Statistical Relationship Between Dieldrin Contamination Areas and Breast Cancer Rates in Florida

STATISTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIELDRIN CONTAMINATION AREAS AND BREAST CANCER RATES IN FLORIDA A PAPER SUBMITTED FOR COMPLETION OF SENIOR RESEARCH FOR THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES STETSON UNIVERSITY BY JAMES J. RAINEY III IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE(S) OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ADVISOR Dr. Jason M. Evans, Ph.D. MAY 2017 i CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................... iiiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................... iError! Bookmark not defined. ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. v INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 4 METHODS ................................................................................................................................................ 11 RESULTS .................................................................................................................................................. 16 CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................. 20 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................................ 23 WORK CITED........................................................................................................................................... 28 ii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Dieldrin Contamination Map......................................................................................... 12 Figure 2: Florida Breast Cancer Incidence Map ........................................................................... 13 Figure 3:Florida Breast Cancer Mortality Map ............................................................................ 14 Figure 4: Scatterplot on Incidence ............................................................................................... 17 Figure 5: Scatterplot on Mortality................................................................................................. 19 iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1: APPENDIX Compiled Data…………………………………………………………23 Table 2: Incidence Data………………………………………………………………………16 Table 3: Mortality Data………………………………………………………………………18 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Evans for being my research professor and advisor. I would like to give thanks to Dr. Anderson for being my overall project mentor throughout the year. I would also like to give thanks to Dr. Gunn for help with the public health analysis portion of my project. Additionally, I would like to thank the Volusia County Health Department for the idea, use of map suggestions, and source searching. Finally, I would like to thank Lisa Nowell for helping me out and giving me the raw data from her project. v ABSTRACT Many risk factors are associated between an individual and breast cancer, which are typically sourced to poor environmental qualities, and active agents that affect the human body (Snedecker 2001). Dieldrin is an organochlorine pesticide that has the ability to stay in the environment for decades, move throughout the food chain, and has a number of negative human health effects (ASTDR 2002). Dieldrin was completely banned from the United States in 1987 after the EPA conducted an experiment with mice and classified the pesticide as a 2B carcinogen (VCHD 2012). This created a lot of public fear towards the effects that dieldrin had on humans. A retrospective cohort study by Snedecker had evidence to believe that dieldrin was the cause of breast cancer with Danish women being tested. This led me to hypothesize that among women, there is an association between dieldrin contamination areas and breast cancer rates in Florida counties. After running regression analysis tests, I did not find any significant results or any positive relationship between the two categories. This leads me into looking at other factors that contribute to breast cancer, health effects from other pesticides, and the different negative implications that dieldrin has already done to the environment. 1 INTRODUCTION Organochlorines are chlorinated hydrocarbons that were typically used for agricultural use and pesticide control (DHSS 2015). “Many of the confirmed organochlorines include DDT, dieldrin, chlordane, toxaphene, mirex, kepone, lindane, and benzene hexachloride, all of which are also neurotoxins that were banned in the United States for their negative health effects” (DHSS 2015). All organochlorines have the ability to be persistent within the environment for a long period of time, as well as being able to stay within the body of animal fats and tissue (DHSS 2015). Dieldrin is a complicated organochlorine that has been studied and tested many times for its effects on the environment and on human health. “Dieldrin is a metabolized form of Aldrin and was used as a pesticide against locusts, termites, and several tropical disease vectors” (NCIB 2017). Dieldrin is not produced naturally in the environment, rather aldrin is made in a laboratory, then in its white powder form, is exposed into the environment where it is broken down within the soil to form dieldrin (NCIB 2017). The primary crop that dieldrin was used on was corn and on areas that are vulnerable