Superfund regulatory policies of sites and the elevated cancer incidence rates in disadvantaged communities of Cook County, IL

In Chicago and suburban Cook County, IL there are numerous Superfund sites remediated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to various hazardous exposures. In addition, there are also Brownfield sites, defined by the EPA as property that may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance or contaminant creating possible limitations on future use. Especially within urban areas, questions arise regarding the possibility of higher concentrations of these sites in disadvantaged neighborhoods. In this study, we examine cancer rates in communities in relation to the number of Superfund and Brownfield sites in Cook County, IL. Of particular interest will be Superfund and Brownfield sites located prevalently in racial/ethnic minority communities to examine the relationship of at-risk communities and the increased prevalence of the cancers under study. In our analysis, we examine breast cancer rates based on 2005 Illinois State Cancer Registry data and proximity to Superfund and Brownfield sites. The primary scope of our presentation will be to evaluate the number of Superfund and Brownfield sites on community level breast cancer rates. Our preliminary findings show that Superfund and Brownfield sites are predominantly in minority communities. Using a geographic information system (ArcGIS), we will visually analyze the patterns of site locations in relation to the areas showing the cancer rate while examining local demography.