RESIDENCE PROXIMITY TO BENZENE RELEASE SITES IN GEORGIA AND NON- HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA Open Access

Abstract

Background: The incidence rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has increased dramatically since the 1970s. This may be due to increased industrial production in the U.S., which has increased exposures to industrial chemicals. Benzene is one such chemical that is a known carcinogen and has been linked to various blood disorders. Increased risk of NHL has been observed in persons occupationally exposed to benzene, but the risk among persons living near benzene release sites has been less studied. The purpose of this study was to use data collected by the Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry (GCCR) to investigate the spatial patterns of NHL incidence and the association between NHL incidence and distance to benzene release sites.

Methods: We used population data from the U.S. Census and identified benzene release site locations from the EPAs Toxics Release Inventory. NHL cases were aggregated to census tracts. We performed Poisson regression on NHL incidence rates, using the mean distance between the tracts centroids and release sites as a marker of exposure. We mapped standardized incidence ratios by census tract to examine spatial patterns. Cluster analyses were conducted at the global, local, and focal levels.

Results: Local clusters of high standardized incidence ratios were identified in the metro-Atlanta area. Significant focal clustering of incidence rates was identified surrounding fourteen of the nineteen benzene release sites. The mean distance of census tract centroids from benzene release sites had a weak protective effect on NHL incidence, with an approximate 0.4% decrease in incidence for every mile the mean distance increased.

Conclusions: Increased mean distance of census tract centroid from release sites was associated with decreased NHL incidence. Clusters of NHL were significantly spatially associated with benzene release sites located in the metropolitan Atlanta area, but not with release sites in other areas of the state.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma 1
Benzene Toxicity 2
Latency 3
Epidemiologic Studies of Benzene Exposure and Disease 4

METHODS
Benzene Release Site Data 6
Census Tract Population and Demographic Data 7
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Data 8
Geographic Data 9
Spatial Analyses 9
Statistical Analyses 11
Poisson Regression Analyses 11
IRB Approval 12

RESULTS 13

DISCUSSION 16

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 18

FUTURE DIRECTIONS 20

REFERENCES 21

TABLES 23

FIGURES 31

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Global Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Environmental Sciences Health Sciences, Oncology Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	epidemiology non-Hodgkin's lymphoma GIS
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	McClellan, William, Emory University
Committee Members	Flowers, Christopher R, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Does not apply (no collaborating organization)

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