to the listed insects (NCIB 2017). “Dieldrin can be found in the soil around houses that used it to kill termites as well as in plants and animals that are within hazard waste sites” (ASTDR 2002). Dieldrin cannot dissolve in water and has been shown to travel long distances in plumes (ASTDR 2002). “Plants absorb dieldrin and store it within their roots and leaves; animals that eat or drink dieldrin have it stored within their fats and tissue”(ASTDR 2002). This is an issue because there seems to be a cycle with the food chain from plants, to animals, to waste, and back to plants. Dieldrin has shown significant human health effects that were the primary reason for its regulation and restriction. “The minor effects from dieldrin are headaches, nausea, and vomiting; 2 however, the major effects include convulsions, nervous system damage, and kidney failure”(ASTDR 2002). Due to these confirmed effects, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted an experiment with mice on equivalent dosages of dieldrin that humans were ingesting (ASTDR 2002). “During the mice- exposure study, it was found that the subjects developed liver cancer tumors and concluded that dieldrin was a Class 2B Carcinogen within humans, which means it is a probable cause for cancer’’(ASTDR 2002). “In 1974, the EPA banned all used from aldrin and dieldrin, expect for the use of killing termites; this changed in 1987, when manufacturers canceled the use of dieldrin for termite control” (ASTDR 2002). All of this was the start to creating the regulation of 0.002 ug/L as the Health Advisory Level (HAL) of dieldrin (ASTDR 2002). Since then, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has re-classified dieldrin as a Class 2A Carcinogen, which means there is a higher probability of the substance causing cancer (WHO 2017). Even though dieldrin was completely banned, it created a problem about a decade later within the Country Club Estates of DeLand, Florida. According to the Volusia County Health Department, there were 116 houses within the Estates that had their drinking wells tested for dieldrin and exceeded the HAL of 0.002 ug/L (VCHD 2012). The reason for the testing was from several residents that reported health problems, which the Volusia Health County Department believed to be from the water. “Due to the construction of a CVS Pharmacy, there was a breach to the sinkhole, which leaked several tons of soil, contaminated with dieldrin, into the aquifer that the Country Club wells took water from’’(Pulver 2012). Prior to CVS, the location housed an Aaron’s Pest Control facility that used dieldrin on the golf course in the past, when it was legal, was reason to believe that area’s soil is contaminated with dieldrin (Pulver 2012). Many residents tried to claim money from lawsuits to cover medical expenses for their health issues, 3 but there was not enough evidence for them to get a definitive conclusion; instead, the city helped install filters and connect others to the city pipes, but many residents there believe that dieldrin was the reason for many health problems, including cancer (Pulver 2012). Many others were also concerned about the relationship between dieldrin exposure and cancer. There was one cohort study that showed a positive relationship between dieldrin and breast cancer within several Danish women (Snedecker 2001). “It was already known that breast milk and estrogen were key places to locate dieldrin concentrations. Once they were found in high amounts, it was concluded that the pesticide was a contributor to breast cancer in the women studied” (Snedecker 2001). ‘’The American Cancer society estimated that over 182,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and one-in-every-four women will die of it; this is due to the risk factors such as age, genetics, and environmental factors, which does include pesticides” (Snedecker 2001). Breast cancer is not only one of the most common cancers in the United States, but is also one of the most mortality-contributing cancers listed (Mitral 2017). Gathering all of this information led me to developing my hypothesis about the pesticide and the effects towards human health. I hypothesize that among women, there is a significant relationship between dieldrin contamination areas and breast cancer rates in Florida. 4 LITERATURE REVIEW 1. A. S. T. D. R. 2002, January. Toxic Substances Portal - Aldrin/Dieldrin. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=315&tid=56. -This source was the best information to find about dieldrin health effects on humans and how it is involved in contamination to the environment. 2. Antwi, S., Eckert, E., Sabaque, C., Leof, E. 2015. Exposure to environmental chemicals and heavy metals, and risk of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Causes & Control, Vol 26(11), Nov, 2015. pp. 1583-1591. -This article was mainly used to highlight why using heavy metals as an intervention to environmental chemicals, such as pesticides, can cause more harm than resolving the issue. 3. Cameron, H., Foster, W. 2008. Dieldrin promotes resistance to anoikis in breast cancer cells in vitro. In Reproductive Toxicology 2008 25(2):256-262. -According to this article, dieldrin may be the cause to the resistance of anoikis, which is what would fight off the breast cancer cells; this makes breast cancer much more dangerous for somebody who is exposed to dieldrin. I found this article interesting and useful for my project because it is emphasizing a certain type of cancer and the underlying cause being dieldrin. 