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Public Meeting: MDPH Activities in South Weymouth and Neighboring Communities

Investigating suspected cancer increases near NAS and possible environmental contamination links in Rockland, Weymouth, Abington, and Hingham, MA from 1982-1998. Study evaluates risk factors, geographic patterns, and statistical findings.

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Public Meeting: MDPH Activities in South Weymouth and Neighboring Communities

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  1. Public Meeting:MDPH Activities in South Weymouth and Neighboring Communities Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment Massachusetts Department of Public Health February 13, 2002

  2. Assessment of Cancer Incidence in Rockland, Weymouth, Abington, and Hingham, MA 1982-1998 Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment Massachusetts Department of Public Health February 13, 2002

  3. Reason for Investigation • Concerns about increased cancer near the NAS • Requests by: • Senator Michael Morrissey, • Weymouth Board of Health, and • Concerned residents in Rockland, Weymouth, Abington, and Hingham Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  4. Community Cancer Concerns • Suspected increases in cancer in the four towns • Possible link to environmental contamination present at NAS • Suspected increases in cancer in other areas of the four towns unrelated to NAS Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  5. Investigative Approach • Calculate cancer rates for each town and by smaller areas (census tracts) • Evaluate available cancer risk factor information • Evaluate geographic patterns of cancer in each town • Evaluate patterns of cancer in relation to environmental sources (particularly NAS) Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  6. Massachusetts Cancer Registry • Population-based surveillance system established in 1982 • Massachusetts law requires reporting of all newly diagnosed primary cancers in Mass. residents • Confidential database Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  7. Bladder Brain Kidney Leukemia Liver Lung Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) Pancreas Eight Cancer Types Evaluated Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  8. Cancer Data Evaluated • 1982-1998 • Three smaller time periods • 1982-1986 • 1987-1994 • 1995-1998 Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  9. Statistical Methods • Standardized Incidence Ratio Observed # of cases SIR = x 100 Expected # of cases • 95% Confidence Interval Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  10. Summary of Major Findings • The majority of cancer types evaluated occurred at or near the expected rates in the four towns and in their census tracts • Lung cancer was statistically significantly elevated in three of the four towns Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  11. Summary of Major Findings • In Weymouth, leukemia and pancreatic cancer were statistically significantly elevated in some time periods • Some isolated elevations in cancer types occurred in some census tracts during certain time periods Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  12. Statistically Significant Findings • Lung cancer elevated in Weymouth, Abington, and Rockland • Lung cancer lower than expected in Hingham • Pancreatic cancer elevated in Weymouth during 1982-1986 • Leukemia elevated in Weymouth during 1987-1994 Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  13. Lung Cancer Incidence in Weymouth, MA Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  14. Lung Cancer Incidence inRockland, MA Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  15. Lung Cancer Incidence inAbington, MA Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  16. Lung Cancer Incidence inHingham, MA Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  17. Factors Considered • Cancer may be caused by one or many different factors • Review of MCR data on cancer risk factors • age/gender • smoking history • occupation Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  18. Lung Cancer Risk Factors • Age • Smoking • Second-hand smoke • Occupation/environmental exposures Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  19. Review of Risk Factors:Lung Cancer • Age and gender patterns did not appear unusual • Workplace exposures may have played a role in some diagnoses • Majority of those with lung cancer were current or former smokers Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  20. Smoking History: Lung Cancer Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  21. Smoking History: Lung Cancer Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  22. Smoking History: Lung Cancer Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  23. Smoking History: Lung Cancer Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  24. Cancer Rates by Census Tract • SIRs were also calculated for the census tracts that subdivide each of the four towns • 8 CTs in Weymouth • 3 CTs in Abington • 3 CTs in Hingham • 2 CTs in Rockland Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  25. rate = or < expected rate > expected rate statistically significantly > expected Lung Cancer Incidence 1982-1986

  26. rate = or < expected rate > expected rate statistically significantly > expected Lung Cancer Incidence 1987-1994

  27. rate = or < expected rate > expected rate statistically significantly > expected Lung Cancer Incidence 1995-1998

  28. Pancreatic Cancer Incidence in Weymouth, MA Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  29. rate = or < expected rate > expected rate statistically significantly > expected Pancreatic Cancer Incidence 1982-1986

  30. Review of Risk Factors:Pancreatic Cancer • Age patterns were as expected • More women than men were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer • Workplace exposures possible • Smoking may have played an important role for some individuals Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  31. Smoking History: Pancreatic Cancer Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  32. Leukemia Incidence in Weymouth, MA Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  33. rate = or < expected rate > expected rate statistically significantly > expected Leukemia Incidence 1987-1994

  34. Review of Risk Factors: Leukemia • Age and gender patterns did not appear unusual • A variety of different leukemia subtypes were reported • Workplace exposures may have played a role in some diagnoses Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  35. Evaluation of Geographic Distribution • Place of residence at time of diagnosis was mapped for each individual • Patterns of individuals diagnosed with cancer were evaluated spatially • Other factors that may indicate a cluster were considered Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  36. Community Environmental Concerns • Naval Air Station • Potentially hazardous waste sites (21E sites) • Weymouth Neck Landfill • Specific community environmental concerns in Weymouth and Hingham • Suburban Auto and two landfills in Rockland Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  37. Sources of Environmental Information • ATSDR Public Health Assessment • Environmental Baseline Study • ATSDR Private Well Survey • Modeled Flight Track Patterns • Recent Investigations in NW corner of NAS Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  38. Summary of Geographic Distribution Analysis • With the exception of lung cancer, no consistent spatial patterns were observed in any one area of the four towns • The geographic pattern of cancer did not show a clear pattern suggesting a common environmental exposure related to the NAS • Patterns of cancer near other areas of community environmental concern were not atypical Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  39. rate = or < expected rate > expected rate statistically significantly > expected Lung Cancer Incidence 1995-1998

  40. Conclusions • Majority of cancer types occurred at or near the expected rates in the four towns between 1982-1998 • Lung cancer is increasing in Weymouth and Rockland, particularly in CTs near the NAS • Evaluation of risk factors showed smoking likely played a role in increased lung cancer rates • Occupation also played a role in lung cancer for some individuals Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

  41. Conclusions (cont.) • With the exception of lung cancer, patterns by census tract showed no consistent elevations of cancer over time • The geographic pattern of cancer did not show a clear pattern suggesting a common environmental exposure related to the NAS Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment

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