Higher cancer rates not found in oilsands community, study shows

A study by the Alberta government says an aboriginalcommunity downstream from the oilsands doesn't have higher overallcancer rates.

The Alberta Health Services survey, which used data from 1992 to 2011, did find the prevalence of two kinds of cancer in Fort Chipewyan was higher than would be expected.

James Talbot, chief medical health officer, says relatively high levels of cervical and bile duct cancer are most likely to be attributable to other factors than environmental contamination.

"Overall, cancer rates in the region are what would be expectedfor the rest of Alberta," he said Monday when the survey wasreleased.

Leaders in Fort Chipewyan reacted to the report with suspicion.They said a statistical analysis of data that already existeddoesn't fulfill their requests for a full-blown health study.

"There's nothing (here) in regards to a comprehensive,independent study that we've been requesting, where government andindustry have no participation in it," said Chief Allan Adam of theAthabasca Chipewyan First Nation.

Residents worried

Potential health impacts on people living downstream of theoilsands are a common concern for local residents and for industrycritics. Fort Chipewyan's concerns surfaced recently in Washington,D.C., when they were discussed at a hearing hosted by a Democraticsenator who opposes the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to theTexas Gulf Coast.

The government survey compared the incidence of 81 cases of 18 different types of cancer to the Alberta average.

Bile duct and cervical cancer rates were high enough aboveaverage to be statistically significant.

Cervical cancer is caused by a virus and U.S. research shows only weak links between bile duct cancers and environmental toxins, saidTalbot.

"There's only weak evidence for that to be associated with bileduct cancer and there are a lot of other, stronger-linked ones thatwe can do something about in the community."

Bile duct cancer is more strongly linked to diabetes, obesity,cirrhosis and hepatitis C, Talbot said.

Cancer rates low among kids

He added that cancer rates in Fort Chipewyan's children under 15are low, which also suggests environmental contamination isn't asignificant factor because children are more sensitive to it.

There's also some initial evidence to suggest that aboriginalssuffer from bile duct cancer at a higher rate than average, Talbotsaid.

The chief medical health officer did acknowledge that people inFort Chipewyan are probably correct in their feeling that cancer isbecoming more common. Rates of the disease are gradually risingeverywhere, partly because the population is getting older, Talbotsaid.

"The perception is that there's more cancer and to some extentthat's correct, but it's not unique to this community."

Alberta Liberalleader doubts report

Both Chief Adam and Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman said the survey was too limited in its approach.

"This report appears to be a whitewash because of its internalnature and because of its extremely narrow focus," said Sherman.

Both men are calling for a comprehensive Fort Chipewyan healthstudy to be conducted by a group independent of industry andgovernment.

The government had commissioned such a study, but the chief andcouncil for one area band backed out over fears it wouldn'tbeindependent. The band also wanted assurances it would focus oncancer rates and would include a baseline health study, neither ofwhich it got.

The Athabasca Chipewyan has since commissioned its own healthreview. Adam said it should be released soon.

The government study was quickly released Monday in Edmontonafter the Alberta Liberals obtained a copy of it through
access-to-information legislation.

Alberta Health Services had planned to share it first with thecommunity, but a meeting to do that was cancelled after the
government refused to give advance copies of the survey to the FirstNations involved, said a band spokesman.