Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Highest cancer risk neighborhoods in US

Sorted by the most risky place:

1) Los Angeles, CA: risk factor = 1200 in 1 million
2) Madison Co, Ill: risk factor = 1100 in 1 million
3) Two neighborhoods in Allegheny County, Pa., and one in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.

The least risky ones:

People living in parts of Coconino County, Ariz., and Lyon County, Nev., had the lowest cancer risk from air toxics. The counties with the least toxic air are Kalawao County, Hawaii, and Golden Valley County, Mont.

If we are in an industrial area with a lot of traffic, we are going to be closer to 1100 in 1 million.

The analysis predicts the concentrations of 124 different hazardous air pollutants, which are known to cause cancer, respiratory problems and other health effects by coupling estimates of emissions from a variety of sources with models that attempt to simulate how the pollution will disperse in the air. Only 80 of the chemicals evaluated are known to cause cancer, EPA officials said.

The information is used by federal, state and local agencies to identify areas in need of more monitoring and attention.

The data to be released Wednesday covers pollution released in 2002.

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