Butler County residents face some of the highest risks in the nation of developing cancer from breathing toxic air pollution, according to an EPA study.
The study released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finds the risk in Butler County is 50 in 1 million, higher than the national average of 36 per million. That means locally that if 1 million people breathed the air over their lifetimes, an additional 50 people would be expected to get cancer because of air pollution, in addition to cancer caused by genetics, smoking, diet and other lifestyle factors, according to Ohio EPA toxicologist Paul Koval.
“The numbers we monitor are generally less than what this computer model predicts,” he said. “These risks are very common in industrialized urban areas.”
Ken Edgell, environmental administrative coordinator for the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, said the cause for the poor air quality is mostly due to Benzene, a carcinogen found in gasoline. But, he stressed the numbers aren’t as “dramatic” as they appear.
“The EPA cancer risk estimate is based on 24-hour, 365-days-a-year exposure ... for 70 years. So people shouldn’t be alarmed thinking that they’re going to get cancer tomorrow,” Edgell said.
The study analyzed 2002 air emissions data of 180 air toxins from the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment.
Edgell said air quality in the region has improved since the 2002 study because of added regulations on cars, trucks and industrial plants.
But Shelly Kiser, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association of Ohio, said Ohio remains one of most polluted states in the country.
“A lot of cities in the country are getting control of the situation, (but) Butler County is not making the progress,” she said, citing the economic downturn and lack of funding for environmental protection.
Kiser said she hopes the new $340 million SunCoke Energy plant won’t compound air toxin levels in southwest Ohio, which she said can cause asthma and premature death.
Staff Writers Jessica Heffner and Josh Sweigart contributed to this report.