4. CDC. 2009. Breast Cancer Data. CDC. https://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/map/map.withimage.php?00&157&001&2&01&0&1&5#results. 5 -This was the CDC’s website to generate a map with data for breast cancer incidence rates and mortality rates; it was a crucial source to my project. 5. D. H. S. S. 2015, January. Organochlorine Pesticides. http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/files/organochlorpestfaq.pdf. -This source was important for explaining the different kind of organochlorines, where they come from, and effects they have on humans. 6. Fischer, M. 04, 2016. Iron-induced reductive dechlorination: a sustainable remedial strategy to cleanup legacy dieldrin impacted groundwater. (http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.4/8995) -This study was taken for the cleaning up of dieldrin contamination using iron. Seeing this study has me believe that there is more to a dieldrin and cancer relationship, but it is not direct. I used this article to see the interventions taken towards dieldrin cleanup. 7. Fry, D. M. 1995, October. Reproductive effects in birds exposed to pesticides and industrial chemicals. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1518881/. -This article was important to see the effects of reproduction to birds from dieldrin to highlight the danger it has to wildlife and the environment. 8. Hooker, E., Fulcher, K., Gibb, H. 2002. Aldrin and Dieldrin: A Reevaluation of the Cancer and Noncancerous Dose-Response Assessments. Vol. 34, pp.865-78. -This article was perfect for my senior research because it explained a dose-response assessment that was used to determine if aldrin and dieldrin were carcinogenic or not. 6 9. Hoyer, P., Grandjean, P., Jorgensen, T., Brock, J., Hartvig, H. 1988. Organochlorine exposure and risk of breast cancer. Lancet. Vol. 352 Issue 9143, p1816-1820. 5p. -Dieldrin, like many other pesticides, is classified as an organochlorine. This article aims towards the association of organochlorines and their negative effect on breast cancer. ‘’ Some organochlorine compounds may have weak oestrogenic effects and are, therefore, suspected of increasing the risk of breast cancer’’(Hoyer et. al 1988). Knowing that there was a ban of dieldrin in 1987 from the EPA, I find it interesting how this article states that weak effects are given off as an oestrgenic effect, which risks breast cancer, and brings concern because my research focuses on the over-exposure of dieldrin. 10. Jorgenson, L. 2001. Aldrin and Dieldrin: A Review of Research on Their Production, Environmental, Deposition, and Fate, Bioaccumulation, Toxicology, and Epidemiology in the United States. Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 109. P.113-139. -When viewing this article, it was clear that there was a study conducted that tries to point out dieldrin as a harmful pesticide to the human body that may cause effects like cancer. 11. Kobetz, E., and D. Parker. 2010, June. Cancer Data for South Florida: A Tool for Identifying Communities in Need. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. http://sylvester.org/documents/UM-HFSF_cancer_late_stage_report_100810.pdf. -This source was an excellent insight on how data for cancer can be retrieved at a zip code boundary range. 12. Kokouva, M., Bitsolas, N., Hadjigeorgiou, G., Rachiotis, G., Papadoulis, N., Hadjichristodoulou, C. 2011. Pesticide exposure and lymphohaematopoietic cancers: a 7 case-control study in an agricultural region (Larissa, Thessaly, Greece). BMC Public Health. 2011, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p1-9. -This article is trying to find an association between lymphohaematopoietic cancers and pesticides. Even though the focus is not on dieldrin, I like the approach that was taken in this study in order to find the relationship. 13. KyleConverter. Convert Milligrams Per Liter to Pounds Per Acre-foot. Accessed April 2017. http://www.kylesconverter.com/density/milligrams-per-liter-to-pounds-per-acre--foot. -This was the calculator tool I used to convert ug/L to pounds per acre. 14. lavanja C., Ross M.K., Bonner M.R. 2013. Increased cancer burden among pesticide applicators and others due to pesticide exposure. CA: A Cancer Journal For Clinicians [CA Cancer J Clin] 2013 Mar-Apr; Vol. 63 (2), pp. 120-42. -This article focuses on the burdens that are caused in humans due to chemical products that are used and exposed under certain conditions.’’ A growing number of well-designed epidemiological and molecular studies provide substantial evidence that the pesticides used in agricultural, commercial, and home and garden applications are associated with excess cancer risk’’(Iavanja et al. 2013). With this study, I can possibly branch out to commercial or agricultural assistance. 15. Mitral. Top 5 Common Types of Cancer. Accessed April, 2017. http://www.mitral.com/health-articles/top-5-common-types-cancer.php. -This source helped me identify the most common types of cancer by state and country. 8 16. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Dieldrin. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed April 28, 2017. