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Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

Why Have 9 Neighbors Got Cancer?

Crown Heights resident Yossi Stern is investigating why 9 neighbors from the same block have battled or died from cancer. Full Story, Video

Reb Moshe Chaimson, 79, OBM

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perc is AIRBORNE
June 30, 2017 2:20 am

The dry cleaning chemical perc travels through the AIR. The idea that people might now be at risk from a dry cleaners that closed 20 years ago is silly. And unless all the people are getting the SAME cancers it is NOT a suspected cancer cluster. If a woman gets breast cancer and a man gets prostate cancer they are two entirely DIFFERENT illnesses even if they are neighbors.

Confused
June 29, 2017 11:00 pm

There are still dry cleaners in operation at some of the locations mentioned. The comments keep discussing that there “were” dry cleaners at those corners…

Confused
June 28, 2017 8:46 pm

Can someone explain what #20 wrote “correlation vs. causation” – it sounds too deep and complex for simple people to understand. And why should this cause the price of hoses to go down in these streets?!

Anthony Miller
June 28, 2017 2:00 pm

This is Mr.Miller call 9176887597

Dear Yossi Stern,
June 28, 2017 10:01 am

The next time you notice something strange that involves a small number of houses, and you personally want to recommend they get tested, please write a letter and send it to those concerned. Then they will all get your medical advice. If you post on the internet – some might miss it. In comment #76 you claim to know almost nothing. I quote: “I am announcing that something may be strange, and we are going to look into it. That’s it.” The something is not even strange for sure… it may be strange. Please consider apologizing to collive readers for… Read more »

Non Answer to #70
June 28, 2017 9:40 am

#70 asks a lot of good questions.
#76 pretends to answer #70 – but it does not answer even one of the questions.

So far I have not seen even one medical authority coming forward to say that the cause of the disease is likely the dry cleaner on the corner that closed 20 years ago.
I would prefer to hear from medical professionals about a disease, than from the EPA – which may be politically motivated.

yossi stern
June 28, 2017 7:02 am

To 70, I am announcing that something may be strange, and we are going to look into it. That’s it. Over the course of time a lot of information will be collected, and then sent to govt agencies for analytical purposes. As I have said before, to sit silent while something looks off, in my opinion is wrong. Myself and others definitely feel something may be wrong, and we want the public to know what we are seeing at first glance. If God forbid there is a correlation then people who live in these areas can be aware that something… Read more »

Cancer from Fish
June 27, 2017 11:18 pm

The sorting facilities in Brooklyn of fish, has clouds of smoke from illegal smoking on premises. Ask the Kashrus Mashgichim. Eat fish = get cancer?

Extremely irresponsible piece
June 27, 2017 11:12 pm

Where is your source that the EPA banned it? I don’t see that anywhere. It seems to have been banned in California (that crazy place) but in no other states. There has been plenty of research yet no solid evidence that it actually is carcinogenic. Have you conducted any test to determine whether perc is actually at those locations? Furthermore, how do you determine what the expected rate of cancer is among neighbors over an indeterminate period of time, and whether or not these numbers are an aberration? Shame on collive for publishing something so speculative. Spreading fear without solid… Read more »

Radon gas
June 27, 2017 8:46 pm

Can it possibly be Radon Gas?
https://www.epa.gov/radon

Should we test our basements for Radon???

following a different lead
June 27, 2017 7:48 pm

just wondering..
those that got cancer, how many are obese? how many eat unhealthy food? how many dont exercise? how many smoke?

