imagine where the rates in cities like Beijing must be at.

    Is it just the wood smoke or car pollution or what.

    I often sit in traffic and think that the exhaust being releases from all those cars and sucked right into my lungs damn sure can't be helping things.

    There should definitely be more studies like this.
    damnneargenius
  • someone tell me where the freshest air on Earth is, and i'll pack my bags tomorrow.
    stephenthomson
    1 response to this
  • Seattle, the Beijing of the Pacific Northwest.
    sublimeuniverse
  • MyCane wants you to increase your cancer risk so the oil companies can grub every last dollar from you with his help.

    "Drill drill drill - pollute pollute pollute - die die die puny human" - says MyCane.

    I pity the poor American voter who cannot and will not see how he is being duped by our government.
    BillCue

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