What was the scope of the preliminary cancer cluster investigation by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)?
People who were living within what is approximately a 1-mile radius from the perimeter of Ft. Detrick Areas A and B whose cancers were diagnosed between 2000 and 2007 were included in the initial preliminary investigation using the Maryland Cancer Registry data, even if they have moved out of the area after diagnosis (one exception could be if they were active duty military and not seen in the civilian health care system). People who moved and whose residence at the time of diagnosis is out of the three Census Tracts were not included in the preliminary investigation.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene began its preliminary investigation using data that was already collected by the Maryland Cancer Registry. The initial cancer investigation is being conducted to answer questions and concerns that have been raised by Frederick County residents about cancer in the area, and proceeded independently of any ongoing issues related to environmental remediation at Fort Detrick. As additional concerns are raised as a result of this preliminary investigation and any future investigations, they will be addressed by the Frederick County Health Department, working together with the appropriate state and federal agencies.

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1. What did the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) find in their 2009 Public Health Assessment?
2. Who is responsible for collecting information about cancer?
3. What is a cancer “cluster?”
4. How are cancer cluster concerns investigated in Maryland?
5. What is the relationship between cancer and environmental exposures?
6. What are the cancer rates in Frederick?
7. What was the scope of the preliminary cancer cluster investigation by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)?
8. Why was 2000 the earliest year of analysis in the preliminary report of the initial cancer cluster investigation?
9. What were the preliminary findings of the DHMH cancer data analysis?
10. Is the risk of non-cancer health conditions being assessed?
11. If significant excess cancers are found in a specific geographic area within the county, then what?
12. Who can I talk to for more information?