The scientists at Silent Spring Institute in Newton took on a very difficult job — Look at the links between the environment and the Cape Cod breast cancer cluster.
Scientists have challenged the relevance of cancer clusters. And, critics of environmentalists like to dismiss this kind of research as the work of so-called “chemophobes.”
So, if it doesn’t concern you that a Silent Spring study concluded that “pharmaceuticals, consumer product chemicals, and other emerging contaminants can be found in the majority of public drinking water wells tested on Cape Cod, MA,” go ahead, skip this post and drink up.
If it does, check out the group’s work, including the recent, peer-reviewed study on chemicals in Cape water. Or head out to Hyannis for meeting on “How can we protect cape drinking water? New research motivates innovative wastewater plans.” Here’s a report from WCAI radio and here’s the pitch, straight from the SSI press release.
| DATE: | Wednesday, October 2, 2013 |
| WHERE: | 12:00–1:30 p.m. Barnstable Town Hall, 2nd Floor Hearing Room, 367 Main Street, Hyannis (Lunch will be served) |
| WHO: | Laurel Schaider, PhD, Research Scientist, Silent Spring Institute Ann Maguire, first president and co-founder of Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and co-founder of Silent Spring Institute John K. Erban, MD, Clinical Director, Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center; and Silent Spring Institute Board of Directors |
| For Immediate Release Silent Spring Institute Research Update How can we protect cape drinking water?
Recent findings and next steps for Silent Spring Institute study of contaminants of emerging concern in Cape Cod groundwater Previous studies by Silent Spring Institute have shown pharmaceuticals, consumer product chemicals, and other contaminants of emerging concern in Cape Cod drinking water and groundwater. With funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Institute researchers recently completed a study that synthesized existing information about contaminants of emerging concern in septic system discharges and used these results to estimate contaminant inputs into watersheds and areas that recharge drinking water wells on Cape Cod. Starting this fall, Silent Spring Institute will be conducting a new study of contaminants of emerging concern in eco-toilets, a sustainable, low-cost approach being considered to treat wastewater and address nutrient pollution on the Cape. These studies are especially important now because Cape Cod is debating wastewater management options to address nutrient pollution i nto sensitive ecosystems, and these decisions have long-term implications for protection of drinking water quality.
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