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

Abstract #61354

D. B. Gerstle, MS, MA¹, A. M. Levine, Ph D¹, Robert Christopher Silich, MD², Alan Benimoff, PhD³, Frank Munger, JD PhD⁴, Michelle J. Gerstle, MPH, CHES⁵, Ann Lubrano, PhD⁶, Michael Kress, PhD³, Elena C. McCoy, PhD³, and W. G. Wallace, Ph D³. (1) Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island/CUNY/Center for Environmental Science, 2800 Victory Blvd., Room 310 Bldg 6S, Staten Island, NY 10314, 718-982-3922, gerstle@mail.csi.cuny.edu, (2) Surgery/Division of Plastic Surgery, Cornell University Medical School/NY Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, (3) Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island/CUNY, 2800 Victory Blvd., Room 310 Bldg 6S, Staten Island, NY 10314, (4) New York Law School, 57 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, (5) Department of Marketing, Community Relations & Health Education, Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10021, (6) Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, Polytechnic University, 5 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Staten Island, NY (SI) is downwind from the largest petrochemical industry in the world, home of Brookfield landfill (EPA Superfund site) and home to Fresh Kills landfill, the world’s largest municipal dump. Using the Cancer Registry of the New York State Health Department it has been determined that Staten Island, NY has the highest age-adjusted breast cancer rates among women in the metropolitan region. We are continuing to investigate the association between breast cancer, length of residence on Staten Island and occupation. Researchers at the Center For Environmental Science developed and validated a methodology for obtaining data from the combination of newspaper obituaries and death certificates. Death Certificate data for the years 1980 through 1990 for female breast cancer (ICD 174) were obtained from NYCDOH (New York City Department of Health) as well as a set of controls. Controls were randomly matched by age (+ 1 year) and year of death (+ 3 years). Life histories were complied through obituaries for both cases and controls (n=742 cases). The data set includes demographic information, residential history and occupational history. Preliminary analysis using logistic regression demonstrated statistically significant increased risk of breast cancer death associated with length of residence on Staten Island and occupational history (p= 0.01). These data have been entered into a GIS system together with information on pollution sources. We have begun to explore associations between residential location, occupation and breast cancer death rates.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be aware of potential population health risks, specifically cancer, in areas with extreme environmental perturbations.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Environmental Justice

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.