Updated: Fri Feb. 06 2009 18:44:23

ctvedmonton.ca

A government study showed that cancer rates are higher than normal for the residents of Fort Chipewyan.

Authors of the study said there is no need for alarm.

Cancers of the blood and lymphatic systems, biliary tract and soft tissue cancers all look to be higher than the norm and Dr. Tony Fields said the cause of the increase could be chance, increased detection or environmental.

"We have to be careful jumping right from a soft signal of increase to a conclusion about risk, there are many steps in between," said Fields, with Alberta Health Services.

Fields also said the study was not intended to assess risk.

"What we have presented today by itself would not call for an environmental study," he said.

Those who live near Lake Athabasca have long feared their water is dangerous.

"It's very frustrating and very disappointing once again," said George Poitras. "We feel the government of Alberta is insulting the community not paying any respect to the community."

A documentary called Downstream focuses on the struggles of the people who live off the Athabasca. The producer, Phil Alberstat spoke to CTV News.

"Nobody wanted to look at it and say there is a problem," he said. " I think (the) government is trying to protect the oil industry."

Health minister Ron Liepert said government efforts should not focus on the environment.

"We need to work with the community to make sure there may be other factors such as lifestyle and those sorts of things that probably aren't helping matters any," he said.

Liberal critics said the Tories aren't taking this issue seriously.

"This is the largest development on the planet, we need to know a lot more about what is going on up there and respecting the rights and protecting the health of the communities up there," said Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann

Health officials said they will meet with locals in the future.

The study was reviewed by independent experts from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and two Canadian aboriginal researchers.

With files from Rob McAnally