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/dieldrin#section=Top. -This source highlighted important information pertaining to the properties of dieldrin. 17. Nowell, L., Crawford, C., Nakagaki, N., Thelin, G., Wolock, D. 2006. Regression Model for Explaining and Predicting Concentrations of Dieldrin in Whole Fish from United States Streams. USGS. https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5020/index.html. -This study was the baseline to my entire project. This is the source to my dieldrin contamination map, and the measurements included within it. Without this source, my project would not have been possible. 18. Pesticide Action Network. Cancer: The Pesticide Problem. Pesticide Action Network of North America. Accessed April 2017. http://www.panna.org/human-health-harms/cancer. -This source helps identify the dangers of pesticides and the groups of people that are most at risk. 19. Pulver, D. 2012, August 15. State sets public meeting for DeLand residents for pesticide report. Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20120716/state-sets-public-meeting-for-deland-residents-for-pesticide-report. -This article was the perfect source for finding out information on the Country Club Estates. The point of view of residents, the facts about the dieldrin contamination, and the solution to the issue was all listed in this article. 9 20. Salzman, J., and B. H. Thompson. 2014. Environmental law and policy. Foundation Press. New York. -This book was the perfect souce for identifying the clean water act regulations that were violated in reference to dieldrin contamination. 21. Snedeker, S. M. 2001, March. Pesticides and breast cancer risk: a review of DDT, DDE, and dieldrin. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240541/. - This was the “Golden Study” that helped me come up with my hypothesis on a relationship between dieldrin and breast cancer, that is because this is what the article had evidence towards. 22. Stern, A. H. 2014. Hazard identification of the potential for dieldrin carcinogenicity to humans. Environmental Research. Volume 131. Pages 188–214.According to this article, there is a reassessment conducted that involves trying to form a connection between the exposure to dieldrin and cancer in humans. -The article focuses on the basic history on dieldrin and its ban by the USEPA along with the basic understanding of dieldrin as a ‘’common contaminant at hazardous waste sites, even though it was completely eliminated in 1987’’(Stern 2014). For my project, I want to use sources that understand the basic history about dieldrin’s ban; I believe this article is perfect to assist in my research because it also highlights the fact that the pesticide is commonly released onto areas that develop hazardous waste. 23. U. S. G. S. 2014. Concentrations of Dieldrin in Fish. USGS. https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/home_maps/dieldrin_fish.html. 10 -This map helped visualize ad explain the contamination of fish from dieldrin and why it is an issue. 24. V. C. H. D. 2012. Environmental Health. http://volusia.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/local-investigations/dieldrin.html. -This website helped me understand the scientific facts behind the Country Club investigation involving dieldrin contamination in water wells. 25. W. H. O. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Accessed April 2017. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/latest_classif.php. -This website allowed me to clarify that dieldrin moved up to a 2A carcinogen class, which makes it more of a hazard than it was originally known for. 11 METHODOLOGY To begin this project, the priority was to gather data on Florida’s dieldrin contamination reports. Once USGS was contacted about a specific report named ‘’Regression Model for Explaining and Predicting Concentrations of Dieldrin in Whole Fish from United States Streams’’, the main author of the report, Lisa Nowell, provided an explanation on the information given. The team in charge of this report gathered dieldrin contamination data from testing soil and bodies of water where the pesticide was used against insects and how it affected fish and wildlife in the area (Nowell et al. 2006). Ms. Nowell agreed to help with the relationship to the project, so she emailed an Excel file that lists each county with the sites of dieldrin contamination. This data was compiled, sorted, and stored in in Table 1 (Located in APPENDIX) in order to list the county names with average dieldrin contamination amounts. Once the data for the dieldrin was gathered in Excel, ArcMap in GIS was used to search for Florida counties and joined the two sets of data together by county name. After touching up the formation of the data, it resulted in the following map for dieldrin contamination areas within Florida: 12 Figure 1: This map was generated using the dieldrin contamination areas by county in Florida (Nowell et. al 2006) and averaged. Each contamination region is measured in Pounds per Acre as the report listed it originally. After completing the dieldrin contamination map, there was information gathered from the CDC’s website for State Cancer Profiles on rates. Here, I located the state of Florida, placed the correct information such as type of cancer (breast), age group (none for unbiased results), and gender (female). I generated a map that listed the incidence rates among