Environmental Integrity and the Incidence of Cancer Pooja Mehra Thomas Shahady

Central Questions Concerning Environmental Degradation Human Environment Changes to Ecological Integrity Patterns in Lifestyle Land Consumption and Chemical Use “A Part of Nature” or “Apart from Nature”

Does Degradation of Water Quality Impact Our Lives A Critical Question when arguing for Protection Drinking water from distant sources – reservoirs and watersheds Degradation impacts to distant places – Chesapeake Bay Local Impact to our Health – Are we paying a price to our health? Costs for treatment.

Study Collection of Water Quality Data in Area – Use of Fish to reflect long term water quality changes – Hitt and Hendryx 2010 Analyze Cancer Data from Cancer Registry in Area (Pooja Mehra – UVa Medical Student) – Calculation of cancer incidence based on reported cases per population of area. Look for correlations with Data – Simple regressions and ANOVA analysis

Electroshock the Fish

IBI MeasuresDescription Measure 1 – Total Fish Species This measurement decreases with increased overall degradation. Measurement 2 – Total number of darter species/relative percent of darter species to the total. This measure decreases with increasing sedimentation and decreased benthic oxygen supply. The many darter species found in our area are benthic insectivores living in riffles. Measurement 3 – Total number/relative percent of water column insectivores This number generally decreases with the loss of riparian vegetation. Measurement 4 – Total number/relative percent of pool- benthic insectivores. This is a measure of sedimentation and channelization as pool-benthic habitat increases. Measurement 5 – Total number/relative percent of intolerant species. This measure distinguishes high and moderate quality sites using species that are intolerant of various chemical and physical perturbations. Measurement 6 – Relative abundance of tolerant species This measurement increases with human influences. It is a general measure of degradation. Measurement 7 – Relative abundance of omnivores or generalist feeders The percent of omnivores in the community increases as the physical and chemical habitat deteriorates Measurement 8 – Relative abundance of top carnivores Systems with high integrity are able to support adequate (up to 10%) populations of sport fish piscivores Measurement 9 – Deviation from ideal or number of individuals in sample It is expressed as the deviation from an ideal community as measured throughout the region

Areas of Study

Cancer Type Correlation Coefficient Significance (p value) Total Breast Blood Urinary Genital Female Genital Male Respiratory Digestive Oral Table 1 – Correlation Coefficients and Statistical Significance of all cancer types tested in our study. A simple ANOVA was used to test significance.

Breast Cancer

Total Cancer

Blood

Implications

Breast Cancer Triggers and the Environment Risk factors for breast cancer: Early onset of menstruation Late menopause Hormone replacement therapy Birth control pills Exposure to certain chemicals, in plastics and pesticides Exposure to radiation 1.Xenoestrogens are chemicals that mimic estrogens. They can be found in lawn pesticides and certain types of plastic. 2.BPA is used in polycarbonate plastic bottles, lining of tin cans, and dental sealants. 3.Synthetic estrogen can disrupt a human’s endocrine system - DDT was the first “intentionally released” chemical to be found estrogenic.

Links to Suburban Lifestyle BPA Lawns and Pesticides DEA and TEA

Government Says 2 Common Materials Pose Risk of Cancer – June 2011 Formaldehyde Styrene

Conclusions Difficult to make direct links to cancer but the relationship exists. Our past work does link water quality degradation to destructive land use. This research provides a potential cancer link. Is there a community planning risk here? Do land use decisions impact our health through the creation of urban sprawl and suburbs forcing suburban lifestyle choices?

Environmental Improvements and Health Rejection of Suburban Lifestyle – Local unpackaged foods and beverages – Household and clothing goods – Lawns and household environments Broader solutions require changes in development patterns – Less land disturbance and consumption – Stream restoration – Clean energy and transportation