Medina County Health Department addresses cancer concerns in the community related to Montville Landfill

MONTVILLE TWP. — The Medina County Health Department said that it has not found evidence of an increased cancer rate near the Montville Landfill, but it will continue to monitor cancer data in the county and potentially hazardous conditions related to the former landfill. The Montville Landfill, near Wadsworth Road, stopped accepting material in 1985, officially closed in 1995 and is under the authority of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Landfills are required to have post-closure care for health and environmental protection. "At the Montville Landfill, this includes annual and semiannual inspections and quarterly inspections of the property," the health department stated. "These inspections include groundwater quality monitoring and explosive gas monitoring. If a hazard is identified, Ohio (Environmental Protection Agency) would then notify (the Medina County Health Department)." In 2022, there was a methane gas concern on the site, and the issue was resolved with no threat to the public. There have been no other concerns identified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. There is no indication that anything concerning has migrated off the landfill. There is no need for concern for those who have municipal water since the water supply does not come from the landfill area, according to the health department. Wells can be tested for contaminants, and those who have questions about testing well water can call (330) 723-9688, option 3. "Active air and water monitoring for any potential hazard to the public is ongoing," the health department stated. "If any threat were identified, including cancer-causing hazards (the Medina County Health Department) would notify the public." The health department monitors cancer rates in Medina County using official data from the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System. Since 1992, all Ohio medical care providers have been required to report diagnosed cases of cancer to the surveillance system in accordance with Ohio law. "In response to community cancer concerns, (the Medina County Health Department) works closely with the Ohio Department of Health to determine if the number of cases of a specific cancer type in a specific area is higher than we would expect based on state and national cancer rates," the health department stated. If a cancer type was found to be higher than expected in a specific geographical area, the health department would notify the public. "Age-adjusted, all-cancer incidence rates for the census tracts that include the Montville Landfill area are similar to the county overall for the 10-year period of 2015-2024 and have not warranted further investigation at this time," the health department stated. It is often not just one factor that increases someone's risk of developing cancer. Rather, cancer most often results from a complex interaction of multiple factors that occur over time, including someone's lifestyle, genetics, occupation and environment. Cancer data summaries are available on the health department's and the Ohio Department of Health at https://odh.ohio.gov. "When looking at cancer cases, it is important to consider that different cancer types have different known risk factors that can cause that type of cancer," the health department stated. "In other words, the causes of cancer are complex and can vary greatly."