women in the state of 13 Florida. After I created the map, I extracted the Excel data and placed it in Table 1 (Located in APPENDIX) for regression testing later on. Figure 2: This map was generated by the State Cancer Profile’s website using the data of breast cancer incidence rates among all races and all ages of women in the state of Florida (CDC 2009). After completing the incidence map, I continued within the CDC’s website for State Cancer Profiles on rates. Here, I located the state of Florida, placed in the correct information such as type of cancer (breast), age group (none for unbiased results), and gender (female). I generated a map that listed the mortality rates among women in the state of Florida. After I created the map, I extracted the Excel data and placed it in Table 1 as well (Located in APPENDIX) for regression testing later on. 14 Figure 3: This map was generated by the State Cancer Profile’s website using the data of breast cancer mortality rates among all races and all ages of women in the state of Florida (CDC 2009). Now that the three maps were created (Dieldrin contamination, cancer incidence, and cancer mortality), I wanted to see if there was any visual association between the maps, and a regression analysis with the extracted data from these maps to draw any conclusions. The next step was running a regression analysis on dieldrin contamination and Florida breast cancer incidence rates, as well as dieldrin contamination and Florida breast cancer mortality rates. The overall purpose of the relationship with dieldrin contamination and breast cancer is to gain further knowledge on the negative human health effects from pesticides. Another important goal I have for this project is to raise awareness on the health dangers from dieldrin; additionally, 15 there is hope for more studies to come to dieldrin and any other health effects it may have on people at high concentrations. 16 RESULTS According to Snedecker’s report, two important aspects on the relationship between dieldrin exposure and breast cancer confirmation is information on incidence rates and mortality rates among the women being studied (Snedecker 2001). For my project, I ran two separate tests with regression and plotted the key data points to determine a relationship. The first regression analysis is between the dieldrin contamination areas and breast cancer incidence rates. Looking at Figure 1 and Figure 2, there seems to be a visual association between the two maps; areas of breast cancer are also areas of “above average” dieldrin contamination. Table 2: This table represents the statistical analysis of the dieldrin contamination areas in Florida and the breast cancer incidence rates among women. According to the table, the R Square is 0.0066, which indicates a weak relationship between the two factors. Since the P value is 0.514 and greater than 0.05, there is no evidence to support any relationship between dieldrin contamination and breast cancer incidence rates in Florida. 17 Figure 4: This figure represents the scatterplot of the information in Table 2. There is no significant relationship that is supported towards dieldrin contamination and breast cancer incidence rates. For the mortality rate regression test, it the dieldrin contamination areas and breast cancer mortality rates were placed into the dieldrin concentration average groups. This was done because looking at a visual association between the two factors in Figure 1 and Figure 3 was difficult with missing data in the mortality rates in several counties (Figure 3). 18 Table 3: This table represents the statistical analysis of the dieldrin contamination areas in Florida and the breast cancer mortality rate averages among women. According to the table, the R Square is 0.68, which indicates a relationship between the two factors. However, since the P value is 0.0845 and greater than 0.05, there is no evidence to support any relationship between dieldrin contamination and breast cancer mortality rates in Florida. 19 Figure 5: This figure represents the scatterplot of the information in Table 3. There is no significant relationship that is supported towards dieldrin contamination and breast cancer mortality average rates even though there seems to be a relationship between them due to the R Square. 20 CONCLUSION/ DISCUSSION The results from both Table 2 and Figure 4 involve the analysis between dieldrin contamination areas and breast cancer incidence rates. Because the P value was greater than 0.05, there is no evidence towards a relationship between the two factors. Interestingly enough though, the scatterplot graph in Figure 4 shows a patterned dispersion among the dieldrin concentrations. It seems that with the higher the concentration becomes for dieldrin contamination areas, the two spectrum areas of breast cancer incidence rates also appear; the higher and lower range amounts of breast cancer incidence rates are present in high dieldrin contamination areas. The results from Table 3 and Figure 5 involve the analysis between dieldrin contamination areas and breast cancer mortality rates. Similarly to the test before, there is a P Value that is greater than 0.05, so it cannot have a significance. However, what is interesting about the scatterplot graph in Figure 5 is the R Square value of 0.683, which indicates a relationship is present among the