The Relationship Between Environmental Pollution and the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer in Alabama's Black Belt...

The study objective is to determine whether certain known single and/or combinations of carcinogenic environmental toxicants released in the Black Belt Counties (BBCs) of Alabama are correlated to greater racial disparity in incidence and mortality of breast cancer between Blacks and Whites.

2018 EPA TRI Explore data, based on carcinogenic rating and breast cancer-causing potential, nine chemicals, and eight metals were selected in BBCs 2011-2015. Breast cancer incidence data was extracted from Surveillance Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) and calculated using SEER*Stat and joint point regression for two groups, Age-Adjusted Whites and Blacks, from 12 BBCs, 2011 - 2015. Linear Regression Model using SAS 9.4 to analyze the relationship between race, selected chemicals, and Metals.

34 % [(Coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.34)] of Blacks in BBCs were mostly affected by selected toxicants released, with 66% of variance remaining unexplained. 74% (R2 = 0.74) of Whites were most likely affected by the same toxicants, with 26% variance unexplained.

The lack of data from (Bullock, Macon, and Perry Counties) made it difficult to correctly establish a relationship between toxicants and the risk of development of breast cancer among Blacks in BBCs. The lack of data highlights the need for advocacy for better monitoring and assessment systems providing evidence-based research.