C.L.E.A.N.U.P.

Citizens Learning Everything about Amoco, Negligence and Underground Pollution

Sugar Creek cancer study

By Elizabeth Alex © NBC 41 News 3/22/99

Amoco Storage Tank There's a new report on what sounds like an alarming number of cancer cases in Independence and Sugar Creek. The area can now prepare for one of the most extensive cancer inquiries in state history. The report is not final, it's not inclusive of all cancers, and it will not determine a cause, but for some, it's a good start.

Barbara and Bud Chappell spent eight months of their lives counting cancer cases in their neighborhood. The results of a state study they started came in the mail.
Curious reporters and attorneys soon learned it brings up more questions than answers. The bottom line is that the State Department of health has concerns about the number of cancers in and around Sugar Creek. They're specifically concerned about the following:

Health officials do not believe there is a true cancer cluster, but they do want to study it further. They do see an excess of brain tumor cases, as NBC 41 News first investigated.

Homeowner Bud Chappell says, "Oh, I feel vindicated because the study is going to be taken forward, but I'm not happy about it. I don't want to see all the people in the situation."

Of course, the question everyone wants answered is if pollution from the old Amoco refinery caused cancer in Independence or Sugar Creek. That answer won't come today or tomorrow. It may never be known.

But those who have lost loved ones are encouraged that the environmental risks will be studied.

"I regret that Jim didn't get to raise his family."

June Rhoades' son died of a brain tumor. So did his neighbor, and another man down the street. June's advice to the doctors and epidemiologists is to keep digging.

"You have a 35-year-old son who died a horrible death, and you want them to find out what all is going on so somebody else doesn't get brain tumors or cancers."

The next stage with be a level three inquiry. If research does pinpoint an excess of cases, or a cluster, it moves to level four, which would go further to determine a cause.

But all of this research could still be inconclusive in the end, and doctors say there is no reason for anyone to panic.

There is another brain tumor study happening right now. It's funded by the county, and is run by KU Med Center and the Brain Institute. This study is looking for a cause of the brain tumors. It's in its early stages.

PROPERTY VALUES
Oil found in Sugar Creek.
 Oil found in Sugar Creek 		Meanwhile, Amoco announced an offer to buy 125 properties near the old Sugar Creek refinery. Owners could get more money from this deal than they did from a recent court settlement.

Some homeowners claim that contaminants from the oil plant have reduced property values. Amoco says the offer to buy land is designed to reassure neighbors their investments are safe.

Recently, backhoes digging new sewer lines hit patches of smelly water and soil contaminated with petroleum presumably coming from the old Amoco oil refinery.

The discovery attracted attention from citizens, politicians and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Amoco environmental consultants say they expected it, and were separating some of the contaminated dirt for testing and disposal.

The government has been working on a clean-up plan with Amoco for about ten years.

Back to cover page.