Definitions:Oinofyta: An area of Greece located near Attica (see picture)
Carcinogenic: having the potential to cause cancer
Hexavalent Chromium: the element Chromium in the +6 oxidation
stage, known to be carcinogenic
Summary:
Cancer fatalities in highly industrialized areas of Southern Greece are higher than those in neighboring regions, probably because of the hexavalent chromium which is 14% more prevalent in the waters near Oinofyta than in water near residents in the rest of Attica and Viotia. The extremity of carcinogenic water is illustrated by the fact that in the period from 1999 - 2009 there were 1472% more deaths caused by liver cancer in the Oinofyta area. Not only this, but deaths from the cancer of the urinal tract were 841% higher than the death rates of other areas, with like numbers for mouth and lip cancer. Athena Lidou stated that these forms of cancer are actually rare and therefore most likely caused by environmental pollution. Scientists can therefore conclude that the abnormally high Hexavalent Chromium concentration in the waters of Oinofyta have caused the cancer cluster.
Discussion:
- Not only do factories with terrible pollution emissions impact the environment, they also impact us in a negative manner
- We should take better notice and analyze the full environmental effects of everything after this, because any chemicals released will also harm the humans
- We should take a special interest in this, especially because Hexavalent Chromium was also found in the waters of a southern California town
- As long as Oinofyta is still being affected by the byproducts of the factory, the regional government should focus on transporting fresh, clean water from another sanitary area
Questions
How often does this situation occur, where wastes of nearby factories being dumped into the waters are causing disease spread?
Is the factory being fined/taxed for causing the deaths of hundreds of cancer patients?
Citations:
1) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Dimos_Oinofyton.png
2) http://www.treatgene.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/metastasis-cancer-spread2.jpg
3) "Cancer cluster identified in Greece." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. Oct 14. 2010. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5iPin=UPI-1-20100827-175054-bc-greece-cancercluster&SingleRecord=True>.
Good job tiara. This was well written and it was very interesting. I find it very sad that so many people are dying from cancer because their water was carcinogenic. I think that the government of Greece and of countries that have a similar problem should try to find a solution. For example, they could have cleaner water pumped in from other sources, or they could try to clean the water that they already have. This might be expensive, but it is worth it if it saves human lives. I find it scary that this same problem was found in southern California, so close to us. I think problems like this should be taken care of because they are not only bad for the people, but they are also bad for the environment.
ReplyDeleteNice job Tiara. The topic you chose was fascinating, and you summarized the article well. I think it's horrible that the factories can allow tons of people to die because of their pollution. I agree that they should pump sanitary water from an outside source, but that could get expensive. A better option, I think, would be to relocate the factories that are causing the water to be carcinogenic, or to force the factories to dispose of their waste in a different way that does not make the water harmful. If they cannot improve their factories, they should be shut down because the factories are killing the citizens of Oinofyta and the surrounding areas, and I believe it is more important for people to live rather than have factories.
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