Public concern: The Northern Area Health Board (NAHB) has confirmed it will investigate concerns around what is perceived to be an unusually high incidence of cancer among residents in one area of Dublin's inner city.
Residents of Sean O'Casey Avenue in Summerhill say at least 21 people have been diagnosed with cancer on the street or within a one-mile radius over the past three years.
There are 79 houses on Sean O'Casey Avenue.
Many of the homes were represented at a public meeting on Saturday night to discuss their worries and to see if an investigation could be initiated to determine if there is an above-average incidence of cancer in the area and, if so, the reason for same.
Mr Paddy McMahon of 20 Sean O'Casey Avenue said it was mainly women in the 30 to 60 year age bracket who had been diagnosed. "When we started talking about it, we realised it was all women. I don't think it could be coincidental that it's all women," he said.
The cancers diagnosed vary. Mr McMahon's wife, Mary, was diagnosed with lung cancer last October.
One of the residents' concerns is that there are three masts overlooking the area - one on a Garda station, another on a bus depot and another on a convent. They want somebody to look at whether these are in any way influencing the figures.
"People are very worried. They are wondering who will be next to be diagnosed," Mr McMahon said.
Local independent TD Mr Tony Gregory attended the public meeting. He said about 10 people on the avenue had been diagnosed with cancer and the remainder of the 21 were from the immediate vicinity.
"Five residents of the avenue have died recently from cancer, four persons are very seriously ill with cancer and another two have cancer-related illnesses.
"Ten other persons in the immediate locality were/are cancer sufferers. Six of these residents were diagnosed within a very short space of time. Some have since died," he said. "While I have tried to allay residents' fears, they have asked me to draw attention to their concerns and have the matter fully examined.
"I'm well aware of the high incidence of cancer in general but the people in this area feel the incidence is unusually high and want it investigated," he said.
He is sending a list of those diagnosed to the chief executive officer of the NAHB, Ms Maureen Windle. "I'm asking her to respond to residents' concerns and to allay their fears if it's felt this is just a microcosm of what is happening all over the country," he said.
A health board spokesman said a member of staff had been asked to make inquiries regarding the situation and to talk to local people. "If necessary, we will then take further steps," he said.
About 21,000 new cases of cancer are recorded annually in the Republic and one in three citizens can expect to develop cancer in the course of their lives.