The New York State Department of Health announced on Tuesday that an updated study on cancer rates of Bethpage, Long Island, residents living near the former Grumman-Navy site will be conducted,
The study will expand on the state’s 2013 health evaluation and take approximately six months, according to the department.
Bethpage, a community with a rich history tied to the aerospace industry, has faced environmental concerns due to its past. The legacy of Grumman Aerospace Corporation, which operated in Bethpage from the 1930s to the 1990s, has left a troubling impact on the area, particularly regarding the groundwater contamination from the manufacturing processes.
In recent years, the community has been grappling with concerns about cancer rates potentially linked to this contamination. The 2013 study conducted by the New York State Department of Health did not identify elevated cancer rates in the area closest to the former Grumman-Navy site. However, the study noted that the individuals diagnosed with cancer were relatively young and diagnosed with various types of cancer, most of which were not linked to the main contaminant of concern, Trichlorethylene (TCE).
The discovery of chemical drums in Bethpage Community Park in the spring of 2024 reignited concerns and prompted the state to announce an expanded cancer evaluation in the area. This evaluation aims to provide updated information based on science and data, reassuring the public that there are no new exposures or risks to public health.
“DEC and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) are focused on finding and eliminating any possible exposures to the public from the contamination,” the DEC stated.
In May lab results came in for the first 16 drums found at Bethpage Community Park, a parcel of land gifted to the town by Northrup Grumman on condition that it be used as a town park. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, data shows that known human carcinogens were found within the drums. Results show the type and level of contamination in the drums’ contents and surrounding soils are “consistent with historic contamination at the park,” the DEC stated.
Residents who have lived in Bethpage over the decades have witnessed many community members develop cancer. The renewed evaluation is seen as a long-overdue step towards providing definitive information and addressing the rumors that have circulated for years.
The upcoming review, expected to be completed over the next six months, will look at updated data from the New York State Cancer Registry and expand the area of analysis to provide a more comprehensive understanding of cancer trends over time.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a news release. “While there is no new threat to public health, and prior exposures have been addressed for more than a decade due to the efforts of New York State, we understand the public would benefit from and appreciate an updated review of cancer cases in the area.”
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino called the updated study “good news” and a “step in the right direction.”
