An expert panel formed to look into rates of childhood leukaemia and lymphoma in the Helensburgh area has found that the higher rate of leukaemia observed between 2005 and 2008 is most likely to have arisen by chance.
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The rates of lymphoma are within the normal range, the panel found.
NSW Health formed the expert panel after residents raised concerns about the number of leukaemia and lymphoma cases among children in Helensburgh.
Nine-year-old Matthew Young became the sixth child in five years to be diagnosed with a blood cancer, prompting his mum Diane to call for authorities to investigate.
The panel included experts in cancer, public health, paediatrics, epidemiology, environmental health and toxicology.
The panel reviewed an analysis of the frequency of cases of leukaemia and lymphoma in Helensburgh from 1996 to 2011.
The panel noted that there were more cases of leukaemia than expected between 2005 and 2008, while no cases of leukaemia were found in the period 1996 to 2004.
Rates of lymphoma were within the expected range.
The panel also considered the findings of an environmental investigation conducted by the Illawarra Public Health Unit that reviewed past and current land use in the area and past pollution incidents that may have occurred.
The panel found no evidence that the Helensburgh community was at increased risk due to environmental exposures.
Based on the panel’s findings and the results of an environmental investigation by the Illawarra Public Health Unit, the panel has advised that environmental testing is not recommended.
