Another Fallon child has leukemia

Monday, July 29, 2002 | 9:44 a.m.

A new case of childhood leukemia has been confirmed in a 2 1/2-year-old child, bringing the total number of similar cases in Fallon to 16, Nevada State Health Division officials said.

Since July 2000 children ranging in age from 2 to 19 who live or have lived in Fallon, 60 miles east of Reno, have been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Two of the children have died of the disease.

"This is devastating news," Gov. Kenny Guinn said Sunday. "I can assure you, the childhood leukemia investigation continues to be a top priority."

State and federal health investigators have been examining possible causes.

Since September 2001 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has been conducting extensive exposure assessments, testing for a range of potential environmental contaminants.

Blood, urine and cheek cell samples have been taken from families affected by the disease and compared with families who are not.

The CDC laboratories in Atlanta have analyzed the samples and results are expected this fall.

The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has begun releasing test results, the first set related to potential exposures from a jet fuel pipeline that runs through Fallon for the nearby naval air station. The report said the pipeline does not pose a current or future public health hazard.

Data from the pipeline was evaluated from 1970 to the present. Additional information will be available from the agency in late summer or early fall.

At a Churchill County community meeting on May 29 the U.S. Geological Survey also presented ground water test results. The tests did not indicate any cause for the leukemia cluster.