A meeting to discuss the outcome of a community requested cancer cluster investigation is happening tonight in Johnson County.
The Indiana State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management will be on hand to hear from Johnson County residents about concerns over the area’s water supply and how it may or may not tie into cases of childhood cancer. The meeting is being held at Franklin Community High School.
ISDH Public Affairs Director Jennifer O'Malley says tonight they will inform families of what the agency’s investigation has found so far. She also says it’s not clear Johnson County has seen what would be classified as a “cancer cluster”.
“The main focus is that you would see a greater-than-expected number of a specific type of cancer reported within an age group and a population that you would not expect to see it in over a given period of time,” O’Malley says.
Parents have voiced concerns about the area's water supply and that's why Indiana American Water officials will also attend the meeting. Johnson County Health Department officials insist the drinking water is safe and there is no reason to think otherwise.
The meeting is from 6pm to 9pm tonight.