Newarthill mum's cancer fear
A NEWARTHILL mother is concerned that contaminated land at Ravenscraig may have given her son cancer.
John Paul Devlin, of Beechwood Drive, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma three years ago at the age of 13.
He now appears to have made a full recovery but following stories recently in the Times & Speaker about young cancer victims from Newarthill, Gina Rice became suspicious.
She said: "It seems John Paul got what could be described as a 'good' cancer and it appears he has now beaten it, but why should a 13-year-old get it in the first place.
"While I'm not suggesting the Ravenscraig site is contaminated now, it was lying derelict for a long time so it may be possible that something got into the atmosphere."
NHS Lanarkshire say there is not an unusually high cancer rate in this area and Ravenscraig Ltd insist work to make the site safe stated immediately following the closure of the steelworks in 1992.
Bellshill and Hamilton North MSP Michael McMahon has written to North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) asking them to investigate further.
He said: "I grew up in Newarthill and I remember some days the cars would be covered in red soot from the Ravenscraig site so I believe Mrs Rice's concerns are certainly plausible."
Full story in March 18 edition of Times & Speaker
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Friday 25 May 2012
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