URI study shows Chafee building occupants had normal PCB levels
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) -- A years-long analysis of the Chafee Social Science Center at the University of Rhode Island shows women working there had a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer, but the cases were not due to chemicals known as PCBs found there.
The Chafee building was closed in December 2000, after PCBs were detected, and when 11 women who developed breast cancer were concerned the building had contributed to their illness.
The studyÔŅĹs authors determined 14 women who worked at the center developed breast cancer, a rate about 5 percent higher than that in the general population. Also, blood serum tests done on 79 former occupants of the building did not show elevated levels of PCBs, according to the report released Tuesday by the university.
The study was commissioned by URI. The lab tests were done by URI Health Services and South County Hospital and sent to the Harvard School of Public Health PCB Laboratory.
The school spent $3.8 million to clean the Chafee center of PCBs, pesticides and other chemicals. It was fully reopened in fall 2002.
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