Could exposures to chemical contamination at the site cause an increased rate of cancer in thecommunity?
Due to the possible carcinogenicity of the site contaminants and because of concerns expressed by localresidents, DHHS reviewed and summarized cancer incidence data for Farmington between 1987 and1997. The rates of 21 out of 23 cancer types in Farmington, New Hampshire, were within theirexpected ranges. The two types of cancer with significantly elevated rates were cervical cancer infemales and lung cancer in females. The primary risk factors for these types of cancer are behavioralin nature. Therefore, the elevated rates are not likely to be related to exposures to site contaminants. Can exposure to the site contaminants cause birth defects? Currently, there are no exposures to contaminants from the site at levels of health concern. For each ofthe major exposure pathways at the site in the past, DHHS reviewed what is known about thesusceptibility of young children and fetuses to the effects of the chemicals. This included a review ofdevelopmental effects as a result of exposures in ut
