There have been 11 cases of glioblastoma brain cancer in Middletown since 2004, according to the National Disease Cluster Alliance and Natural Resources Defense Council.
The alliance released a report Monday identifying 42 suspected clusters of various diseases across the U.S. The Natural Resources Defense Council testified on the matter today before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
A cancer cluster is a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occur within a group of people in a geographic area over time, according to Ohio Department of Health. It usually involves one type of cancer, a rare cancer or a cancer found in an age group not usually affected by the cancer, according to the state department.
According to the ODH, no single cause or hazard can usually be identified.
The report by the environmental groups indicated confirmed disease clusters - or clusters under active investigation - were found in 13 states, including Texas, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio. In addition to Middletown, the Ohio cities of Clyde, Wellington, Marion and Marysville have been named potential disease clusters, according to the office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
McClatchy Newspapers contributed to this report. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.
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