the p. vera, it really affected their life in a dramatic way. both passed away in 2008. the p. vera took their lives within about 5 years from the time that they were diagnosed with it. >> ground zero for polycythemia vera in the free world, or in the world in general, was betty and lester kester. when betty kester died, she had decided to donate her body to science for the investigation. >> her body tissues eventually found their way here to dr. ronald hoffman's lab in mt. sinai hospital in new york city. he has spent nearly 40 years studying pv. >> there were too many patients with polycythemia vera in that-- in that area than one could account for. whether the environment or toxins in the environment lead to an increased risk of polycythemia vera is unknown. that's really an area ofesearch and also speculation. the problem is that there are multiple toxic compounds that are in the ground and also in the air in this area, and to prove a one-to-one relationship is going to be very, very tough. i