Refineries and plants are notorious for polluting the atmosphere, soil and groundwater systems. A new study reveals that living in close proximity to these facilities can pose a serious health risk.

The study, which was recently published online in the journal of the American Cancer Society, CANCER, found that the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma – a type of blood cancer – was significantly higher in areas surrounding facilities that released benzene into the natural environment. This study, as well as similar studies, will play an important role in identifying and shaping public health policies in a concerted effort to reduce and prevent cancer.

With industrial production steadily increasing in the US over recent decades, so too has the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. One of the main culprits associated with blood cancer is benzene, a known chemical carcinogen, that is released from refineries and industrial plants.

Dr. Christopher Flowers and his research team from the Lymphoma Program at Emory University in Atlanta, together with Catherine Bulka, MPH, analyzed data that is publicly available from the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Census Bureau. They assessed geographic distributions of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases from the state of Georgia in the years spanning 1999 through to 2008. The researchers looked at associations between new lymphoma cases and proximity to refineries or industries that were known to release benzene into the atmosphere or water.

Their analysis revealed that the regions that had the highest incidences of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were Atlanta metro area, Augusta, and Savannah. The study also revealed that the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was significantly higher than predicted in areas located around benzene release sites situated in the Atlanta metro area, as well as at one benzene release site situated in Savannah. As the distance from the benzene release sites increased, the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma decreased by 0.31% for every mile.

“Our study is the first to examine the relationship between passive benzene exposure and the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the state population level,” said Bulka. “Our findings are limited without similar studies to corroborate our results, but we hope that our research will inform readers of the potential risks of living near facilities that release carcinogens into the air, groundwater, or soil,” she added.

Benzene is a known carcinogen that can contaminate groundwater and drinking water sources and pose a severe health risk. A good quality drinking water filter, such as the Big Berkey fitted with Black Berkey filter elements, will remove any traces of benzene as well as many other industrial pollutants that may be present in your drinking water, rendering it safe to drink.

Journal Reference: Christopher R. Flowers, Barbara Pro. Racial differences in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer, 2013; DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28233