State and local leaders hold meeting to discuss Iredell County thyroid cancer cases

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — State and local leaders held a meeting Tuesday morning to discuss a suspected thyroid cancer cluster in Iredell County.

Channel 9's cameras were not allowed in that meeting, but Rep. John Fraley told Channel 9 they've been working alongside state environmental and health agencies to coordinate water testing.

He didn't say exactly when the testing would begin, but said it will be soon. Once it does begin, he said it will be a long process.

"Please understand that this is a process that’s going to take months or years to ultimately try to determine an answer," Fraley said.

[PAST COVERAGE: Chemical linked to thyroid issues detected in water at Lake Normal High School, expert says]

For months, researchers have been testing soil and water in the southern part of the county after a concerned mother pushed officials to investigate why her 16-year-old daughter and so many other young girls were getting thyroid cancer.

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