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U.S. EPA investigating Clyde cancer cluster
Posted: 02.13.2012 at 11:26 PM
Angi Gonzalez

Angi is the evening anchor for WNWO at 6 and 11.

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EPA officials begin testing at one of the 14 sites they will be checking for contamination.  / Tim Wening
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SANDUSKY COUNTY -- Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency arrived in Clyde, on Monday, to continue their investigation of a child cancer cluster.

"We did a lot of historical research, [looking at] aerial photographs…looking for burial areas, old state files just to see what we can find. Now we're to the point we want to collect some physical samples," EPA on-scene coordinator Steve Wolfe said.

Using a variety of different tools, the EPA will be visiting 14 sites during the next few weeks to gather soil, air and water samples.

According to Wolfe, the locations were identified to the EPA by the Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of health following their own investigations.

Warren Brown says it was the 2006 cancer-diagnosis of his daughter Alexa that compelled state authorities to begin looking into a potential cancer cluster.

"The amount of cancer cases was statistically significant and further study needed to be done," Brown said.

Despite numerous investigations, however, no one has been able to definitively identify what's caused around 3 dozen area children to develop cancer.

While Brown is thankful that the EPA has finally arrived to investigate he's skeptical of what they'll find.

"If they find nothing that's wonderful, but my guess is and my gut tells me they are going to find something …something that needs to be removed or remediated," Brown said.

EPA officials say they hope to have their findings by the end of spring or early summer.

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