ML25006A210
| ML25006A210 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 01/06/2025 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| References | |
| Download: ML25006A210 (6) | |
Text
From:
Mary Richmond Sent:
Monday, January 6, 2025 5:44 PM To:
Mary Richmond
Subject:
FW: RE: RE: Cancer Data Request Attachments:
24275 EHS Covert Thyroid Cancer Investigation Letter to VBCass DHD.pdf From: Vang, Kristyn (DHHS)
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2024 1:33 PM To: Mary Richmond ; Patterson, Katherine (DHHS)
Cc: Donald Palmrose ; Daniel Barnhurst ; Napier, Jonathan B ; Conrad, Cyler N ; Laura Willingham ; Jamie Pelton (She/Her) ; Justin Poole (He/Him) ; Largo, Thomas W. (DHHS) ; Wasilevich, Elizabeth (DHHS)
Subject:
[External_Sender] RE: RE: Cancer Data Request Hi Mary, The attached letter was sent to health officials at the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department summarizing a recent cancer investigation in Covert.
Thank you, Kristyn Vang, MPH Manager, Health Statistics Surveillance Unit Environmental Health Surveillance Section Division of Epidemiology, Data Analytics, and Evaluation Environmental Health Bureau Work Cell: (517) 243-6222 Email: vangk@michigan.gov Chat with me in Teams This message, including any attachments, is intended solely for the use of the above named recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution of any confidential and/or privileged information contained in this e-mail is expressly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy any and all copies of the original message.
Hearing Identifier:
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Subject:
FW RE RE Cancer Data Request Sent Date:
1/6/2025 5:44:01 PM Received Date:
1/6/2025 5:44:03 PM From:
Mary Richmond Created By:
Mary.Richmond@nrc.gov Recipients:
"Mary Richmond" <Mary.Richmond@nrc.gov>
Tracking Status: None Post Office:
DS0PR09MB10697.namprd09.prod.outlook.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 1414 1/6/2025 5:44:03 PM image003.png 611 image004.jpg 4315 24275 EHS Covert Thyroid Cancer Investigation Letter to VBCass DHD.pdf 266346 Options Priority:
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333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE
- PO BOX 30195
- 517-373-3740 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LANSING November 15, 2024 Danielle Persky, B.S.
Health Officer Van Buren/Cass District Health Department 260 South Street Lawrence, MI 49064
Dear Ms. Persky:
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Division of Environmental Health (DEH) recently completed an investigation of cancer incidence among residents of Covert Township, Michigan. This letter summarizes the findings of this investigation which was performed in response to a community members concern about thyroid cancer among people living near the Palisades Nuclear Plant.
We found that between 1985 and 2021 (the years of complete, available data from the Michigan Cancer Surveillance Program (MCSP)), there were less than six Covert Township residents diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Due to this small number, we were unable to conduct statistical analyses, such as comparing incidence rates to another location.
On September 10, 2024, a meeting was held with the resident to review these findings and answer their questions. In addition to an epidemiologist and toxicologist from DEH on the call, the manager of the Radioactive Materials Unit within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) was in attendance to provide further information about radiation exposure and monitoring program reports for the Palisades facility. This meeting resolved the residents concern, and no further follow-up was needed.
The MDHHS DEH cancer investigation process follows the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions published Guidelines for Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns when addressing community inquiries about cancer and the environment.i The DEH evaluated thyroid cancer incidence data from the Michigan Cancer Surveillance Program for the years 1985 through 2021 for the census tract representing Covert Township (Tract 106, Van Buren County, Michigan).
The results of this evaluation are as follows:
From the years 1985 to 2021, a period of 37 years, fewer than six casesii of thyroid cancer were diagnosed among permanent residents of Covert Township.
ELIZABETH HERTEL DIRECTOR GRETCHEN WHITMER GOVERNOR
Ms. Persky November 15, 2024 Page 2 Due to the extremely low number of cases, combined with the small population of full-time residents in Covert Township (2,510 as reported in the 2020 Decennial Census), further analysis of cancer incidence is not feasible. Any results from such an analysis would lack statistical stability and reliability.
No unusual temporal patterns were identified amongst these thyroid cancer cases.
The DEH utilizes cancer surveillance data collected and maintained by the MCSP, which includes patient age, gender, race, cancer site and type, and primary residential address at the time of diagnosis. It is important to note that part-time residents with a separate primary residence or former residents diagnosed after moving out of the area are not counted as cases diagnosed in Covert Township. Additionally, this analysis only includes cancer cases where the thyroid tumor is classified as primary, malignant, and invasive; data on thyroid disease, thyroid nodules, and non-malignant thyroid tumors are not available.
For information about radiation exposure and environmental monitoring related to the Palisades Nuclear Facility, you may contact EGLEs Radioactive Materials Unit at RadioactiveMaterial@michigan.gov.
Sincerely, Kristyn Vang, Unit Manager, Health Statistics Surveillance Unit Environmental Health Surveillance Section Division of Environmental Health KV:kp c:
Kory Groetsch, M.S., Interim Director, Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health Laura de la Rambelje, Director, Local Public Health Thomas Largo, Manager, Environmental Health Surveillance Section i Foster S, Lavery A, Suzanne Condon, et al. Guidelines for Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns. Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 2022. Accessed October 10, 2024.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer-environment/media/pdfs/Guidelines-for-Examining-Unusual-Patterns-of-Cancer-and-Environmental-Concerns-h.pdf ii To protect the identity of persons who have been diagnosed with cancer, counts less than six are not presented.