Cell phones too
June 27, 2017 4:46 pm

In my opinion it’s not just the cell towers, it’s the continuous use of the cell phones for talking, texting and snapping pictures all the time that poses the risk up close too! In my opinion, the use negatively affects the entire nervous system, sleep/wake cycle, and the way people communicate and process information and relationships. The constant use lowers immunity. Our high schools, years ago, focused only on the kinds of behaviour teens were getting into from computer and cell phone use rather than present the issue from a health and well-being perspective, I believe a major mistake that… Read more »

Too Many Variables
June 27, 2017 3:11 pm

The 21 people who are documented. Over how long a period of time is that? You say that young people have been included. Young enough to have gotten the disease after the cleaners was closed? Does the young person have a family history of the disease at a young age? Does one of the parents smoke? And is one case of a young person getting the disease enough to claim there is still a danger – as you are implying by saying this is a warning for people who are considering moving into that block? Have you done your research… Read more »

yossi stern
June 27, 2017 1:23 pm

To 67, to answer you, I am simply collecting data, every cancer story, and highlight where all these cases are, block by block. I will then hand this data over to the EPA and others who are qualified to study what I have found, and make a determination. As for your claim, no young person has caught cancer, unfortunately you are wrong. Before you make statements, please do your research. To #68, our goal is not to assume anything, but rather to collect as many stories of cancer, and deliver these cases to the agencies and organizations that can analyze… Read more »

Caution
June 27, 2017 9:48 am

This is a serious issue which should be investigated. However, there is no data (yet) that the incidence of cancer is higher in CH (or certain blocks of CH) than other places in Brooklyn, New York, or USA in general. The lifetime risk for developing cancer is close to 40% (that’s 2 out of every 5 people). It is important to make sure that the residents of CH are not being exposed to possibly hazardous materials. But it is premature to assume that the cancer incidence in CH is higher than what is seen in the general population.

For Whatever it's worth
June 27, 2017 9:03 am

Each of the areas mentioned by Yossi Stern has to be evaluated separately. Regarding Empire Blvd and Albany, the cleaning store closed around 20 years ago. No young people in that area have gotten the illness. The woman who just passed away came from a family where many individuals including her brother who lived elsewhere also passed away from the sickness. Needs further research before you possul whole areas of the shechunah.

to #64
June 27, 2017 8:50 am

thank you for the information, i will definitely look into it, but keep in mind two things…. none of their data reflects the residents in crown heights and the abnormal amount of concentrated cancer patients within certain areas, and secondly, data is constantly changing due to new studies, new cases, and new research. i hope that we can find answers to all of this and hopefully bring an end to any risk that may be out there.

Forms of cancer
June 26, 2017 10:17 pm

Due to many members in my family I have been researching cancer since 1998 when my mom was niftar from a non specific cancer. It was too late for her. I myself have had it. My husband , three neighbors. And a grandchild. I researched while I was ill. There is a genetic predisposition to some cancers such as breast cancer. There is chemical cause of cancer such as lng from smoking. There are immuno suppressed cancers due to weakened immune systems such as lymphomas. Skin cancer due to the sun. The number one way that all Drs agree with… Read more »

Don't reinvent the wheel
June 26, 2017 9:57 pm

Just a heads up Yossi – there’s published data on Pubmed analyzing cancer incidences in dry cleaners workers, which subtypes of cancer, as well as published data about proximity to the dry cleaners. if you’re not familiar with pubmed, find a friend who can do the literature search for you/with you.

yossi stern
June 26, 2017 9:30 pm

To answer if it is more dangerous working in a dry cleaners, I can assume working with chemicals carries risk. There are precautions by HUD, EPA, OSHA and other agencies that have laws and regulations when handling chemicals of this nature. Further it’s important to understand that originally (many years ago) the industry was exceptionally dangerous and through trial and error they (the govt and local municipalities) have enforced laws to address the hazards, and every number of years, the rules get stronger.. case in point, California had enough with the risk of PERC and banned it completely by the… Read more »

PERC tester
June 26, 2017 6:22 pm

Yossi,

Great work!
But us there something we can buy to test our homes for traces of PERC?

To #31
June 26, 2017 6:21 pm

House prices on that block HAS already dropped. Two houses are for sale well below the market prices of a few weeks ago.

Just a thought
June 26, 2017 4:32 pm

If the chemicals from a dry cleaner is cancerous, wouldn’t the dry cleaners all be unhealthy and most at risk ?

