Environment Committee

Why? Monitoring the toxicity in our water and air may help us.

Learning about these risks tells us where action should be taken and if further study is needed. We’ve already learned a great deal. We want to continue our efforts. It is important to know as much as possible about how our environment may impact cancer rates and what we can do to reduce that risk.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

  • Continue to monitor the air and water for carcinogenic substances.
  • Inform the public of risks when they are present or are suspected.
  • Expand monitoring to include pharmaceuticals and other substances associated with cancer.
  • Use public forums to present information from studies conducted.
  • Work to reduce particulates in the air.
  • Make sure there are workplace “right to know” programs for those who work in hazardous environments.
  • Continue and augment the Delaware Healthy Homes campaign.
  • Use incentives to encourage dry cleaning businesses to eliminate the use of cancer-causing solvents.
DELAWARE AIR TOXICS ASSESSMENT STUDY PHASE 1
Cumulative1 Risk Assessments for Cancer Cases2
Exposure to All Chemicals/5 Monitoring Sites
Populations Martin Luther
King Area Site		 Delaware City
Area Site		 Lums Pond
Area Site		 Felton Area
(Killens Pond)
Site		 Seaford Area Site
Adult 3.2 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 2.2 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 1.8 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 1.9 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 1.8 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people
Child 1.4 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people Less than 1 additional cancer case per 100,000 exposed people Less than 1 additional cancer case per 100,000 exposed people Less than 1 additional cancer case per 100,000 exposed people Less than 1 additional cancer case per 100,000 exposed people
Age-adjusted (combination of adult and child) 4.4 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 3.5 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 2.6 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 2.7 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people 2.5 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people
Legend
HIGH RISK: 10 or more additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people
INCREASED RISK: Greater than 1 but less than 10 additional cancer cases per 100,000 exposed people
LOW RISK: 1 or less additional cancer case per 100,000 exposed people
Source: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Click each goal to read about the objectives, tasks and timeframes.

Goal 1

Year 1
$375,000
Year 2
$450,000
Year 3
$130,000
Year 4
$130,000
Objective 1A: Continue fish monitoring and education campaign about fish consumption advisories.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Fish Sampling: Conduct annual activities including collection of fish samples, laboratory analysis, risk assessment using the laboratory results and other information, and issuance of fish advisories if necessary. DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Education Campaign: Conduct outreach efforts including direct engagement, distribution of brochures, print and radio ads to improve awareness of advisory information. DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Objective 1B: Expand drinking water research and monitoring to include pharmaceuticals and other carcinogens.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Expand water monitoring to include pharmaceuticals and other carcinogenic substances and initiate research study that evaluates the types of cancers associated with pharmaceuticals found at elevated levels in drinking water. DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Objective 1C: Evaluate the types of cancers associated with air toxins and compare to those cancers for which Delaware is elevated in incident and mortality. Educate the public on the past and current levels of carcinogenic substances that are monitored in the ambient environment related to air quality.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Initiate research study to evaluate the types of cancers associated with air toxins found at elevated levels and compare to those cancers for which Delaware is elevated in incidence and mortality (link databases). DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Complete four to eight public forums on the results of phase II of the Delaware Air Toxics Assessment Study (DATAS). DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Develop and implement community-based stakeholder air toxics reduction program in Wilmington based on DATAS information. DNREC, DHSS, US EPA Ongoing
Objective 1D: Conduct an integrated assessment of Delaware’s environmental monitoring and public health surveillance systems.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Coordinate DNREC and DPH surveillance systems using a “Hazard-Exposure-Outcome” framework, and prepare a joint work plan for collaboration to improve public health surveillance with specific milestones and accountability DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Objective 1E: Purchase diesel particulate filter systems for installation on DART transit buses.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
DNREC and DHSS will work with DelDOT to facilitate purchase and installation of continuously regenerating diesel particulate filter systems on DART buses. DNREC, DHSS Ongoing

Goal 2

Year 1
$130,000
Year 2
$130,000
Year 3
$140,000
Year 4
$145,000
Objective 2: Continue to support the Office of Occupational Health by funding the development of educational and consultation services that are identified by the statewide risk assessment of hazardous substances in the workplace—these programs will be for employers and employees in the public sector.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Implement HB 219 through educational and “worker right-to-know” programs to reduce occupational exposure to carcinogens in the workplace. DOL/DHSS Ongoing
Hire a Health Educator/Trainer II to implement the program. DHSS Ongoing

Goal 3

Year 1
$325,000
Year 2
$200,000
Year 3
$200,000
Year 4
$200,000
Objective 3A: Broaden the scope of the Healthy Homes awareness campaign.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Conduct a Healthy Homes campaign to educate the public about exposure to cancer-causing substances in their indoor environment and ways to reduce their risk; include information on reducing chemical exposure and the need to eliminate cancer-causing agents in food. DHSS Ongoing
Objective 3B: Create industry incentives for dry cleaners to eliminate the use of cancer-causing solvents.
Task/Action Responsible Party Timeframe
Develop a database to identify the type and location of dry cleaners in the state along with adjacent and nearby neighbors such as eateries, day care centers and residential buildings. DNREC Ongoing
Increase public awareness of exposures to carcinogens from dry cleaning solvents. DNREC, DHSS Ongoing
Encourage dry cleaning companies to eliminate the use of cancer-causing agents by converting to more advanced equipment. DNREC, DHSS Ongoing

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