Loudon Co. residents voice concerns on cancer risks

Loudon Co. residents voice concerns on cancer risks

June 14, 2005

By CATHARYN CAMPBELL
6 News Reporter

LOUDON COUNTY (WATE) -- Loudon County tops the list for Tennessee's highest cancer rates and respiratory diseases. Many residents met with state officials Tuesday, speaking about their belief that pollutants in the air are the cause.

The county has 11 large industries and two heavily traveled interstates.

"We don't do anything different than Knoxville," Pat Hunter says. "We go to the same grocery stores. We go to the same chains. We buy off the shelves. We go to the same restaurants and yet we have more cancer than you do."

Ann Furr says her father, born and raised in Loudon County, died of pancreatic cancer. "He didn't smoke, didn't drink, didn't do anything. He lived a nice, healthy life. He was active, thin. In my soul, I'm sure that had something to do with it the problems in the air."

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation continually monitors air quality in the area.

While some substances that cause cancer have been detected in the air, researchers say it's no more than what's found in other places around the country.

At this point, the researchers aren't sure why people are getting sick.

"We've recommended that the Department of Environment and Conservation find the different sources of the pollutants and they have started doing that. We will find what is contributing to the high cancer rate," says Bonnie Bashor, with the Tennessee Department of Health.

The state is working to narrow its study. Researchers want to find which communities have the highest cancer rates in Loudon County. From that, they hope to determine if there's something contributing to the disease. That report is expected to be complete by early fall.