In the April 25 issue of the Bangor Daily News, the column by Dr. Paul Donohue is correct. Chlorine does cause cancer, as evidenced by documentation and my own personal experience.

While living in Florida (big mistake) during 1933-1987, after retiring from the military, all was well for a while, then suddenly in June 1990, I was taken ill. It was determined that my left kidney was cancerous, so it was removed and I was fine.

Then in June 1991, while visiting with friends in Lewiston, I became ill and was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital where I stayed for a week. While there, tests were done by a very fine urologist who found an invasive tumor (a malignant one) inside my bladder.

He consulted with my urologist-surgeon in Florida and I flew back to Florida where I had my bladder removed. I was told by my urologist-surgeon in Florida, who happens to be one of the best in the business, that my bladder cancer was caused by the chlorine in the drinking water. This did not surprise me, as I am a heavy water drinker, and in Florida the water runs out of the tap and smells like the pool at the YMCA.

So a year later, when it was safe for me to travel, we moved back to Maine permanently. I am happy to say that I just celebrated my 75th birthday, and there is no cancer in my body and none is expected. But I will not go to Florida and drink their water ever again.

William P. Robertson III

Franklin