User:SnowyCinema/Clyde cancer cluster

''Wikipedia is supposed to reflect the words of sources. If the sources say it, Wikipedia says it.'' The term "Clyde cancer cluster" (as well as other similar terms) refers to an unusual number of children in Clyde, Ohio, United States, as well as in some nearby areas, who were diagnosed with any of several forms of childhood cancer throughout the 2000s. Health officials identified the statistical anomaly as a cancer cluster in 2009. The first known cancer case associated with the cluster was acquired in 1996, and the unusual amount of cancer acquisitions discontinued by the end of the decade. Investigations by governmental agencies began in 2006, and they continued to investigate the Clyde area in regards to the cancer cases until 2012. Despite years of investigation, no definite cause for the unusual rate of cancer diagnoses in the area has been found, but whatever its cause, the unusual amount of cancer acquisitions discontinued by the early 2010s. There is also no evidence that the identified cancer cases were caused by the same carcinogen.

In 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency carried out soil tests in fourteen different sites, including Whirlpool Park, a corporate park that was previously owned by the Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool has a large facility in Clyde with thousands of employees, and is thus a large portion of the city's economy. The tests at the former park revealed that there were a great amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous metals under the soil. In 2013, tests done by experts hired by the families of the victims and their attorneys revealed troubling amounts of benzaldehyde, a chemical compound that has been classified as a hazardous substance by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, inside the attics of several homes in close proximity to the Whirlpool plant.

Though Whirlpool officials alleged that the company had no records of them dumping hazardous substances at Whirlpool Park, Whirlpool Corporation faced several class-action lawsuits, perhaps the most notable one being Brown v. Whirlpool Corporation, which presented both of these findings as evidence that the corporation was responsible for the cancer cases. This lawsuit was dismissed in 2014, and the most recent lawsuit, Sandusky County v. Whirlpool Corporation, was withdrawn in 2015. cleanup

While investigations were underway, families of victims often complained that the process was too slow, though officials assured them that the cancer cluster investigations were a high priority. Especially after the death of Alexa Brown, her parents, Warren and Wendy Brown, promised to solve the issue. They traveled to Washington, D.C. several times to urge several federal officials, including Senator Sherrod Brown, to contribute to federal funding for cancer research. The Brown family and other involved families were very persistent, and were a large source of motivation for the investigations. Several local events also contributed to fundraising. Because of the persistence of the Clyde residents, Alexa Brown and other victims of the cancer cluster received nationwide and federal attention, extensive news coverage, and a wide variety of sympathizers.

Statistics
The first known victim of the unusual amount of cancer cases was diagnosed in 1996. After numbers gradually inclined throughout the next few years, residents began to fully realize the wide spread of the cancer cases throughout the area in the mid-2000s, when the cases were followed extensively in the media. Federal agencies began investigation of the cases in 2006, after receiving many phone calls regarding the cases. Health officials claimed that the collective cause of the childhood cancer cases, though unknown at the time, was "transient"; that it was very unlikely that the same catalyst would cause newer cases once it left. Though most of the cancer cases in the area during this time occurred with children who lived in Clyde, many children who lived in other parts of eastern Sandusky County were affected with cancer as well.

A cancer cluster, by definition, is a type of disease cluster in which a high and unusual number of cancer cases occurs in a group of people in a particular geographic area over a limited period of time. The cancer cases as a whole in Clyde and surrounding areas fall under this definition. State agencies investigating the cases confirmed there were an unusual amount of cases in 2006, but the various cancer cases in the area were not officially and collectively classified as a "cancer cluster" by the Ohio Department of Health until 2009, though the term had been used to refer to the cases even before then. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population of Clyde was 6,064, and in Clyde there were over 20 children diagnosed with cancer in the town in that decade, and in Sandusky County there were almost 40. There were considered to be seven fatalities connected to the cluster, with death dates ranging from 2007 to 2013.

Cancer studies in Clyde have shown various types of cancer. These include brain tumors, leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma. The ages of the victims are somewhat diverse, and range from toddlers to teenagers, but the cases are still referred to as childhood cancer nonetheless. Victims were also locationally diverse within the area, as many victims had been raised in different neighborhoods and attended different schools.

Non-physical investigations
In 2006, after receiving several telephone calls that year from families and school nurses, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Sandusky County Health Department (SCHD) started to investigate the cases in order to find links between them. The ODH confirmed that year that there indeed was an unusual amount of cases. The agencies began to survey the victims' families numerous times, which they continued to do throughout the investigations.

