'Stinky' neighborhood under scrutiny for cancer clues

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Oct 22nd 2007 12:19PM

Categories: Fitness

It's odd to hear that a scent could invoke the feeling (and diagnosis) of cancer, but in Houston, Texas, that is precisely what has happened.

A lingering stench in a part of Houston is being looked at in the mysterious diagnosis of leukemia in a 6-year-old, Valentin Marroquin. Is there something in the surrounding environment that is not only smelly, but has contributed to a case of leukemia?

The family in question lives right next to the Houston ship channel, which is home to the largest petrochemical complex in the country. It's pretty obvious to see where the smell comes from -- but is there something in the air that could cause cancer when inhaled (or perhaps ingested)?

That is unknown -- but chemical companies are spewing tons of waste into the air each day there, including benzene and other pollutants. After reading about the environment in the Manchester area, I'm in no hurry to go there.

Source

Comments (66)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

judy 10-26-2007 @ 7:23AM

At 24th. and Detroit Blvd in Sacramento Calif. has had a rash of cancers for over 45 years, many, many have died or had cancer in the past 45 years. But continually denied or ignored, I wish someone with power would go get it found out.

carol 10-26-2007 @ 7:23AM

LOL, it's the Houston SHIP Channel

sam 10-26-2007 @ 7:26AM

The government knows but does not care. Im surprised this made it through the news filters...

Lisa 10-26-2007 @ 7:31AM

I too have noticed "cancer areas" in my own city and other cities as well. Coincidence that there are more reported cases of cancer in certain areas? Doubt it.

Lisa 10-26-2007 @ 8:03AM

OF COURSE it is all connected. We have a government that is in the pocket of the industries that make money from people having cancer...so, if you want to avoid cancer, you have to be proactive.

Want to rid your system of toxins? There are two methods that really work...Waiora Zeolite drops and a special type of ionic footbath. Both are devastatingly effective at removing poisons from your body.

Also...eat organic, heavily filter or distill ALL drinking water, and avoid mainstream cosmetics, cleaning products, detergents, etc. If you minimize your exposure to toxins, it will be much easier for your body to get rid of the rest.

Good luck to all who read this...if you want to find out more about the products I mentioned...you can email at colorprana@aol.com.

Gary 10-26-2007 @ 8:14AM

America, it is time to wake up and vote for a real change. NO MORE CORPORATE COOKIE CUTTER CANDIDATES. Support and vote for RON PAUL www.ronpaul2008.com
We are over taxed and regulated.

Gary 10-26-2007 @ 8:14AM

America, we are in need of some sweeping legislature that will stop the over taxation and policing of the American citizens. NO MORE CORPORATE COOKIE CUTTER CANDIDATES. Support and vote for Ron Paul www.ronpaul2008.com

Tona 10-26-2007 @ 8:19AM

My Father lived in House located directly on Houston's Channelview Ship Channel, he also diagnosed w/Lung Cancer & died quick and while ill, his body release the stinch of Channelview, the odor coming thru his skin, smelled exactly like the stinch. I have always believed the chemicals plants, the government, and the US citizens who do not enforce government to protect us are responsible for my Father's cruel death.

Tona 10-26-2007 @ 8:35AM

US citizens are the demand for Chemical Plants to stay in hurried business. We the citizens are mostly unaware of what Houston, Texas City, Channelview, Beaumont areas Chemical Plants are even doing...Until citizens (Americans) quit destroying each other w/thier own selfish demands on tires, laundry soap, etc (these plants produce) and find other enviromental safe ways to live in America, we will continue to kill one another over and over w/ cancers and life threatening illness'. Find out your state senator, congressman, governor, listen, read, watch out for their comments and get busy voting and take a stand for your rights to LIVE! Politicians work us like puppets, and why does the other living populated countries not have our problems???? Like they say, "We are Americanized."

