Abstract
This paper presents a spatial analysis of the association between industrial benzene emissions and the 10-year incidence rates of cancers likely to be associated with benzene exposure (Lymphohematopoietic, lung and lip cancers) at the county level in Texas. The spatial distribution of incident cases of the above cancers between 2004 and 2013 was assessed at the county level and found to have positive spatial auto-correlation. Subsequently, point pattern analysis was performed on industrial emissions of benzene reported to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), revealing a non-random spatial pattern. Universal kriging was performed using the industrial emissions data to derive estimates of ambient benzene levels at the county level. An ordinary linear regression model was fitted using the incidence rates as the outcome and the estimated benzene level along with chosen covariates and the residuals were assessed for lingering spatial auto-correlation. As the residuals showed that spatial auto-correlation persists, a spatial conditional auto-regression (CAR) model was fitted instead. In the spatial CAR linear regression model, estimated levels of ambient benzene were not found to be significantly associated with the 10-year incidence rates of lymphohematopoietic, lung and lip cancers at the county level.
Highlights
Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death both worldwide and in the United States.While incidence and mortality rates are both dropping in the United States, primarily attributed to reductions in smoking, the burden of the disease remains extremely high
A colorless liquid compound historically used in the printing industry as a component of inks as well as being a starting material in the chemical and drug industries has been implicated in the causation of several types of leukemia and other blood-related cancers [2]
Spatial Auto-Correlation of Incidence Rates. These cancer incidence rates were assessed for spatial auto-correlation using the two standard tests of global auto-correlation, Moran’s I statistic [12] and Geary’s C statistic [13]
Summary
Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death both worldwide and in the United States. While incidence and mortality rates are both dropping in the United States, primarily attributed to reductions in smoking, the burden of the disease remains extremely high. Several natural and artificial substances have been found to be carcinogenic in humans. A colorless liquid compound historically used in the printing industry as a component of inks as well as being a starting material in the chemical and drug industries (as a component in rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, and pesticides) has been implicated in the causation of several types of leukemia and other blood-related cancers [2]. Since being identified as a human carcinogen, non-industrial use of benzene has been limited. Industrial processes continue to release large amounts of benzene into the atmosphere, creating potential exposures for workers and the public at large
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