The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73586

Sue-Min Lai, PhD, MS, MBA¹, Chris Van Ness, MA¹, Mohini Dirisina, MA¹, and Gerard Rushton, PhD². (1) Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Mail Stop 1008, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160, 913-588-2744, slai@kumc.edu, (2) Department of Geography, University of Iowa, 215 Lexington Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246

This study applies GIS to explore relationships between prostate cancer (PC) risk and the occurrence of above tolerance levels chemical measures in ambient water samples. Using GIS technology, population size and PC incidence at Census Tracts were attributed to a uniform 5-mile grid using a 21-mile search radius. Age adjusted PC rates were calculated for the grid points and the values were kriged to create a predictive rate surface across the State of KS. The EPA Data Warehouse only maintains above tolerance chemical occurrences found in ambient water samples from ground, pipe, and surface water sources. These chemical amounts were attributed to the nearest point on the uniform grid, and correlations among chemical levels and PC risk were calculated. The chemical data had no standards of collection and testing. Therefore, the samples are not consistent in content, spatial relationship or periodicity of collection. Only those which tested above tolerance levels for the particular chemical were maintained in the EPA database. Our investigations based on near complete ascertainment of prostate cancer and limited measures of chemicals showed inconsistent correlations between certain compounds and age adjusted PC rates. While the relationships between chemical measures and the PC rates are inconsistent, utilizing a GIS for cancer rate calculation and analysis of environmental data is a helpful methodology.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the presentation, participants will learn how GIS can be used to examine the relationship between environmental chemicals and prostate cancer risk. The participants will also learn the limitations of existing available environmental chemical data.

Keywords: Risk Mapping, Cancer Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.