An environmental red flag was discovered at the site of a former insulation plant in Cameron, Mo. — a place suspected of being linked to what seems like a higher-than-usual number of brain tumors in the area.

High levels of lead and arsenic were discovered in a soil sample from the former Rockwool Industries plant, said Dennis Stinson, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Superfund section chief.

“This was found in just one area. It was not widespread,” Mr. Stinson said Tuesday.

However, he cautioned that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will determine whether the findings could be linked to brain tumors.

“We’re evaluating that site for environmental concerns. Whether that has to do with brain tumors miles away, we can’t make that connection,” Mr. Stinson said.

State health officials said it would be premature to suggest that the environmental findings point to a cause for the tumors. The health department’s analysis will consider multiple variables, including whether contaminates were able to leak into the public’s water supply.

“It would be a leap to say that it is related to the tumors or possibilities of brain tumors in the Cameron area,” said Jonathan Garoutte, environmental specialist with the health department.

State officials will present soil and water test results in full at a 6:30 p.m. meeting Aug. 21 at Cameron United Methodist Church. At that time, they’ll present results from last month’s testing near the former insulation plant and a quarry.

State agencies are investigating whether there is a higher-than-normal number of brain tumors in the Cameron area as well as if environmental factors could be linked to the tumors.

Mr. Garoutte said the goal of next week’s meeting isn’t necessarily to find a cause for the tumor clusters, or even to determine if the clusters are unusual.

“Our point is to identify any contaminates and address whether or not they are of a health concern,” he said. “We’re looking at a bigger picture, which is why we have to present it at one time and not just piecemeal.”

High levels of lead affect the central nervous system and arsenic is a known carcinogen. Mr. Garoutte, however, said the bigger question will be whether the public was exposed.

“A high level of lead in an area that no one comes into contact with can’t have a health effect,” he said. “It’s very difficult for us to comment.”

Rep. Jim Guest, R-King City, and Bill Kemper, a Cameron man whose wife died of complications related to a brain tumor, met with EPA officials last week and discussed the possibility of future testing in Cameron.

For example, Mr. Kemper pointed out that nine of the individuals with tumors live along a practically straight line extending west and east in the south part of town.

Mr. Guest and Mr. Kemper asked the EPA officials about the possibility of conducting air tests throughout town as well as water tests at individual homes.

“They indicated that they are open to any test that we are interested in,” said Mr. Guest, who was instrumental in getting the state agencies to launch the investigation.

Chris Whitley, EPA spokesman, said further testing is a definite possibility.

“We obviously can’t go everywhere and can’t test everyone’s yard and water tap. But if information that we develop through this investigation suggests that it would be wise to target a certain area, we’re open to that possibility,” Mr. Whitley said. “We certainly have not closed the book on Cameron.”

The state health department and the Missouri Cancer Registry are collecting and verifying reports from previous and past Cameron area residents who’ve had brain tumors in order to determine whether the number of brain tumors is above average. Health department officials say they’ve collected more than 20 reports. However, Mr. Guest believes the number is closer to 60.

A group of Cameron residents knows of about a dozen people who have been diagnosed with brain tumors within the past year.

About one in every 10,000 people receives a brain tumor diagnosis each year, according to the American Brain Tumor Association; about 9,800 people live in Cameron.

“I think the Missouri Cancer Registry is trying to downplay the severity of this situation,” Mr. Guest said.

Nancy Hull can be reached at

nancyhull@npgco.com.