Lung Cancer in Kentucky - Environmental/Occupational Factor

This application proposes to assess lung cancer risk posed by hazardous environmental or occupational exposures, thereby addressing public concerns that have persisted for nearly three decades. In Western Jefferson County, Calvert City, Paducah and Ashland there are multiple chemical facilities implying potential local, lung cancer risk. Portions of these communities are economically disadvantaged and/or minority populations that represent substantive considerations with regard to environmental justice and pose an opportunity to examine the interaction of ambient pollution with cultural/social deprivation as a determinant of health disparities from lung cancer risk. In Jefferson County, active community-based coalitions for both cancer control and environmental concerns represent model opportunities for effective risk communication. We specifically aim to: [1] Link environmental databases of lung cancer incidence and mortality, with relevant hazardous exposure geographic data layers; [2] Investigate causal relationships between hazardous occupational and environmental exposures with .selected or sentinel lung cancer outcomes (specifically pleural cancer), among specific populations (e.g., non-smoking women, African- Americans); [3] Perform innovative statistical analyses to assess the impact of specific hazardous environmental exposures with lung cancer outcomes; particularly assessing the confounding by sociodemographic factors [e.g., determinants for smoking prevalence, factors associated with reduced health care utilization] among 'exposed' communities and workers; and finally, [4] Develop from these analyses, model elements for communicating reliable and understandable information regarding environmental and occupational risk of lung cancer to Kentucky citizens. 1/28/03