Senator Lavalle Announces Cancer Mapping Website

Senator Kenneth P. LaValle today announced that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has opened the Environmental Facilities and Cancer Map web site to the public.  The NYSDOH created the map in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Conservation to chart the occurrence of cancers as they relate to the locations of environmental facilities.  The interactive map displays the counts for 23 types of cancers and the locations of environmental facilities, such as water discharge sites, hazardous waste management facilities, brownfields, chemical bulk and major oil storage facilities, etc., across the state.

According to Senator LaValle, the cancer mapping project was designed to answer questions many people have with regard to cancer and the possible environmental contributors. The information is not limited to cancer clusters and will overlay locations of environmental facilities with cancer incidences.  The map shows cancer counts from the years 2003 to 2007 in small geographic areas of the state.  The site can be accessed at http://www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/cancer/environmental_facilities/mapping/.  There you will find important information, including how to use the map and interpret the cancer data.  

“The high incidence of cancer is a serious public concern and is troubling to the medical and research communities,” said Senator LaValle.  “The Environmental Facilities and Cancer Map will provide a starting point to determine if there is a link between cancers and the environment.  The information generated from this project should be very helpful to physicians and disease control professionals who are trying to uncover any possible connection.”