Cincinnati remains cancer capital

The media created a feeding frenzy last month when it reported that the rate of cancer deaths in the United States had declined rapidly since 1990. This story was a last-ditch effort by media corporations to save face for the rightist revolution as it winks into the history books, and to pump up praise for America's broken health care system.

Now it turns out this story is as bogus as everyone knew it was.

A new study by the EPA gives us the most detailed analysis ever of cancer induced by air pollution. Not surprisingly, counties around Cincinnati still have some of the worst cancer rates in America.

Indeed, a handy map published on USA Today's website shows that some of the worst rates are around major cities.

Tax dollars flowing from central cities to wealthy exurbs is probably one of the reasons air pollution doesn't get the attention it deserves.

But how can we fight this toxic scourge?

It certainly doesn't help that there are almost no limits on development, forcing more people to drive miles just to perform simple errands - which adds to pollution.

It also doesn't help that environmental laws that applied to industries have been gutted in the name of "preemption" and the "free market."

It's time for public policies that save lives rather than end them.

(Source: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090624/NEWS01/306230076/1055/NEWS/Air+toxics+raise+cancer+risk+in+Butler;
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/county-cancer-map.htm)