PV update at meeting slated Wed.

http://standardspeaker.com/news/pv-update-at-meeting-slated-wed-1.1019510
Published: September 19, 2010

PV update at meeting slated Wed.

The Tri-County Polycythemia Vera Community Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium of Tamaqua Area High School, 500 Penn St.

The meeting will provide information on a number of ongoing health-oriented studies aimed at determining the extent of polycythemia vera and related myelo-proliferative diseases and its possible link to environmental conditions in the area.

Dr. Vince Seaman of the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will give a summary of the research and a number of the research leaders will be present to answer questions on each specific study.

Drexel University investigators will attempt to determine factors that may contribute to the polycythemia vera cluster in the Tamaqua-Hazleton area by examining environmental and occupational histories of patients with the rare form of cancer and comparing them with those free of the disease.

A team from the University of Pittsburgh team is comparing polycythemia vera rates in the area to those in four counties in western Pennsylvania coal country to look for similarities and differences.

Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison will chair the meeting and explain the role of the advisory committee. He said it is important to get as much information as possible.

“We have a serious health threat in our area and one that may affect future generations,” Morrison said.