FIVE residents of a single residential block in Singleton have been struck with brain tumours, prompting fears that a cancer cluster has erupted in the heavily polluted mining town.
Two have died and a third resident is on a course of drugs he hopes will improve and prolong his life for a handful of months. Two more have recovered.
Sydney University professor of public health Bruce Armstrong, who investigated the cancer cluster scare at the ABC's Brisbane studios in 2007, said most suspected cancer clusters were statistical anomalies, but given the rarity of brain tumours this case might warrant further investigation.
The two streets are not named at the request of residents.
Various community groups have been lobbying the State Government for a decade to conduct a health study in the region to ascertain the effect of the region's coalmines and power plants.
A fortnight ago Minister for the Hunter Jodi McKay met with members of the Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group and again told them such a study was impossible due to the region's relatively small population.
This is despite recent findings by a local doctor, Tuan Au, that one in six Singleton schoolchildren have limited lung capacity compared with one in 20 nationwide.
Industry figures released last month showed mines emitted 18 million kilograms of dust, 7.4 million kilograms of nitrogen oxides and 4.9 million kilograms of carbon monoxide around Singleton in 2008-09.
Dr Au is also concerned at the number of young women he has seen with breast cancer.
Peter Naglost was the first of his neighbours to be diagnosed, in 1979. His tumour was benign and removed successfully. Last week his friend and neighbour Peter McMahon was treated in Royal North Shore Hospital.
Mr Naglost, who worked as a fitter and turner in the mines, is not certain that the local environment caused the illness, but wants the Government to investigate the possibility.
"Buggered if I know why they won't do it. If they have nothing to hide, then why won't they look into it?" he said.
Mr McMahon's wife Narelle, who spoke on his behalf, agrees.
In late 2008 she noticed her husband was becoming forgetful and the two sought medical advice. A fortnight later he suffered a seizure during the night and the tumour was discovered. Since then he has had three operations, radiotherapy and two courses of chemotherapy.
"There are quite a few more [cases] we know about in Singleton. If they did [a study], at least we would know what was going on," Mrs McMahon said.
Carol McTaggart used to live in the house next door to Mr Naglost. Her tumour was removed in 1993 when she was in her late 30s. It returned and was again treated in 1999. She is in remission and wonders if the region's pollution might be a cause.
George Reynolds lived three doors down from the McTaggarts. He worked on the railways most of his life and was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in December 2008. He died six months later on June 1 last year.
His widow, Marriane believes heavy industry is out of control in the Upper Hunter, that it has wrecked the water table, the air and the land.
George Cosier lived a few doors down the road and worked in the mines as an industrial chemist. He was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in late 1998, had an operation two weeks later and died on Anzac Day the following year.
Dr John Drinan, an environmental scientist and a member of the Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group, said many in the area had lost faith in the Government. SMH
Email a friend