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WATER GREMLIN PUBLIC HEALTH. ASSESSMENT <br />Summary <br />There have been. cancer concerns among many White Bear Township, White Bear Lake,and Gem <br />Lake area residents related to past releases of TrichIoroethylene (TCE) to the air by the Water <br />Gremlin facility (see Mao location above). The purpose of this report is to provide a complete <br />and accurate profile of cancer occurrence among residents living in the five census tracts <br />surrounding th.e Water Gremlin facility. Data from the Minnesota Cancer Reporting System <br />(MCRS) was used to compare cancer rates: among individuals living :in the census tracts. <br />surrounding the facilityat the time of their diagnosis with cancer rates in the seven county Twin <br />Cities: metropolitan area.during the most recent 10-year period for which complete data were <br />available (20U-2016). <br />Overall cancer rates inthe area of analysis were virtually identical to Metro -area rates. For both <br />.genders combined, 97G cancers were: diagnosed over the 10=year period, compared to the <br />.expected number of 978. <br />Due to their smaller numbers and. greater variability. (over time or from one location to another), <br />the rates of specific types of cancer at a corn munity (or even county) love are generally much <br />less stable. or informative and permit few conclusions. No excesses or deficits of cancers were. <br />observed in. the ten years of data. The number of residents in thestudy area currently living with: <br />any history of cancer likely exceeds 940 individuals.. <br />While environmental contaminants are the frequent focus of community cancer concerns, the <br />primary determinants of cancer risk include smoking, obesity; diet, lack of exercise, LiV radiation, <br />alcohol, viruses, genetics, reproductive history, medications, and occupation. <br />Background <br />The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).and.the Minnesota Department of Health <br />(MDH) have published documents describing the release ofTCE fro m the Water Gremlin facility <br />and related: actions. They can be found at the following web sites. <br />I11111Tep <br />Water Gremlin trichloroethylene (TCE) Area of Concern <br />I 11a <br />Water Gremlin Site - Community concern LTCE� <br />Data Sources and Methods <br />The MCRS is Minnesota's statewide cancer registry (database) and has operated since 1988. It <br />collects diagnostic and related data on all cancer diagnoses among. Minnesota residents. The <br />data come from hospitals, clinics, and pathology laboratories and are carefully reviewed for <br />78 <br />