Thank you for taking the time to complete this important SURVEY regarding environmental factors which show evidence of  increasing child cancers in the U.S. and abroad.  As stated in the previously listed New York Times article, child cancer now  affects one in every 600 children and continues to grow approximately 1% per  year.  This steady yearly increase provides strong evidence for environmental/chemical factors that can increase attrition to the parent or child's genetic structure.    These chemical exposures can occur in the home, school, job, as well as from food sources and use of common home products.  Chemical exposures can also weaken or damage the genetic material to the father (or mother) from job occupation chemical exposures. 

Unfortunately, because of the large number of chemical exposure sources in today's society, defining the significance of any one chemical is often difficult.  Therefore, we have designed the following SURVEY to help identify which chemicals may be a higher risk for contributing to cancer as well as looking for increased risks occurring from interactions between chemicals that would otherwise be overlooked.

HOW IS OUR CHILD CANCER RESEARCH PROGRESSING?

After viewing over 300 surveys, the information suggests an increased risk for a child developing cancer when exposed to several (even moderate) chemical exposures simultaneously or in a close time period.  In other words, if the child is exposed to just one environmental factor, his/her genetic structure and natural defenses (i.e. liver detoxification and brain defenses), may be able to tolerate the insult, however, if exposure to several chemical factors occur either simultaneously or in a relatively close time period - the body's defenses and genes involved in cancer growth can be overwhelmed, especially in a young child whose defenses and genetics are far more susceptible to harm than an adults.  This would explain why a child exposed for even a one year period to a combination of lawn or home pesticides, home remodeling chemicals, petroleum based fragrances, cosmetics, room painting etc. would be at a higher risk for developing cancer.  We are also observing what appears to be a higher risk for people living in homes built prior to 1980.  Homes built before 1980 were often routinely sprayed with the highly toxic indoor pesticide chlordane.  This chemical was taken off the market by 1980 because it was found to contaminate the indoor air of occupants for many - many decades after application and is still found in the indoor air of older homes today.  Because of the seriousness of the chlordane problem we recommend that anyone with a family member with cancer find a home built after 1990 but at least several years old to avoid exposure to new building materials.  When answering questions about job occupations, please be as detailed as possible as survey results appear to also suggest the potential of higher risk for parents working in jobs with high petroleum exposure (i.e. mechanics - pesticides - painting - cosmetology, etc.).  Male job exposures are highly suspect as a factor in weakening the 65+ day male sperm development process, thereby increasing susceptibility to the offspring.

If you have come to this web site directly, you may wish to also see our web site which has summarized what is already known regarding child cancer and environmental causes.   Our new cancer survey form below goes into further detail taking into account information learned from our original cancer survey. 

We understand that completing this survey can be emotionally difficult for family members and want to express our sincere gratitude for your help in answering these critically important questions. 

Thank you - Wayne Sinclair, M.D.,
Richard Pressinger (M.Ed.) - CHEM-TOX.COM