Cancer cluster study results `out soon`

The results of an investigation into an apparent cancer cluster in the NSW Hunter
Valley will be made available to the public, the NSW Chief Health Officer says.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally announced the investigation following the ABC's Four
Corners program on Monday, which revealed a number of Upper Hunter Valley residents
had developed illnesses including respiratory diseases and cancer.
Some school children were also said to be suffering reduced lung capacity.
The program suggested a link between the illnesses and nearby coal mines, but
currently there is only anecdotal evidence of this.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she was unaware of the apparent cancer
cluster before Monday's Four Corners program.
"I can report the public health unit has made contact with the families involved in
that cluster and an investigation is underway," she told ABC radio on Tuesday.
The investigation will include the Department of Health compiling data on hospital
admissions and self-reported health and life-style factors.
"We're pulling together that into a comprehensive report and we have just got to
update that report with issues around the brain cancer cluster," Dr Chant said.
The final report will be released publicly.
"Some of the Hunter/New England area has got mines in it and others have not got
mining operations in it," Dr Chant said.
"We will also compare (data) with the state average.
"It will map differentials in health status and pull together that data in a one
place so that the community has access to that data."
Dr Chant said an expert panel had also been set up to look at air quality issues.
"We'll be asking that panel to tell us about the next steps that we should take in
investigating the concerns of the community," she said.
"It's complicated because people are exposed to air quality both indoors and
outdoors, and there are other sources and factors and we will need to do a rigorous
study in order to answer the community's questions."
Meanwhile, Greenpeace has called for coal mining in Australia to be curbed.
"Currently there are plans for a dozen new coal fired power plants on the books, a
clear commitment by the government to dirty, dangerous coal in an era of clean,
safe, renewable energy," Greenpeace CEO Dr Linda Selvey said in a statement.
"More importantly, the government should be providing all Australians with
transparency around the true cost of coal.
"If we were to remove the taxpayer subsidies and factor in the environmental, social
and health costs, coal would very quickly become an incredibly expensive fuel."