Kwinana Health Statistics

Yesterday I blogged about a Cancer Support Association of WA newsletter outlining health stats in the US, today let's look at some stats recorded in Kwinana over the past 10 years or so.

An increase in cancer incidence in Kwinana was predicted by the WA Cancer Registry; Dr. Tim Threlfall in 1997
(“Increase in cancer numbers predicted” Sound Telegraph July 9 1997) (Cancer Incidence and Mortality Projections in WA 1996-2001).

‘87%excess of lung cancer in females in Kwinana’
WA Cancer Registry Report for 1998 - 2002;
“Lung cancer in Kwinana Females 87% higher than the state average”

"The only trend identified in Kwinana is an 87 per cent higher rate of lung cancers among women, which health authorities say is likely to be linked to smoking habits" The postcodes that come with cancer. The West Australian page 1. Tuesday, October 5 2001; This claim of smoking is solely to blame was proven to be false.

"Incidents of lung cancer in females between 1998 and 2002 was 87% higher than the state average".
Town of Kwinana Minutes; ordinary council meeting November 10, 2004, Item 17.1, page CL41 . Report to Council - Cancer Statistics;

“There is a statistically significant excess of cancer in the Rockingham/Kwinana area”. Dr Keith Woollard October 2001

“There was no excess of cancer in the Kwinana population prior to 1995 and the timing of the development of an excess rate of cancer seems to fit nicely with the proceeding dramatic increase in pollution from the strip” Dr Keith Woollard 20th January 2004.

“The male death rate from cancer in Rockingham/Kwinana was 25 per cent above the state average Health Department figures show” West Australian Wednesday March 6 2002 page 7; data from cancer registry information released to the west but refused to the community.

42% excess of cancer in Hope Valley Wattleup – Cancer registry data.
The DOH finally agreed to provide cancer statistics for the Wattleup and Hope Valley area. This information pointed out correctly, that the population numbers where too small to allow any firm conclusions to be made on that data alone. Nonetheless, they were entirely consistent with the cancer data from the large population groups in Kwinana and Rockingham. Among those population groups, there was a statistically significant excess of cancer. Furthermore, the incident data going back over the last decade then showed that this excess of cancer (in comparison with the rest of the state) only appeared since 1995.

“Health Department figures show a substantial excess of Juvenile cancers in the Rockingham Kwinana area”
Dr. Keith Woollard September 2002.

Deaths from cancer in particular where 17.9% higher than Perth per year on average, and 15.3% higher than Australia by average. November 2005, Population Health Profile of the Rockingham Kwinana Division of General Practice, University of Adelaide; In October 2006, we became aware (by finding it on the www) of this report commissioned by the Federal Government and carried out by the University of Adelaide. This report further confirmed our fears by showing more deaths from chronic illnesses including cancer and respiratory disease etc in Rockingham/Kwinana division of general practice area than in Perth and the rest of the country on average.

A DOH study on hospitalisation rates in Rockingham Kwinana in 2005 Found “An excess of hospitalisations for cardiovascular disease for residents of Kwinana”; “A significant excess of hospitalisation for respiratory disease including Asthma for residents of Kwinana”; An excess of hospitalisations for urinary problems for residents of Kwinana; and that “Kwinana has a significantly younger population than the state”.
(We do not currently have a copy of this report, but it should be available from DOH).

So although Kwinana has the youngest population in the State, it is suffering more health problems than the State averages.

A Health Survey of Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham, Department of Health WA; September 2004, ‘The study you carry out when you don’t want to find a problem’. Nonetheless the figures did show an excess in heart disease in both men and women in Kwinana.

“The results are a further confirmation of the likely toxicity of industrial pollution from the Kwinana industrial strip”.

“As demonstrated from major overseas studies, people exposed to industrial pollution have higher rates of heart disease and cancer”

Please Note: Some of the above figures include Rockingham data as well as Kwinana as joint Rockingham/Kwinana studies were carried out. We suspect that the Kwinana rates alone, in the cases above, would be even higher.

According to our authorities these stats have no link whatsover to industrial pollution, however they provide no true evidence to back that claim. In fact just the opposite. And continue to ignore our calls for an full environmental health study.

We have seen in other countries such as the US and UK excess cancer rates of 5% higher in a community than the average triggers whole of Government responses.

One does not have to reason as to why they do this - the answer is simple - If you don't look properly you won't find a problem.

In my view another example of protect industry at any cost.