Glad this is coming out...
June 26, 2017 2:04 pm

Thank you Yossi Stern. And to the parents giving kids phones and letting them sleep with their phones next to their beds – STOP. You’re exposing them to radiation overload!

To #41
June 26, 2017 1:36 pm

How would making people – who either live or are thinking of living in the area – aware of a possible threat be ‘not helping’. If he doesn’t offer a solution does that negate the importance of letting people know so they can make the choice to stay or move there, or keep away? Wouldn’t you as a responsible adult want to know?

yossi stern
June 26, 2017 1:34 pm

This afternoon, I had a good and productive meeting with our district leader Geoffrey Davis, and we are scheduled to start tomorrow to knock on doors and meeting with many residents and homeowners in crown heights, and begin interviewing them for this project. If you would like to volunteer, please email me [email protected]

Thank you Yossi and Geoffrey for bringing this vital issue to our community
June 26, 2017 12:30 pm

Its nice to see how we can collaborate for the greater good of all.
Yashaar Koach!

Ca passed law outlawing purc
June 26, 2017 10:58 am

California, for example, in December 2007 passed a law that will outlaw the use of PERC in that state by the year 2023. The California law also requires removal of all dry cleaning machines 15 years old or older by July 1, 2010. As of July, no PERC machines may be used in buildings shared with California residences.

Call Towers Cause red cell clumping
June 26, 2017 8:47 am

Radiation – from cell phone or cell towers (and perhaps other things) cause a hardening, a clumping together of the red blood cells, so they dont flow so smoothly, thus reducing the oxygen getting into the blood – and machla cannot go where there is very good oxidation. I have seen a video of the microsopic flow of red blood cells when affected by radiation and you can see the clumping (and hardening) caused by the presence of the radiation influence. Bottom line – we as a community should be a thousand times more educated about this particular subject. In… Read more »

CHT
June 26, 2017 8:42 am

I am wondering for people who actually work at cleaners … seems to be a deadly job for them 🙁

the real story
June 26, 2017 7:47 am

Thank you Yossi for bringing this to our attention. It is my sincere hope that you are not just trying to spread fear, but that you have a very practical and real reason for bringing this up in the way that you did on collive. I would like to point out to all readers, and to Yossi as well, Life and death is in Hashem’s hands. I am assuming that you Yossi and your family are Gd fearing people who learn Torah and do mitzvos. We cannot ignore the fact that everything in the life of a Jew must be… Read more »

Formaldehyde too
June 26, 2017 7:34 am

Dry cleaners (and hairdressers and funeral homes) use this chemical that also seeps through walls and spreads from building to building and that is highly carcinogenic. Any new preschool in the vicinity of one of these establishments (or if there was one of them prior) has to test the levels to ensure it’s safe for the children

yossi stern
June 26, 2017 7:22 am

To 44, I reached out to some of the cleaners, as you know some of them do not clean on premises. I will continue to speak with them and assure them, I am not looking to destroy anyone’s business, I am concerned about the health of the surrounding areas to the cleaners. This project is more focused with EPA and other govt bodies that govern toxic waste, and not on the onus of the business or landlord. Remember, cleaners had to and have to comply with strict inspections by EPA while operating machines using perc. So my issue is more… Read more »

I had a cousin who lived nearest 675 Empire
June 26, 2017 7:08 am

And he also passed away from yene macular at the age of 69 in the 1980

Jerome (long time resident)
June 26, 2017 6:51 am

Thank you District Leader Geoffrey Davis & Yossi Stern

yossi stern
June 26, 2017 6:21 am

To 40, I received several stories of cancer in 675 empire. To 41, as I continue this project, I will definitely share the progress and an outcome.

