Health Consultation-Health Outcomes Review: Adverse Birth Outcomes and Cancer Incidence, Village of Liberty, Sullivan County

SUMMARY A health outcomes review was conducted for the Village of Liberty because of concerns about health effects from methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in the water supply system. A health outcomes review examines a particular group of people as a whole to see how it compares to a group not living in the area of concern. It cannot link an environmental exposure to a specific health effect and it cannot tell us anything about individual health problems. This health review covered the time period between 1979 and 2005 and focused on the outcomes of low birthweight, premature births, birth defects and cancer for the population exposed in the past to MTBE. The purpose of this review was to compare the number of these health outcomes for people who lived in Liberty to people who lived in the rest of the state. This comparison showed nothing unusual for any of the birth outcomes or cancer in general. Looking specifically at 17 types of cancer in males and 19 types in females, two statistically significant elevations were noted: A higher than expected number (65 vs. 46) of lung and bronchial cancers among women 65-74. This type of cancer is not associated with exposure to MTBE in animals, but is associated with smoking history. A majority of the women who were diagnosed with lung cancer whose smoking history was known were current or former smokers. A higher than expected number (18 vs. 10) of leukemias diagnosed among men between 1990 and 2003. We do not know whether MTBE can cause cancer in humans, but leukemia is one type of cancer associated with MTBE exposure in animals. Although this is not a cause and effect link and may, in fact, be due to chance or other possible exposures, we recognize this may raise concerns among men and their families. Individuals who are concerned are encouraged to share this information with their health care providers.