SW-PA Environmental Health Project and Fracking Activities

NEWS FROM THE SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROJECT

From an Update by Raina Rippel, July 26, 2019

On Tuesday, June 18th, EHP hosted nearly 200 residents at a community meeting about the rise of rare childhood cancers in southwestern Pennsylvania. Sixty-seven rare childhood cancers from 2008-2018 in four southwestern Pennsylvania counties — Washington, Westmoreland, Greene, and Fayette — including a total of 27 cases of Ewing sarcoma have recently been uncovered in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigative report.

This event was both a promising demonstration of community resolve and a sobering reminder that the lives of real people are at stake.

The panel discussion included:

>> Bernard Goldstein, MD – Professor Emeritus and former Dean, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
>> Janice Blanock – Cecil resident, Mother of the late Luke Blanock
>> Ned Ketyer, MD, FAAP – Pediatrician, Pediatric Alliance; Physicians for Social Responsibility (Board); Medical Consultant, SWPA Environmental Health Project
>> Sarah Rankin, MPH, RN, OCN – Public Health Nurse, SWPA Environmental Health Project; Oncology Certified Nurse
>> Shaina Stacy, PhD, MPH, CPH – Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health; Environmental Health Researcher

See the SUMMARY VIDEO of community meeting on childhood cancers in SW Pennsylvania.

For more videos from this event, go to our website, www.environmentalhealthproject.org.

In response, EHP has created a handout of resources regarding childhood cancers in southwest Pennsylvania and officials to contact with concerns. We are planning additional follow-up and will update you on further action regarding childhood cancer in our region soon.

The EHP is here to help you in any way we can.

Sincerely, Raina Rippel, SW-PA EHP

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