Cancer epidemiology
June 26, 2017 5:54 am

According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of developing cancer is approximately 40% (see their website: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/lifetime-probability-of-developing-or-dying-from-cancer.html )

So, some of the questions that need to be asked include what is the incidence (will need to know how many people are living in these areas of concern and not developing cancer) and will need to know the incidence of cancer on other parts of the neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods to get a sense as to whether what you are noticing is a true anomaly or just a reflection of health trends for the general population.

yossi stern
June 26, 2017 5:54 am

To 41, I thought hard and long about taking on this project, and publicizing it. There is a lot that can be gained by my decision to make this public. 1. For the residents that already live at these hot spots, they can get checked out for any symptoms and monitor their health more frequently, and God forbid should they develop something, with awareness and checkups it can be treated. 2. to those thinking of moving near a dry cleaners, they can now make a more educated decision whether to move there or not. And again, perc may not be… Read more »

To #19
June 26, 2017 3:44 am

Moving out is not realistic for most families, especially if they own their homes. It is an obvious solution in a perfect world… if it was a perfect world, however, there wouldn’t be cancer patients. Yossi, I will bet that very few people had any idea about these cleaners. One question: what about the health of their workers?

Cell towers
June 26, 2017 3:14 am

Cell towers are extremely dangerous and emit high frequency of radiation. There is a meter you can buy to measure the amount of raise and see if a given location is dangerous or not.

Opinions
June 26, 2017 2:01 am

I grew up on the block with these neighbors. Some of my earliest memories of walking to and from the school bus stop was walking by the corner building and feeling that gust of hot air from the vents that would hit you as you walked by. Although the store front entry was on albany ave the air vents were on empire blvd blowing directly at the houses that this post is referring to. To the commentator who said only 9 people on a block that has quite a few buildings on the block is not that many..my response..1. Tenants… Read more »

The right approach??
June 26, 2017 12:50 am

Yossi Stern, you obviously have everyone’s best interests in mind and want to prevent any more cases of illness in our community chas vesholom. However, may I suggest that publicising an article like this is detrimental? Pinpointing specific dangerous ‘hotspots’ while offering little solution will be damaging to people’s mentality and emotional state. Let’s not forget that there is a lot of evidence that fear of disease causes disease… chas vesholom. What do people gain from reading this? They can’t exactly pack up shop and move elsewhere overnight, or even start avoiding walking past those areas – people have thriving… Read more »

Common cause in an apt building?
June 26, 2017 12:36 am

I was wondering if several cases were in an apt building as the building may have a common cause. Was 701 empire or 695 empire involved i wonder?

The twins
June 25, 2017 11:43 pm

Personally my family has lived on that block bc he rebbe gave them a Bracha to live there , so no we will not run away , however we where unfortunately affected by this unfortunate thing ….. with hashem help there will b no more of this Tzoros and everyone will b healthy , thank you for trying to take a stand and making our neighborhood a safer and healthier place

Cell phone and other waves
June 25, 2017 11:38 pm

I have a cery close friend who works for a big company in the field of radiation. She studies this stuff. She says that radiation from cel phines cannot cause cancer as the waves are too big. Similarly radio waves etc
As far as the perc yes something to look into

Ca passed law outlawing purc
June 25, 2017 11:32 pm

California, for example, in December 2007 passed a law that will outlaw the use of PERC in that state by the year 2023. The California law also requires removal of all dry cleaning machines 15 years old or older by July 1, 2010. As of July, no PERC machines may be used in buildings shared with California residences.

Kol halavod
June 25, 2017 11:20 pm

For doing something productive with your concerns for the common good.
People, be aware that chemicals can be extremely dangerous, especially for babies and children. Please stop spraying your house with junk chemicals. A little water and vinegar or lemon is very effective, much safer and very inexpensive also.
May we all be blessed with good health and arichus yamim.

Correlation, causation
June 25, 2017 11:06 pm

Correlation isn’t necessarily a definitive proof of causation but correlations are often incitive of causation. For example, there is a great correlation between obesity and early death. And I’ll go out on a limb and say it is causation.

