title: A geographical analysis of breast cancer clustering in southern Ontario: generating hypotheses on environmental influences.
abstract: This article presents the results of spatial analysis of breast cancer clustering in southern Ontario. Data from the Cancer Care Ontario were analyzed using the Scan Statistic at the level of county, with further analysis conducted within counties that were identified as primary clusters at the dissemination area level. The results identified five counties as primary clusters of women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1986 and 2002: Essex (relative risk [RR] =1.096-1.061; p<0.001), Lambton (RR=1.05-1.167), Chatham-Kent (RR=1.133-1.191), Niagara (RR=1.228-1.290) and Toronto (RR=1.152-1.146). The within county analysis revealed several DAs with significantly higher (RR>3, p<0.05) rates of breast cancer, and supports our hypothesis that breast cancer risk in southern Ontario may be associated with industrial and environmental (such as pesticides) pollutants. Further research is needed to verify the environmental links within the identified clusters.
authors: Department of Geography, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. luginaah@uwo.ca
authors: Isaac N
authors: IN
authors: Luginaah
authors: Kevin M
authors: KM
authors: Gorey
authors: Tor H
authors: TH
authors: Oiamo
authors: Kathy X
authors: KX
authors: Tang
authors: Eric J
authors: EJ
authors: Holowaty
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Hamm
authors: Frances C
authors: FC
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D012307:Risk Factors; D019371:Topography, Medical
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides