ABC News Health has just published an investigative story reporting over 25 percent of the staff at a Wisconsin school have been diagnosed with cancer and the state Department of Health has decided against investigating the high incidences of cancer at the local elementary school because they don't suspect a toxic source. I have read cancer statistics and I don't believe I have ever stumbled across a percentage that high that was considered normal -- or anything to brush off as to determining cause. Understandably, teachers, parents and students at West Elementary School are afraid and upset. In the last five years,  28 of 102 of the elementary school staff members have been diagnosed with cancer.

According to the news report, teacher Heidi Swetlik and her husband showed other teachers dirty air filters they had pulled from the school's heating and ventilation system. "This is what scares us and has scared us for quite some time," Swetlik said. According to State health officials, who ran some tests, said they found only improper chemical storage, ventilation system problems, and mold. They also said the numbers at West Elementary are not out of the ordinary. There are not out of the ordinary? In fact, they say they've investigated about 40 cancer clusters in Wisconsin and found none linked to the environment inside a building. None? Cancer Cluster 101: cancer clusters are usually linked to environmental causes.

Tom Sieger, of the Bureau of Environmental Health, is quoted as saying that statistics show cancer clusters are nothing more than coincidence, and added that proper diet and exercise are important to prevent disease. What? He needs to check with the EPA about the causes of cancer clusters. "Our information on causation of cancer is imperfect," Sieger said. "But what we do know is there are certain things we can do every day with regard to our diet, with regard to exercise." No way. He did not really say that -- did he? Yes -- yes he did. Sieger has it all figured out. It's the teachers fault they have cancer. What is going on in Wisconsin?