Health officials: Residents can still test homes for possible cancer factors

GATE CITY — Thursday's Virginia Department of Health town hall on Scott County cancer concerns left several questions open whether the community is facing an actual cancer cluster.While department officials told the public that analysis of the most complete and recent 10-year range of data did not indicate a cluster of related cancers or specific causes, those officials also said that data for 2024 and 2025 will be analyzed as soon as that case data is completed."It seems like they've definitely done their due diligence," Scott County Administrator Josh Wilson said Thursday. "They've covered a lot of items, and I've been impressed by the Virginia Cancer Registry as a whole. This is what they do all the time. It's an ongoing process. It doesn't cover 2024 or 2025, but it's coming. Unfortunately, we have to be a little patient and understand because they are so thorough and it does take some time.""I think tonight's a good way for the citizens to ask questions and for the whole study to be presented," said state Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City. "I'm a grandfather of three little girls here in the county and I've lived here all my life, so I'm interested.""If VDH has any legislative need or something that we can do, I'm here to help," Kilgore added. "We just want to figure out what's going on.""We've been here all our lives and you look at it from the standpoint of being a father and that aspect, where do we turn?" said Gate City Mayor Jamie Lawson. "We do put our faith in the Health Department and let them do their findings. We may not like what they have to say, but at the end of the day they're the ones who deal with this day in and day out. And that's what we've to rely on.""I hate the aspect of the kids that have become ill and sick in the county," said Lawson. "I just think we need to do more research and testing to find what we can do and leave that up to the ones that are more qualified than just to assume things."Rebecca Tomazin of VDH's Environmental Health Tracking Program said the study looked at air, water and industrial site factors but did not establish links with types of cancer or exposure factors.Several residents asked about water and air quality testing, the possibility of radon exposure in county schools and homes. Tomazin and other panel members recommended the public take advantage of free radon testing kits through VDH's Scott County office.Radon testing is required under state law for new construction but not on a regular, periodic basis afterward, Rebecca Tomazin of VDH's Environmental Health Tracking Program told residents at Thursday's meeting. Radon testing kits are available at no charge at the Scott County Health Department office, and extra kits have been sent from other county health department offices to the Scott County office to accommodate public demand.VDH's website includes a page on radon testing — https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/radiological-health/indoor-radon-program/testing/ — where the public can learn about exposure and mitigation methods. Radon tests can be ordered at a discount price through the website.Scott County Schools Maintenance Supervisor Robert Sallee told meeting attendees that the school system does regular radon testing of all schools. Results are available at the county schools central office.Tomazin and other VDH staff said that state-mandated regular testing is done in public water systems from treatment plants to customer faucets for a range of potential contaminants.The VDH website says testing is required for newly constructed wells for coliform bacteria. Further testing falls to the well user after that, but a lender may require testing for mortgages of homes served by private wells.While the cost of hiring a private laboratory for well testing can be as high as $300, the Virginia Household Water Quality Program — a service of Virginia Cooperative Extension — offers a 29-contaminant test for $70. Environmental testing information:- VDH radon testing information: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/radiological-health/indoor-radon-program/testing/- Virginia Household Water Quality Program: https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/vahwqp.php