D. B. Gerstle, MS, MA, JD¹, A. M. Levine, Ph D¹, Alan Benimoff, PhD², Michael Kress, PhD², and Michelle Gerstle Dresser, MPH, CHES³. (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) Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island/CUNY, 2800 Victory Blvd., Room 310 Bldg 6S, Staten Island, NY 10314, (3) Department of Marketing, Community Relations & Health Education, Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10021

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 leukemia rates among men and women in the state and metropolitan region. This study is a preliminary investigation the association between leukemia and length of residence on Staten Island. 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 male and female leukemia 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=342 cases). The data set includes demographic information, residential history and occupational history. Preliminary analysis using logistic regression demonstrated statistically significant increased risk of certain leukemia types and multiple myeloma associated with length of residence on Staten Island (p< 0.05). These data have been entered into a GIS system together with information on pollution sources.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session the participant/learner will be able to analyze disease distribution in urban areas.

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.