What’s causing Nevada County’s high breast cancer rate is still uncertain. But whether there’s a link with the numerous abandoned mines in the area will require further study. Results of a pilot study of 60 women from Grass Valley and Nevada City have been released. The executive director of the Sierra Streams Institute, Joanne Hild, says women over 35 and living in the area for more than 10 years had the highest levels of cadmium. But the levels are not considered toxic….

click to listen to Joanne Hild

But Hild says even though those levels were found in only 15 of the 60 women, it’s still statistically significant…

click to listen to Joanne Hild

Hild says six women had arsenic levels that are considered significant, but also not toxic, and the levels had dropped to acceptable standards after re-testing. She says they’re getting ready to test another 60 women and, hopefully hundreds more, if funding is found, before they would compare cadmium levels of women with a history of breast cancer with those without the disease. If you’re interested in volunteering, get in touch with the Sierra Streams Institute.