Before 2009, representatives of the Ohio EPA had looked through company history and records in order to find possible causes of the cancer cases in the city. No physical tests were being carried out throughout that time, which caused Clyde residents to become skeptical and to more anxiously yearn for results. The EPA continued to assert that the local cancer investigations were among its highest priorities, as well as that the legal process leading to such physical investigations was long and tedious.

Throughout all of the investigations, government agencies also extended their general research throughout the investigations to include, for instance, the victims' activities and residential locations since birth, statistical aspects of the city, and health history of the victims and their families. Besides searching historical records, they also conducted this research through health questionnaires sent to involved families. With all of this information, the Ohio EPA created spatial analysis maps, which, for both legal and privacy reasons, they would not completely release to the public.

Tests by state agencies
The Ohio EPA began to monitor the air and water in the city in January of 2009. Ultimately, the tests concluded that the water and air both appeared to be safe. Later, in the summer, there were additional tests carried out by the Ohio EPA to determine if certain pesticide compounds were present in the Clyde water. They found that there were troubling levels of phosphorus and nitrate in the tributaries, but that the water was free of any known cancer agents.

In September of 2010, investigators for the ODH tested several areas in the town, including homes, schools, and factories, for radiation. They found no signs that there was significant enough radiation to affect community health. In the spring of 2011, the Ohio EPA conducted a survey of several soil samples, none of which came from dumping sites or major companies, and again found no clues.

Federal involvement
By 2012, after years of requests from Clyde residents and the media, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which is a federal agency, became physically involved with the investigations.

In Febraury of 2012, the EPA identified 14 specific sites in the area to test for hazardous substances. The testing locations mostly included dump sites, some of which were obsolete. These locations were all previously identified in a 2009 assessment by state agencies. The EPA examined water, soil, and air samples from these sites, and used ground-penetrating radar to detect possible waste burial locations. On July 11, the EPA reported that 13 out of the 14 sites posed no threat to human health, but that one site was still being investigated due to a dispute between the EPA and the owners of that property.

Whirlpool Park discovery
Whirlpool Park was a park located just north of Green Springs that was owned by the Whirlpool Corporation. The park was proximal to the town of Clyde, in which there exists a large Whirlpool plant. The park was intended for employees of that plant, but park admission policies were lenient enough to allow in almost anyone local. It had several recreational features, including a playground slide, swingsets, a picnic area, and a swimming pool. Whirlpool Park was opened in 1953 and was closed in 2006. Since the property was closed, its status as a recreational park has been ceased, and has not since been reinstated. In 2008, the property was sold to Jonathan and Robert Abdoo, who live in Fremont and still currently own the property.

During the investigation into the Clyde cancer cluster, the EPA set up a tip line where people with any significant information regarding the cancer cluster could give them anonymous tips. The reason that the EPA investigated the Whirlpool Park site is because several callers alleged that they witnessed dumping of toxic waste and sludge at the park during the 1950s, around the time the park was opened. Specifically, they alleged that drums were buried there, and that toxic sludge of some sort was dumped near where the basketball court at the park was laid out, and by a pond at the park that, for a number of years, provided water for the swimming pool.

In August of 2012, after investigating 13 other sites in the area that the EPA claimed were safe, the EPA announced that they had found polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are considered to be carcinogens that can affect humans, and other hazardous substances buried in several portions of the property that was once Whirlpool Park. They found up to nine feet of sludge containing PCBs that was buried beneath the soil of the property. The EPA found that four soil samples taken from the site were contaminated with PCBs that exceeded the regional screening levels for residential areas. As would also support the allegations by the tipsters, drums were also found at some point under the property during this investigation.

Shortly after the initial findings at Whirlpool Park, Whirlpool Corporation officials expressed interest in having some of their own employees carry out secondary tests at the park. These plans were delayed by the Abdoos, the current owners of the property, who initially denied Whirlpool permission to access it. Later, in 2013, after much persistence from Whirlpool officials, an agreement was reached between Whirlpool and the property owners to access the property. Whirlpool also promised that it would pay to clean the property of any hazardous substances after their testing was completed.

