Linking Cancer Rates

& Chemic

al Release

in Florida

GIS 5100Trisha

HoltzclawJavier Leung

IntroductionFlorida ranks 32nd in the county for cancer mortality and 23rd 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.

HypothesesHo: 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 100,000persons

Above 206 per 100,000 persons

Above 201.2 per 100,000persons

Below 201.2 per 100,000 persons

Findings part 1Comparison of National and Florida Age-Adjusted

Cancer Mortality and Incidence Rates

•Fourteen Florida counties were over the national age-adjusted cancer mortalityrate of 206 per 100,000 persons.

•Sixteen Florida counties were over the Florida age-adjusted new cancer incidencerate of 201.2 per 100,000 persons

Counties Above the Florida Average Cancer Mortality Rate

Findings part 2State-wide Toxic Chemical Release (in pounds)

0.0 - 102948

102949 – 583791

583792 - 4133772

4133773 - 40311979

Toxic Chemical Release(in pounds)

Escambia county ranks 1st in total chemicalsreleased with 40,311,979pounds per year

Findings part 3Variables: Cancer Mortality & Chemical Release

Escambia county ranks 16th in the state for mortality

0.0 – 154.1

154.2 – 178.5

178.6- 195.3

195.4- 209.3

209.4- 394.6

Cancer mortality per 100,000 persons

Findings part 1Correlation Model

Variables: Cancer Mortality & Chemical Release

Mort Chem

Mort

Pearson Correlation 1 .130

Sig. (2-tailed) .306

N 65 65

Chem

Pearson Correlation .130 1

Sig. (2-tailed) .306

N 65 65

Findings part 4Variables: Cancer Incidence & Chemical Release

0 - 144

144.1 - 351

351.1 - 916

916.1 - 2835

2835.1 - 10850

New cancer incidenceper 100,000 persons

Escambia county ranks16th in the state for new cancer incidence

Findings part 2

Chem Incidence

Chem

Pearson Correlation 1 .702(**)

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 65 65

Incidence

Pearson Correlation .702(**) 1

Sig. (2-tailed) .000

N 65 65

** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

Correlation ModelVariables: Cancer Incidence & Chemical Release

Findings part 3Regression Model

Variables: Cancer Mortality & Chemical Release

Model R R Square Adjusted R Square

Std. Error of the Estimate

1 .130(a) .017 .001 846.988

a Predictors: (Constant), Chem

Findings part 3

Model R R Square Adjusted R Square

Std. Error of the Estimate

1 .084(a) .007 -.009 849.610

a Predictors: (Constant), Chem

Regression ModelVariables: Cancer Incidence & Chemical Release

Limitations & ConclusionsVariables: Mortality & Chemical ReleaseCorrelation: Strength of the relationship is weak < 0Regression: Chemical release not a single factor for cancer mortality predictor

Variables: Incidence & Chemical ReleaseCorrelation: Strength of relationship is strong > 0.7Regression: 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.