Cuyahoga County cancer risk from air pollution higher than national average

The EPA released a report that indicates that millions of people nationwide are at higher risk for cancer due to air pollution. Maps prepared by the EPA and published by National Public Radio show the risk of cancer due to air pollution for all counties in the US.

According to the Associated Press and National Public Radio sources (click for link), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the levels of 80 cancer causing substances in air pollution poses a 100 in 1 million risk of cancer in a lifetime. This means that, given that people are exposed to the same air, that 100 persons are expected to develop cancer over their lifetime, and that this cancer is attributable to exposure to air pollution.

Local Rates

While the average cancer risk for the US is 36 in 1 million, the risk of cancer due to air pollution in the regional counties are

• Cuyahoga: 40 in 1 million
• Lorain: 31 per 1 million
• Medina:  27 per 1 million
• Geauga:  21 per 1 million
• Portage:  28 per 1 million
• Summit:  33 per 1 million
• Stark:  31 per 1 million
• Lake: 27 per 1 million

An interactive graphic map of these rates are available at the NPR website, http://www.npr.org/news/graphics/2009/jun/county-cancer/

Data reported by the EPA reflects measurements taken in 2002.