Response to Community Concerns about the Incidence of Brain Cancer near the Former National Fireworks site in Hanover 3/30/21
Over a year and a half ago the Town of Hanover reached out to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) to conduct an in-depth study of brain cancer incidences surrounding the (former) National Fireworks site. The data brief provided by DPH summarizes the incidences of brain and ONS [other nervous system] cancers in eight (8) census tracts in Hanover, Hanson, Pembroke, Rockland, and Whitman. Town officials received a debriefing this past Friday morning and DPH has released the report to the public. The study concludes, “there is no evidence of an association of brain or ONS cancers with the former National Fireworks site”. Data collected during the most recent 10-yr period (2006-2015) shows statistical elevations of invasive or benign brain and ONS cancers occurred in three (3) census tracts in Hanover and Pembroke; however, the age at diagnosis and histologies (cell types) follow national trends and the spatial and temporal distributions did not reveal any unusual patterns, and that, “…isolated elevations indicative of natural variations over time often occur throughout the Commonwealth are not generally cause for concern."
The Hanover Board of Selectmen will discuss the report and its findings in a public session on Monday, April 5, 2021, with the town’s subject matter expert, Dr. Julie Goodman. If you have any questions you may contact Hanover Town Manager, Joe Colangelo, at joseph.colangelo@hanover-ma.gov or 339-214-5303.
For additional information about the Former National Fireworks site, please visit hanover-ma.gov/fireworkssite.