Report contradicts residents’ concerns in Coldwater Creek cancer cases
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Report contradicts residents’ concerns in Coldwater Creek cancer cases

Date: March 20, 2013
By: Taylor Beck
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The Coldwater Creek community has been historically known for nuclear waste contamination. But residents are now outraged after a report has found the area does not have any higher rates of contamination-related cancers.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: But citizens of the area say the report is inaccurate because it doesn't reflect people who moved away before being diagnosed.

Jennifer Smith lived near the creek in the 80s and 90s, but then moved to Las Vegas where she was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Actuality:  JSMITH1.WAV
Run Time:  00:05
Description: "It's just upsetting that ya know it keeps being reported like this when it's not accurate."

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released the report today.

Spokeswoman Gena Terlizzi says if they were to incorporate those who have moved away and were affected into the study, they would also have to include everyone who moved away.

Actuality:  TERLIZZ2.WAV
Run Time:  00:05
Description: "I think that you can probably appreciate the limitation that that implies."

The report includes data from the Missouri Cancer Registry and is then analyzed by experts, none of which were available for interviews. 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Taylor Beck.

Intro: 
A state report released Monday refutes some Florissant residents' belief a nearby creek's contamination caused higher rates of cancer in their area.
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OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Nearby nuclear waste plants contaminated the Coldwater Creek in St. Louis in the 60s and 70s, and residents have been filing lawsuits for years saying it caused cancer.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released the report of cancer cases of those living near the creek from 1996-2004.

Experts analyzed data from the Missouri Cancer Registry to create the report.

Jennifer Smith says the report isn't fair because it doesn't include those who were diagnosed after leaving the area.

Actuality:  JSMITH2.WAV
Run Time:  00:01
Description: "and I'm the perfect example of this."

Smith left Florissant in the 90s and was diagnosed with Leukemia, a contamination-related cancer, after she moved to Las Vegas.

Department spokeswoman Gena Terlizzi says they did not use the data outside of Missouri due to the limitations of the study.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Taylor Beck.