ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: CANCER ON LONG ISLAND

8/2024- From London England, Dr. Noelle Cutter sat before the podcast camera, poised to introduce her esteemed colleague telecast from Long Island, NY. "It is my pleasure to welcome Benjamin Honigsfeld to the camera —soon to be Dr. Honigsfeld—who has been both a former student and now a co-researcher alongside me. Together, we have been investigating breast cancer, with a particular focus on its prevalence on Long Island and within the surrounding environment. It is an honor to have him join us today."

PROUD PROFESSOR HOSTS FORMER TOP STUDENT

In recent years, their research has centered on understanding how breast cancer manifests in the Long Island and tri-state area—an issue that has long been a source of concern. The region has shown an unusually high incidence of breast cancer, with an alarming number of younger women receiving diagnoses each year. This pattern has raised critical questions within the scientific community, prompting Dr. Cutter and Benjamin Honigsfeld to explore potential environmental and biological factors at play.

Their collaboration stemmed from a shared curiosity about this unsettling trend. Honigsfeld, once a dedicated research student under Dr. Cutter’s mentorship, had expressed a strong desire to delve deeper into the available data. Both researchers arrived at the same pressing question: Why isn’t there more research on this issue? What crucial information remains undiscovered, and how can they contribute to filling these gaps in knowledge?

Turning to Honigsfeld, Dr. Cutter reflected on his unique perspective, shaped by his background in cancer research and his ongoing journey toward becoming a medical doctor. "Given your experience in both studying cancer and your current medical training, how has this research shaped your understanding of the issue? Where do you see our investigation heading next as we continue to explore this critical topic?"

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A TOXICOLOGIST'S GEO OVERVIEW:  Feat. Benjamin Honigsfeld

Between earning a bachelor's degree at Molloy and pursuing a medical degree, Benjamin Honigsfeld had the opportunity to obtain a master's in toxicology. This academic background provided a strong foundation in environmental toxicology, particularly concerning chemical spills and environmental disasters. When discussing the notably high incidence of breast cancer on Long Island, it became clear that such a pattern could not be purely coincidental. This realization led to an in-depth investigation into the unique environmental factors affecting Long Island.

"...When we start talking about the high incidence of breast cancer on Long Island, there's gotta be a reason", states Honigsfeld. "It just can't just be a random event. So I started really looking into what's so unique about this area- like the Hudson Bay area in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. A few things popped out that I included in my report- but the major one that caught my attention was the Grumman oil spills. And there's a plume in Bethpage. So basically during the second World War, the United States government enlisted Grumman and other aspects of the military industrial complex to gear up for combat. 

At the time, the long-term environmental consequences of mass-producing weapons, fuel, and aircraft were not well understood. As a result, substantial environmental damage occurred, including a groundwater contamination plume originating in Bethpage. This contamination introduced volatile organic chemicals into the water supply, including 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen that has only recently come under scrutiny.

The primary focus of this research has been Long Island, though there is also a smaller contamination plume further east in Suffolk County, near Calverton. One of the most pressing concerns in the scientific community is the presence of 1,4-dioxane in these chemical plumes. A recent study, conducted by an Ivy League institution in May, identified 1,4-dioxane as likely hepatotoxic, with potential links to hepatocellular carcinoma. This compound has been detected in multiple chemical spills, including those in Bethpage and Calverton.

Another significant area of interest in cancer research is immunotherapy, particularly CAR T-cell therapy. This cutting-edge approach involves extracting helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells from a patient, modifying them with recognition proteins and antigens specific to cancer cells, and reintroducing them into the body. This method aims to sensitize the immune system to cancer cells, potentially enhancing the body’s ability to mount an effective immune response. While CAR T-cell therapy holds promise for treating ovarian cancer, its applications extend to many other forms of cancer, and ongoing research continues to explore its potential.

Future research is likely to focus on further investigating the relationship between volatile organic compounds, 1,4-dioxane, and breast cancer. Current findings suggest hepatotoxicity and a potential link to hepatocellular carcinoma, but more extensive studies are needed to determine whether exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of breast cancer and its various subtypes. As research progresses, uncovering the full impact of environmental toxins on cancer incidence remains a critical priority.