NEWS RELEASE
Monday, February 28, 2011 For Immediate Release
Health Study Phase II Reports Released
Three reports that present the results of Phase II activities of the Lambton Community Health Study are available to the public. The reports can be viewed on-line at
www.lambtonhealthstudy.ca.
The first report is, A Systematic Literature Review of Health Outcomes Associated with Living near Petrochemical Industries. The review was completed by consultants Intrinsik Environmental Sciences Inc. The purpose of the systematic literature review was to summarize scientific research that has been conducted in other communities where residents live near petrochemical industries. It is important for the Health Study Board to look at these studies in order to understand what has been found elsewhere and to identify the appropriate study methods we must use to reach meaningful conclusions. The 250 page document includes a detailed summary and discussion of 130 relevant research papers and reports.
The literature review revealed that most studies did not find conclusive evidence of a link between living near petrochemical industries and various health outcomes and that many studies were of low quality. The authors of the review identified several limitations of the existing studies and cautioned Lambton to design its study with these in mind.
The authors recommend that:
- A community health study must account for several factors that can influence health including occupation, lifestyle and residential history
- A community health study must properly measure exposures to chemicals and not rely on distance from industry as the only measure of exposure
The authors identified some key studies that demonstrated sound study methods. It will be important for the Board and future study consultants to carefully examine the methods used in these key studies to ensure a scientifically rigorous study is conducted here in Lambton.
While a number of studies did not provide conclusive evidence of an increased risk of disease, the authors found that leukemia, asthma and other upper respiratory diseases in children were potentially associated with living near petrochemical industries.
The authors recommend that a study in Lambton should look at these diseases as well as cancers that have been shown to be linked to occupational exposure to petrochemicals: lung cancer, brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, and lymphoma.
The health study board will consider the results of the literature review along with the results of the surveys and open houses to develop research questions for a proposed community health study.
The second report, entitled Lambton Community Health Study Open House Report summarizes findings from a series of Open House meetings that took place throughout the county in November 2010.
The third report, the Lambton Community Health Study Telephone Survey Summary Report provides a detailed description of the responses to a telephone survey of 500 Lambton residents that was conducted in October 2010.
The full reports can be downloaded from the health study website at www.lambtonhealthstudy.ca. Comments about the Literature Review report may be submitted online through the website. Comments will be accepted for a period of 60 days.
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Contacts:
Jim Burns Mary Jane Marsh
Chair, Health Study Board of Directors Independent
Telephone: 519 845-0801 Process Observer
Email: jim.burns@county-lambton.on.ca 519 864-1531
NEWS RELEASE
Friday, December 10, 2010 For Immediate Release
Health Study Survey Online
Contacts:
Jim Burns Mary Jane Marsh
Chair, Health Study Board of Directors Independent
Telephone: 519 845-0801 Process Observer
Email: jim.burns@county-lambton.on.ca 519 864-1531
NEWS RELEASE
Friday, November 5, 2010 For Immediate Release
Health Study Committee to Host Open House Meetings
The Lambton Community Health Study Committee was formed to study environmental effects on the health of Lambton County residents. Through the month of November, the study committee will hold a series of five Open Houses in various locations throughout Lambton County.
"The purpose of the Open House meetings is quite simple", states Jim Burns, Chair of the Health Study Committee. "We want to listen to the concerns of local residents. Through the Open Houses, our telephone survey and an on-line survey, we hope to identify the types of questions that a detailed health study would seek to answer."
Interested local residents are encouraged to attend the meeting in the location most convenient for them. The full list of meeting dates, times and locations can be found online at www.lambtonhealthstudy.ca or by calling the County of Lambton Community Health Services Department at 519 383-8331.
|
Location |
Date |
Hall |
Address |
|
Petrolia |
Nov. 16
7-9pm |
Petrolia Lions Hall
|
451 Huggard St., Petrolia |
|
Aamjiwnaang First Nation |
Nov. 17
7-9pm |
Health Centre - Community Health Room |
1300 Tashmoo Ave., Sarnia |
|
Corunna |
Nov. 24
7-9pm |
Royal Canadian Legion - Corunna Branch |
350 Albert St. (at Beckwith St.), Corunna |
|
Forest |
Nov. 25
7-9pm |
Royal Canadian Legion - Forest Branch |
58 Albert St., Forest |
|
Sarnia |
Nov. 30
7-9pm |
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Hall Local 914 |
900 Devine St. (at Indian Rd.), Sarnia |
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Contacts:
Jim Burns Mary Jane Marsh
Lambton County Warden / Independent
Chair, Health Study Board of Directors Process Observer
Telephone: 519 845-0801 519 864-1531
Email: jim.burns@county-lambton.on.ca
NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, September 30, 2010 For Immediate Release
Health Study to Conduct Telephone Survey
The Lambton Community Health Study Committee wants to know local residents' views on health concerns related to industrial pollution. Through the month of October, 500 Lambton residents will be randomly selected to participate in a 10 minute telephone survey will be conducted by CCI Research.
According to Mary Jane Marsh, Independent Process Observer to the study, "the purpose of this survey is to collect information that will help researchers design and conduct a Community Health Study. We will be able to design a better study if we have input and feedback from Lambton County residents."
The telephone survey is only one of the ways that the Health Study will be seeking input from residents. There will also be a series of Open Houses throughout the County in November, as well as an online survey that will be open to all residents. The information from the telephone survey, the open houses, and the on-line survey will be combined with the results of an extensive literature review in order to help the board determine the level of community support and establish research questions, methods and funding requirements for an in depth Community Health Study.
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Contacts:
Jim Burns Mary Jane Marsh
Lambton County Warden / Independent
Chair, Health Study Board of Directors Process Observer
Telephone: 519 845-0801 519 864-1531
Email: jim.burns@county-lambton.on.ca
BACKGROUND - Lambton Community Health Study
The Health Study Board has developed a multi-year plan which involves three distinct phases.
- Phase I involved the establishment of a community based governance structure and the identification of a Board of Directors to oversee the project. This phase is complete.
- Phase II will include a comprehensive literature review, community engagement, development of research questions and the development of call for proposals for Phase III.
- Phase III will be the undertaking of the identified study(ies), communication of the results to Lambton residents and stakeholder groups, identification of next steps and remedial initiatives, if required.