No cancer clusters found at Concord, Bowral hospitals

Lamp, The, Feb, 2008

Investigations have ruled out the possibility of cancer clusters at Concord and Bowral hospitals.

The incidence of breast cancer among female employees at both hospitals was no greater than what would be expected in the general population, the investigations found.

The general manager of Concord Hospital, Danny O'Connor, said an environmental assessment of the hospital did not identify any hazards of potential concern.

Levels of exposures to possible hazards were all below allowable limits, he said.

NSW Nurses' Association branch secretary at Concord, Joel Organ, said nurses and midwives were 'generally happy with the process of the investigation and the conclusion is reassuring'.

NSWNA General Secretary Brett Holmes welcomed the outcome of the Concord investigation and said its thoroughness had set a model for future study of possible cancer clusters.

'The findings will certainly provide some relief to members who may have been concerned about the possible dangers,' Brett said.

The five-month investigation at Concord began after it was discovered in May last year that five women working in close proximity had been diagnosed with breast cancer over four years. Four were in nutrition and dietetics and one in nearby psychology.

A total of 24 former and current female employees were then identified as having been diagnosed with breast cancer between January 1998 and August last year, but a statistical analysis revealed that this figure was only one person more than would be expected given the composition and size of the workforce.

Results of the environmental assessment at Concord released by NSW Health showed levels of exposure to ionising radiation, radiofrequency (RF) radiation, extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields, and drinking water contaminants were all below allowable limits.

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Staff volunteers in the affected departments assisted the study by wearing ionising radiation monitoring badges for two weeks.

Staff volunteers also wore devices to measure RF radiation and ELF magnetic fields during a full shift.

Bowral Hospital general manager, Denis Thomas, said two confirmed cases of invasive breast cancer in female employees were diagnosed between 1998 and 2007.

Even when additional 'possible' or 'unconfirmed' cases were added to the confirmed cases, there was no statistically significant excess of cases of invasive breast cancer compared with the number expected in the general population, he said.

'I hope this review provides reassurance to employees and the local community that a cancer cluster at Bowral Hospital can be ruled out,' he said.