Buy it back

Verbal agreement, but still paperwork  approval from both agencies

Actual testing by Whirlpool

Private investigation
In-home radiation testing

In-home dust testing

Benzaldehyde revealed

additional sediment sampling

families expressed interest in doing their own testing of Whirlpool Park

Other hypotheses
Various theories have been devised about the causes of the cluster, but no one has found a definite cause. This is not abnormal for cancer cases, as the cause of childhood cancer cases in general are usually unknown. The geographic and medical diversity of the cases were also disadvantageous to investigations. There is also a possibility that the cancer cases may not actually be scientifically linked, but this is very unlikely due to the circumstances.

The most well known and most widely accepted theory is Whirlpool's dumping of polychlorinated biphenyls in Whirlpool Park,

Releasing of benzaldehyde

Vickery waste plant

the dirt

traffic on roads after toll raised

schools were unchecked

pesticides unchecked

magnesium theory

Well issues

An early theory was that the link between the cancers was the possibility of a problem with the cleanliness of the Clyde water,, but after testing both the well and city water in early 2009, the Ohio EPA concluded that nothing suspicious could be found there. Water problems, still not a known cause air?

Support and reactions
Many members of the Clyde community were extremely active in both the participation in and encouragement of investigations involving the origin of the cancer cases. Families of the victims on many occasions have expressed frustration with government agencies for carrying out the investigations very slowly. Several local meetings between government officials and residents of the town were held throughout the years of the investigations in public facilities throughout the area such as various high schools and the Clyde Public Library. Additionally, numerous petitions have been sent by Clyde locals to government agencies involved in the case. Despite the fear of the cancer catalyst, few families moved away from Clyde; the number of people who distanced themselves from the town was apparently not significantly large.

he considers US senate run

Sen. Brown asks for CDC and US EPA investigators

''This talks about Warren and Wendy Brown taking a trip to Washington DC to try to encourage politicians to pay the bill of the Childhood Cancer Act. It also talks about the act itself and what it is and what it's for and blablabla. Also talks about other specific fundraisers.''

Maps

?????

2010, waste-to-energy, draft proposal

age criticism

fundraiser for Isaac Advey

top priority emotions EPA director ODH director

Clyde High School volleyball

Several local fundraisers and events were held in the city to sympathize for residents with cancer. One fundraiser in late 2008 was held in honor of Cole Keller, the grandson of a retired basketball coach, in the form of a basketball exhibition game in Sandusky between Sandusky High School and Perkins High School.

3 Baldies

https://www.stbaldricks.org/fundraisers/mypage/830/2015

A Ride for Clyde

Golf course

Erin Brockovich?

Hitting to Heal

Alexa's Butterflies of Hope

Alexa 5K

Taylor Norman

real estate in Clyde goes down, economics

cancer family trouble selling house

JACKSON????

Children's memorial planned

Legal action
Almost immediately after it was announced that the EPA found PCBs at Whirlpool Park in August 2012, families of the cancer victims and others hired attorneys to represent their interests. It was not until later, however, that lawsuits were filed in court against Whirlpool Corporation and other parties.

Lagrou v. Whirlpool Corporation
$750 million class-action lawsuit

working to drop

drop without prejudice

Brown v. Whirlpool Corporation
Abdoo family and lawyers, residents and lawyers

Family hires Utah lawyers

Boyk

Lawsuit

Moving to drop the lawsuit

15 of 17 counts dismissed

Attempt to restore?

Bowlus disputed...

Abdoo family joins cause against Whirlpool, reluctantly

2015, dropped completely (from the Browns, not Abdoos) without prejudice

Dropped by Abdoos

Cleanup
agreed to

Documentaries
There are several documentary films that cover the history of the Clyde cancer cluster in great detail. The mentioned films all include interviews with the victims, their families, and other involved parties.

In early 2010, students of a journalism class at Clyde High School created a short documentary about the cancer cluster. Their documentary was submitted to the Ohio Environmental Justice Short Video Contest, a video contest intended for students that was sponsored by the EPA, and their film won the third place award.

Later that year, Adan Garcia, who is originally from Fremont but was by this time living in New Mexico, released a 46-minute independent documentary called Fighting for Answers. The film describes the situations of three Clyde families with cancer victims. Garcia personally sold copies of the film,  and showed the film at several festivals across the United States. All of the film's proceeds were donated to fund for cancer research.

The Clyde cancer cluster was intended to be one of the topics discussed in one of the three episodes of the 2015 documentary film Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies. The film is loosely based on the 2010 book The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, and was directed by Barak Goodman and produced by Ken Burns. Filmmakers for this documentary came to Clyde in late 2013, almost two years before the documentary was released.