(amended)
The cancer rate in the southeast of Malta is lower than the national average, the Health Ministry said today.
The ministry said that statistics between 2000 and 2008 showed that Birżebbuġa had an average of 13 cancer deaths a year, or 17 per 10,000 persons. The national rate is 19 per 10,000 persons.
The rate for the south-eastern region is 16.5 deaths per year per 10,000 people.
The south-east includes Żurrieq, Kirkop, Imqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Gudja, Birżebbuġa, Marsaxlokk, Żejtun, Żabbar, Xgħajra and Marsascala.
As a result, the ministry said, it did nto appear that flyash mentioned in the reports had caused an increase in cancer rates.