Radiation is Definatly one of the reasons.
June 25, 2017 11:00 pm

As I Researched it years ago – the human body is not protected Against the frequency Signals And Radiation That is being Delivered for cell phones and cordless phones, and is therefore being affected by the radiation, and those People which are more Prone Thoards Developing cancer, so the radiation Develops it by them Very Quickly. Also Most Microwave ovens leak Radiation – so Stay far away ore go in to another room when the Microwave oven is operating. Also it’s smart and advisable for people which are interested in being healthy and alive – to Stay Far Away From… Read more »

Natural remedies
June 25, 2017 10:57 pm

This book came recommended to me by a frum rofeh yedid (an MD) which gives natural remedies that she herself uses when she has yene machla years ago:
https://www.amazon.com/Never-Fear-Cancer-Again-Prevent/dp/075731550X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498444575&sr=8-1&keywords=never+fear+cancer+again

And it only cost 7.70 🙂

To #20
June 25, 2017 10:51 pm

You use fancy words and try to confuse by making fun of a serious issue. This is no laffing matter. Yet you wrote that we would laugh at people getting sick from eating cornflakes. You wrote that they get sick from shopping at a certain store – which store do you mean? That is not a proper thing to write about a neiborhood store.

House Prices
June 25, 2017 10:37 pm

Does this mean that house prices on Empire Blvd will be plummeting to affordable levels? Just sayin’.

Dry cleaning hazard in bakery?
June 25, 2017 10:35 pm

I always wondered if it was a potential hazard to have a bakery where Gombos is. That used to be a dry cleaner.

706
June 25, 2017 10:34 pm

I heard about it years ago from ppl living at 706 e pkwy. I hope it’s dealt with asap!

706 Eastern Parkway is the worst area to walk by
June 25, 2017 10:32 pm

706 Eastern Parkway has the most concentration of radiation in all of Brooklyn. It is a grave danger to walk by that area . There are some well known community members that lived there that studied the terribly high rate of death in the building Hashem Yerachem. It is a tragedy of epic proportions. People wake up. This landlord along with other landlords such as the one further down Brooklyn Ave… have no mercy on jewish life.

Question
June 25, 2017 10:29 pm

Has any of the dry cleaner owners gotten cancer?or the people who work in the cleaners?

This might make or break this research…

KOL AKOVOD
June 25, 2017 9:56 pm

Thank you Yossi and thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. KOL Akovod!!

To number 3
June 25, 2017 9:52 pm

What are the dangers of living ontop of boiler room? Googled and found nothing.

@cooralation s causation
June 25, 2017 9:43 pm

Lastly, I do not want to wait until ALL have cancer to realize the correlation is the causation. Let’s pray there are no more stories.

To #20 and his causations
June 25, 2017 9:42 pm

Fyi cornflakes are not a known health risk, chemicals, including those from dry cleaning are.

Very brave
June 25, 2017 9:40 pm

You’re taking on several landlords who may or may not be concerned about their tenants’ lives. A ll residences should be thoroughly inspected for environmental safety before any living creature should be invited to live and pay rent there.

yossi stern
June 25, 2017 9:40 pm

@ correlation vs causation. Your point is warranted, except PERC is known to cause cancer. We are not concluding that these cleaners DID cause the cancer, we want to investigate if in fact it did. Studies are out there that show PERC chemicals have caused cancer. Secondly, to suggest that not everyone has caught cancer is a reason to negate this study is foolish. Thirdly, by suggestion that since (but unknown factually at this point) not everyone near a dry cleaners has caught cancer, I would suggest on the same train of thought, that since many have, it warrants an… Read more »

Correlation vs. Causation
June 25, 2017 9:30 pm

We can create many correlations, but that does not rise to a level of causation. As example, suppose dozens of people who died or are sick with cancer all ate corn flakes for breakfast, does that lead us to suspect that corn flakes caused cancer?! We would laugh at that suggestion because there are thousands of people who eat corn flakes for breakfast and are fully healthy. In this case too, there are hundreds of people living near the dry cleaners that are not sick. Suppose there are other commonalities with the 9 neighbors, like suppose they all have more… Read more »