Steve Mizzell 10-26-2007 @ 8:54AM

With the stupid journalists we have reporting news these days through the wire service and national media, I no longer believe anything they say. This is so preposturous that it is beyond believe. We need to "ban" these morons from reporting anything, or at least set up some investigative method for checking facts.

maureen 10-26-2007 @ 1:02PM

My husband died of cancer @NIH/NCI in Bethesda MD, 26 yrs old; my 2 Dtrs and I moved to Front Royal VA, there was a manufacturing plant located there: Avtex Fibers (Viscose). The smell was noticable about 25 miles surrounding the plant, cars of employees were identified by damage to paint, and it was learned that the plant was dumping directly into the Shenandoah. It was closed, and is one of the largest EPA clean up sites in USA. "Cancer Alley" located along the river drainage from NorthEastern plants through SE states to TX/LA gulf was discovered long ago, and, the NW "Downwinders" get little to no media/political notice of their multigenerational cancer or deformities. It's much later than you think.

Web 10-26-2007 @ 8:56AM

Las Vegas smells bad....like casino smell, and I am sure that cannot be healthy. It is mind altering....so is that drugging th masses>>> Bad Las Vegas!!!

dave 10-26-2007 @ 9:08AM

It is happening in Louisville, Ky too. The chemical corridor in the west end of town is suspect and they are now screening anyone in surrounding areas for health problems. The stench is unbearable at times when you drive thru on the Watterson x-way. Progress at what price?

laprns 10-26-2007 @ 9:27AM

Our old neighborhood in Baton Rouge was cancer alley for a long time. Esso/Exxon had been dumping their waste products in the vicinity for decades. My Grandmother & 2 of her sisters, my mother, 2 of my aunts and 11 of their neighbors died of cancer. When the investigations started, a highway was slated to come through. Most of the homes were bought by the state. Exxon came in, bought the land from the state, dug it out and made a "refuge" out of it.

edward campbell 10-26-2007 @ 9:55AM

Did you know the government allows developers the right to build on contaminated land? They passed legislation to build on "Brownfields" with minimal clean upDid you know they have redeveloped "Love Canal? Rhode Island developed three schools on old contaminated landfills and childhood Leukemia, M.S. and Muscular Dystrophy rose 70%..That's right 70% Look It Up

heather 10-26-2007 @ 9:41AM

my mother died form non hogkins lymphoma at the young age of 27, she grew up in the country, was very much the naturalist and still passed from cancer. I had no idea the possible cause until i looked up some recent research on non hogkins lymphoma, researchers are now sugesting that the cancer may haven been caused in part from genes and the epstein barr virus. BUt then agin everything is said to cause some kind of cancer: soda, red meat, the sun, cleaning products, smog, artificial sugars...ect. and the list goes on, the real question is what kind of cancer do i want to risk getting today?

jrizzuti 10-26-2007 @ 9:43AM

I worked the Yellow Pages in the late 70's in Pasadena and Baytown and even back then the stench was overwhelming to a new comer who had to spend three months a year there for three years. It was the most horrible thing ever. Plus just taking a shower where the water had oil in it -- the food cooked in that water was putrid. Bad, bad, bad. I have no doubt there is a link.

ANDY798 10-26-2007 @ 6:08PM

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE GOVERNMENT ADMITTED A CERTAIN AREA CAUSED CANCER FEWER JOBS, LOWER HOME PRICES=LESS VOTERS=LESS POLITICAL POSITIONS, FEWER KICKBACKS, IT JUST WILL NOT HAPPEN UNLESS SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT IT CAN NOT BE IGNORED. THE TRICK IS FINDING OUT WERE THE TOP POLITICIANS LIVE AND MOVE NEAR THEIR HOMES.

Miss 10-26-2007 @ 10:09AM

It makes perfect sense to me... if 'inhaling" certain chemical substances can be harmful, why wouldn't constantly breathing in "tons of waste" that are "spewed into the air each day there, including benzene and other pollutants. " BE HARMFUL??? Government is ridiculous.... they want to avoid the very real FACT that these things occur... becaue .. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY