214185 Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative: Parity, length of residence on Staten Island, puberty, occupation, socioeconomic factors and mortality risk with respect to environmental justice issues

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Donna Gerstle, MA, MS, JD , Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative (SIBCRI) and Center of Environmental Sciences, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Alfred Levine, PhD , Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative (SIBCRI) and Center of Environmental Sciences, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Jimmie Fata, PhD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Robert Silich, MD , Department of Plastic Surgery, Cornell University Medical School/NY Hospital, New York, NY
Alan Benimoff, PhD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Michael Kress, PhD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Elena McCoy, PhD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Michelle Dresser, MPH , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Karen Schwartz, MD , Department of Endocrinology, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY
Ann Teresa Lubrano, PhD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Meagan Devereaux, MS , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Danielle Dimitrov, MA, JD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Regina Pepe-Martorana, JD , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Erika Hellstrom, MBA , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Caitlyn Nichols, MS , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Jose Colon, BS , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Lisa Holland, MLS MA , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Christine Roos, MA CCBE , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Karen Saur, BS , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Mary Segarra, BS , Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative (SIBCRI) and Center for Environmental Sciences, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Ann Torino , Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative (SIBCRI) and Center for Environmental Sciences, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Christina Dgheim , Center for Environmental Science, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Staten Island, NY (SI) is downwind from the largest petrochemical industry in the world, Brookfield (EPA Superfund site) and for more than 50 years harbored the largest open dump, Fresh Kills Landfill. Using breast cancer incidence and mortality data from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) respectively, it has been determined that SI has among the highest female breast cancer age-adjusted incidence and the highest age-adjusted mortality rate in the metropolitan region. Researchers at the Center for Environmental Science developed and validated a methodology for obtaining data from a combination of newspaper obituaries and death certificates. Death certificate data for breast cancer deaths were obtained for 1980-1990 from NYCDOHMH as well as, a set of female control. Life histories were compiled through obituary interviews for both cases and controls. Preliminary analysis using logistic regression demonstrated: [1] a statistically significant increase in the risk for breast cancer associated when residing on SI during puberty ( p<0.001) and length of residence on SI ( p< 0.001), [2] an increased risk for occupation (p<0.006), [3] no increased risk with socioecomic factors (poverty, p<0.786; education, p< 0.5467), and [4] no decreased risk with increased number of live births (parity, p< 0.46). All data were mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) will be able to identify breast cancer risk factors for urban populations and their relation to environmental perturbations and environmental justice issues.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am the Principal Investigator and Director of the Staten Island Breast Cancer Initiative, a multidisciplinary research study aimed at making a positive impact on breast cancer incidence and mortality. I am also qualified to present because I am Director of the Research Center for Environmental Science at the College of Staten Island/CUNY.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.