Move them!!!
June 25, 2017 9:30 pm

The research is crucial, but in the meantime, anyone who seems to be at risk should move! And a campaign should be started to help them relocate. Perhaps start with the families who already ch”v have someone sick, so they don’t ch”v get worse, and no other members get sick as well ch”v. This is pikuach nefesh mamish!! How could we leave ppl. to live in a place that has a reasonable possibility of causing death ch”v?! We must act immediately, and help remove those who are at greatest risk.

yossi stern
June 25, 2017 9:15 pm

I started out knowing about one or two ppl on the same block, then we found out there were nine people from seven homes, all the homes are all next to each other. Over the coming weeks we will send out volunteers to call and knock on doors, and try to get the real picture. I was just informed of two people who passed away on crown street right off of kingston, both from cancer. As this story continues to unfold and information comes in, it is simply heartbreaking! I will be relentless, working with people to get a clear… Read more »

Simple question
June 25, 2017 9:09 pm

When I read that they are 9 people from the same block it sound frightening. Then I wonder how many other people live on that block?
How does that compare to regional average rates?

Cleaners AND CELL TOWERS!
June 25, 2017 9:09 pm

Sorry, but that’s what i found in my google research.

Kol hakavod
June 25, 2017 9:06 pm

For addressing the issue. In montreal I believe there were also many cases in certain vacinities over the years.

yossi stern
June 25, 2017 9:05 pm

To answer some of the comments,,, asbestos is a material that was used in roofing, plaster, insulation, floor tiles and several other building materials. If the asbestos is in “intact condition” and not being disturbed, meaning it is not flaking and falling apart, it won’t pose a risk to your health. It does not mean you should not address it and consider having it covered or removed, but it needs to be in a poor state to cause harm. As well, asbestos is a material you would need to inhale for a very long time, twenty yrs or so, for… Read more »

Yossi stern
June 25, 2017 9:03 pm

Thank you very much for your research
Hashem shall help you and your family should know only simchos and happinessואך טוב וחסד ירדפוך כל ימי חייך

706 is a cancer hot bed
June 25, 2017 8:45 pm

I advise making a big stink to get them removed

Cancer
June 25, 2017 8:37 pm

Maybe it’s from the cell phone towers which are on a lot of buildings in the neighborhood.
If I’m correct 706 Eastern Parkway has a bunch of them on top of the building and a few people died, and they thought it was from the radiation of the tower.

Cell phone towers
June 25, 2017 8:36 pm

Maybe it has to do with all the cell phone towers attached to the buildings?

AND IN ADDITION...
June 25, 2017 8:28 pm

One day the penny will drop, as to the possible harm from the
cell towers on the roofs – all over and noticeably diagonally opposite from Oholei Torah .

Agree but
June 25, 2017 8:08 pm

You are right so many get cancer from this issue the same is will cell towers. There are buildings in ch with many cell towers and the residence are suffering. Also Albany and empire has about 5-7 buildings that’s a lot of people for one corner. Maybe they just got cancer

Radiation
June 25, 2017 8:08 pm

What about the cell towers on 440 Brooklyn Ave giving off so much radiation

ASBESTOS
June 25, 2017 7:47 pm

ASBESTOS LINING THE WALLS, OUTLAWED IN EUROPE HAD BEEN FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF YENA MACHLER

What about the cell phone towers
June 25, 2017 7:46 pm

706 Eastern Parkway has many residents who have or have had cancer many whom have died or are suffering today

Eastern Parkway
June 25, 2017 7:45 pm

There is also a building on Eastern Parkway that has an very high rate of residents with cancer.

Boilers
June 25, 2017 7:44 pm

I’ve heard living above boilers can have effect and have seen it happen unfortunately

Kol Hakavod!
June 25, 2017 7:43 pm

Thank you for doing this!

wow
June 25, 2017 7:40 pm

Must be looked into very frightening also wondering why is the special needs and autistic rate in crown heights so high its scary is there something in the water?….

X