Why are Cancer Rates so High in Western Washington?? (military, beaches)

[alexxiz]

There's a lot of toxic industry along the coastal areas of Washington, and I believe this is the cause. I was searching for a home to buy, and the place is filled with plants emitting stuff... one has to go away from populated areas to be away from this pollution in Western WA. From Tacoma north to Mount Vernon and south to Vancouver--there's a toxic "belt", and some of the stuff emitted is worse than pesticides. You can research it via environmental websites; I had compiled a map of emissions to help me with finding clean area.
As to Eastern WA, pesticides keep doing their job... just talked to a nurse who told me about deformed kids born to migrant workers.
Also, keep in mind that where you have elevated cancer rates due to pollution, you have a multitude of other conditions that are formally not recognized as being caused by pollution... but they ARE. This, by the way, often includes depression and mental disorders.

[evergraystate]

Lack of vitamin D are linked to high rate of MS, Alzheimer, some cancers

[StealthRabbit]

several potential (non-technical) reasons:
most probable is indoor lifestyle, and all the poor health issues related (From air quality to less exercise and eating processed foods) While WWA folks tend to be 'outdoorsy', a few weekends camping and a few hours hiking or skiing do not equate to being a farmer and spending 12 - 18 hrs a day in the outdoors. All the air quality issues of being stuck in buildings all but a few hours a day are not as minimal as advertised.

Higher population density.
Higher immigrant population /per capita (I came from Colorado where I grew up under a power line and played in dirt that has a very high Uranium content)

Less gardening & "home grown tomatoes"

Downwind from 509 and 541 (Boardman coal plant)
Downstream from EVERYTHING that got tossed in upstream

Closer proximity to coastal winds bringing Asian airborne grown boom issues. (rain does an excellent job of depositing them here, and cleansing the air for 509'rs )

[pw72]

Maybe I missed it, but does this report mention the types of cancer that are high in Western WA? Sorry, don't have time to explore the OP's link, which looks like it may take some time.

[cjg5]

I've heard that lack of sunscreen use in Western Washington leads to higher skin cancer rates, as UV rays can still get through cloud cover and people think it's okay when they don't have direct sun exposure.

[509]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

several potential (non-technical) reasons:
most probable is indoor lifestyle, and all the poor health issues related (From air quality to less exercise and eating processed foods) While WWA folks tend to be 'outdoorsy', a few weekends camping and a few hours hiking or skiing do not equate to being a farmer and spending 12 - 18 hrs a day in the outdoors. All the air quality issues of being stuck in buildings all but a few hours a day are not as minimal as advertised.

Higher population density.
Higher immigrant population /per capita (I came from Colorado where I grew up under a power line and played in dirt that has a very high Uranium content)

Less gardening & "home grown tomatoes"

Downwind from 509 and 541 (Boardman coal plant)
Downstream from EVERYTHING that got tossed in upstream

Closer proximity to coastal winds bringing Asian airborne grown boom issues. (rain does an excellent job of depositing them here, and cleansing the air for 509'rs )

I suspect the indoor lifestyle coupled with the nighttime lighting that contributes to prostrate and breast cancer.

By a slight margin (on a percentage basis) more eastern Washington is more urban than western Washington. Also eastern Washington has more immigrants and is much more diverse than western Washington. I suppose folks in western Washington will believe what they believe since nobody looks at real data!!

It is a interesting that cancer rates are much high for western Washington and I suspect that your right about it being that closed up indoor lifestyle.

[Mary Claire]

I just found out why. If only my sister-in-law's sister had known. She died of a brain tumor 3 years ago...
In southeastern Washington, a 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the river passes through the Hanford Site, established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project. The site served as a plutonium production complex, with nine nuclear reactors and related facilities located on the banks of the river. From 1944 to 1971, pump systems drew cooling water from the river and, after treating this water for use by the reactors, returned it to the river. Moderator cut: see note

[sean98125]

It's interesting that the more rural counties on the west side have a higher incidence rate than the more urban counties. The top 10 for cancer rates are Mason, Island, Whatcom, Jefferson, Columbia, Kitsap, Thurston, Clallam and Skagit. (Snohomish is 11, Pierce is 15, King is 17. Benton - where Hanford is - is 24. Of the top ten, only Columbia County is on the eastern side of the state.

Is it industry? Not manufacturing - none of the top ten are known an major industrial centers like King or Pierce County. Vitamin D? Perhaps - there are more sunny days on the dry side in the winter than on the wet side. And the counties in the top ten seem to have a lot of dark days in the winter time. Types of industry? There is a lot of logging in Mason, Whatcom, Jefferson, Thurston, Clallam and Skagit Counties. Food? Fish and shellfish collect a lot of pollutants from the water, and all of those west side counties have a lot of fishing and shellfish harvesting opportunities.

I'd expect to see a lot more cancer in King and Pierce Counties, but that isn't the case.

[Spewed]

There are lots of things that could contribute to the higher cancer rates in Western Washington. As some of the previous posters have stated, the radioactive spills, slough from other countries natural disasters that caused major radiation to spill over into the ocean. Not to mention, the majority of Americans believe that because there is cloud cover, that they are safe and protected from the sun, when in reality they're not. Sometimes on cloudy days, UV exposure can be 10 fold, we just don't know. So, it's always safe to apply some sunscreen when you go, rather than go out unprotected. No matter what, you are exposed to hazardous UV rays and need to protect yourself. Also, western Washing has a lot of water surrounding it, and water can intensify the suns UV rays, or the suns rays, most people don't know this, and should get a good sun screen when visiting these areas. Snow as well can intensify the suns UV rays, and cause harm to your skin, or in other ways.

Nevertheless, you STILL get vitamin D during cloudy days. You wont receive as much as you do on sunny days, but an adequate amount is STILL there. The ultraviolet B rays emitted from the sun may be reduced on a cloudy days, but it still is there. Ultraviolet B rays give you vitamin D.

Stay protected, wear sunscreen. Live an active and healthy lifestyle. Don't stay cooped up in the house, don't smoke, don't drink and eat healthy. I think if a number of these things were done, you could potentially see a drastic decrease in the cancer rates.

[Levelsoflife]

How does this affect.the communities now with no resources that are NEVER availabe in pierce county. Infact its no surprise that depression is so high due to ticket infractions thatgo to collections. Makings single family low income more disable in searching for a better way and means to progress and if you even so much as miss an appointment your terminated or sanctioned from an income level that is funded by governent and still in a financial rate that is compared to 1990 yet our cost of living is still rising and now this WATER ISSUE that has been recognized since way backwhen! It expplains why so many tacoma medicalfacilities expanded and upgraded and wy the medicalifield is such a great demand here. Seems as though we who cannot afford but are supposed to have a great outlook for our future have been waisting time. Where does the real funding go to be healthy here and be able to be included in society so that we arent failing. I hope that eventually water awareness to sustain.good health to be productive to keep moving forward. wil also reach those low income neignborhoodss as well.