Linking Cancer Rates & Chemical Release in Florida GIS 5100 Trisha Holtzclaw Javier Leung

Introduction  Florida ranks 32 nd in the county for cancer mortality and 23 rd in the county for cancer incidence.  The Environmental Protection Agency reports that in the year 2002 the reported disposal or releases of toxic chemicals in the state of Florida was 275,357,753 pounds.  Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are home to six Federal Superfund sites, three of which are located in central Pensacola.

Hypotheses Ho: There is NO relationship between cancer mortality and chemical release H1: There is a Negative relationship between cancer mortality and chemical release Ho: There is NO relationship between cancer incidence and chemical release H1: There is a Negative relationship between cancer incidents and chemical release

Florida Counties Above the National Average Cancer Mortality Rate Below 206 per 100,000 persons Above 206 per 100,000 persons Above per 100,000 persons Below per 100,000 persons Findings part 1 Comparison of National and Florida Age-Adjusted Cancer Mortality and Incidence Rates Fourteen Florida counties were over the national age-adjusted cancer mortality rate of 206 per 100,000 persons. Sixteen Florida counties were over the Florida age-adjusted new cancer incidence rate of per 100,000 persons Counties Above the Florida Average Cancer Mortality Rate

Findings part 2 State-wide Toxic Chemical Release (in pounds) – Toxic Chemical Release (in pounds) Escambia county ranks 1 st in total chemicals released with 40,311,979 pounds per year

Findings part 3 Variables: Cancer Mortality & Chemical Release Escambia county ranks 16th in the state for mortality 0.0 – – Cancer mortality per 100,000 persons

Findings part 1 Correlation Model Variables: Cancer Mortality & Chemical Release MortChem Mort Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed).306 N65 Chem Pearson Correlation.1301 Sig. (2-tailed).306 N65

Findings part 4 Variables: Cancer Incidence & Chemical Release New cancer incidence per 100,000 persons Escambia county ranks 16th in the state for new cancer incidence

Findings part 2 ChemIncidence Chem Pearson Correlation 1.702(**) Sig. (2-tailed).000 N65 Incidence Pearson Correlation.702(**)1 Sig. (2-tailed).000 N65 ** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). Correlation Model Variables: Cancer Incidence & Chemical Release

Findings part 3 Regression Model Variables: Cancer Mortality & Chemical Release ModelRR Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1.130(a) a Predictors: (Constant), Chem

Findings part 3 ModelRR Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1.084(a) a Predictors: (Constant), Chem Regression Model Variables: Cancer Incidence & Chemical Release

Limitations & Conclusions Variables: Mortality & Chemical Release Correlation: Strength of the relationship is weak < 0 Regression: Chemical release not a single factor for cancer mortality predictor Variables: Incidence & Chemical Release Correlation: Strength of relationship is strong > 0.7 Regression: Chemical release not a single factor for cancer incidence predictor A correlation between the two variables has many limitations. These include health care access, income level, genetics, and population characteristics such as age, gender, and race.