Over the past several years residents of this small Vermont town have become increasingly concerned about the prevalence of
cancer in employees of the Rutland Town Elementary School. At least nine staff members have been diagnosed with cancer since the mid-1990s. While government officials have concluded that the cancers are not related, Rutland residents remain unconvinced.
According to the State Department of Health, the cases diagnosed at the school do not suggest the presence of a "cancer cluster." The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer cluster as an abnormally high occurrence of the same type of cancer in a confined geographical area. Government officials point out that there are several types of cancers afflicting school staffers, including prostate cancer, colon cancer, and
lung cancer.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe that your surroundings may have contributed to your condition, it may be important to
contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be
time limits within which you must commence suit.
See Also
- Specific Contaminated Sites
- Cancer