The Harkin Institute and the Iowa Environmental Council are announcing the launch of a new initiative that explores the relationship between environmental risk factors and cancer rates in Iowa.
Iowa has the second-highest cancer rates in the nation, and it is among only two states where cancer rates are increasing, not decreasing. An estimated 21,200 new invasive cancers will be diagnosed among Iowans in 2025, according to the Iowa Cancer Registry’s annual “Cancer in Iowa” report.
While some risk factors for cancers are well known and studied, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds, other potential causes are less understood.
“We know that our environment and our health are inextricably linked,” says Sarah Green, Executive Director of the Iowa Environmental Council. “With so many Iowans’ lives touched by cancer, it’s important that we explore every link and find ways we can work together to mitigate all potential sources of risk and save lives.”
The initiative is the first of its kind to combine a rigorous review of existing academic research about environmental risk factors and their sources with a statewide campaign to listen to, understand, and amplify Iowans’ own lived experiences with cancer.
“This project aims to address a gap in the current conversation about cancer,” says Adam Shriver, Director of Wellness and Nutrition Policy for The Harkin Institute. “We know Iowa is an outlier when it comes to cancer rates. What role do factors such as air pollution and water contamination play in that story? Existing literature and data are part of the picture, and so are the voices of Iowa families whose lives are impacted, often tragically, by a cancer diagnosis.”
The literature analysis, overseen by an academic review panel, will result in a public report and journal article, plus visual data and mapping to help better understand the nexus of cancer and Iowa’s unique environmental risk factors. During the summer of 2025, community engagement sessions will be held throughout the state, in both urban and rural areas, to listen deeply to Iowans’ stories and identify themes and patterns in residents’ experiences.
“The ultimate goal is to drive informed action toward policy and practices that improve human and public health,” Green says.
For additional details or to schedule an interview, contact Bethany Kohoutek at kohoutek@iaenvironment.org or Kathryn Kuckelman at kathryn.kuckelman@drake.edu.
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The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement is a nonpartisan policy research institution focused on the four main policy areas that shaped Senator Tom Harkin’s career: labor and employment, people with disabilities, retirement security, and wellness and nutrition. The Harkin Institute exists to inform citizens, inspire creative cooperation, and catalyze change on issues of social justice, fairness, and opportunity.
The Iowa Environmental Council is the state’s largest and most comprehensive environmental alliance, comprised of diverse organizations and individuals working together to protect Iowa’s natural environment. Through education, advocacy, and coalition-building, the Council raises awareness, generates action, and creates large-scale change. We work on federal, state, and local public policy issues to ensure a just, healthy environment and sustainable future for all Iowans.
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