data. Even though the map on dieldrin contamination on Figure 1 with the maps on breast cancer rates (incidence and mortality) on Figure 2 and Figure 3 seems to have a visual association and relationship, it did not seem to show any supporting results according to the analysis testing. This may seem like it was a failure, but it only opened discussion on more questions and concerns about pesticides and cancer. There are several questions that arose from this project that can be the starting line for future projects to begin with. However, there are many improvements that could be produced to help take this project even further. It would have been much clearer on data if what was given to me had information 21 on zip codes; this accounts for both dieldrin contamination and breast cancer rates in Florida. A previous study concentrated on the county zip code boundaries of Monroe, Broward, and Miami-Dade to observe the incidence rates of breast and colorectal cancer (Kobetz 2010). I believe that there is a way to replicate this project without compromising the confidential information of the individuals within the study area; this can be done with statistical information gathered through the health department and map formations within Arc GIS. Additionally, I would have like to study more on the human health effects from other pesticides as well. According to Snedecker’s report, there were more pesticides other than dieldrin that were studied through the experiment such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) (Snedecker 2001). There are several health effects, including cancer, that come from other types of pesticides as well. According to the Pesticide Action Network article, men have a fifty percent chance and women have a thirty three percent chance of developing cancer and a large contributor to it is the pesticides that are used in housing and agricultural areas. “ Children are the most at risk age group of people, seeing that the cancer rates continue to rise as a result as well; families living in farmlands are also the most exposed population groups to pesticides, but are not studied as often” (PAN 2017). With support of the article, focusing on other pesticides with the groups of people at the most risk, is what can help a future project become successful and draw more conclusions. Finally, the largest improvement that should have been completed for this project is the observation of law and policy that was implemented for dieldrin and its effects. As it is already known, dieldrin has been shown to cause negative human health effects and cancerous results in animals if exceeded on the Health Advisory Level of 0.002 ug/L (ASTDR 2002). Additionally, after close calculations, 0.002 ug/L is converted to 0.01 Pounds per Acre (KyleConverter 2017). 22 The HAL measurement of 0.002 ug/L is considered the total maximum daily load for a safe amount that was settled by the Florida Health Department. “According to Section 303 of the Clean Water Act, there is a multi-step process for the regulation of ambient water quality that is designated by the state; this means not to reach or exceed the total maximum daily load” (Salzman 2014). Studies should be more focused on looking at the health effects by the counties that are violating regulation standards set by the public health department. More research on dieldrin is still necessary because of where the contamination locations are happening. Geographically, the high concentration of dieldrin contamination is in contact with large Florida waterways such as streams, lakes, and coasts to the oceans. This imposes a problem to fish and wildlife that live in or around areas like this. A USGS map and study showed how dieldrin leakage was contaminating the fish in certain parts of America, this was to the point where an estimated risk assessment was created for tracking possible fish outbreaks (USGS 2014). Wildlife also risk dieldrin effects that can create harm and defects such as a study on birds. “This study focused on the chemical effects from dieldrin on adult birds such as mortality increase, fertility decrease, defects on egg formation, and weaker eggshells produced”(Fry 1995). Many studies focused on other effects from dieldrin that are not cancerous and on non-humans; I am strongly convinced that if more studies are replicated like the few listed, then there will be more significant results and awareness on the dangers of dieldrin to health and the environment. 23 APPENDIX County Age-Adjusted Incidence Rate(†) - cases per 100,000 Age Adjusted Death Rate- cases per 100,000 Dieldrin Contamination Average Pounds Per Acre Alachua County(6,10) 135 22.7 0.01 Baker County(6,10) 106.7 0 Bay County(6,10) 127.9 25.1 0 Bradford County(6,10) 103.1 22.5 0.01 Brevard County(6,10) 115.8 22.1 0.003 Broward County(6,10) 121.3 21.3 0.01 Calhoun County(6,10) 70 0.01 Charlotte County(6,10) 103.3 17.8 0.01 Citrus County(6,10) 112.8 20.7 0.003 Clay County(6,10) 120.7 23.2 0.003 Collier County(6,10) 90.5 16.3 0.01 Columbia County(6,10) 108.9 24.7 0.0065 DeSoto County(6,10) 101.4 21 0.003 24 Dixie County(6,10) 114.5 0.003 Duval County(6,10) 132.8 25.2 0 Escambia County(6,10) 122.6 22.3 0.003 Flagler County(6,10) 121.8 24.2 0.01 Franklin County(6,10) 70.3 0 Gadsden County(6,10) 97.3 24.1 0.01 Gilchrist County(6,10) 114.7 0.01 Glades County(6,10) 107.4 0.0009 Gulf County(6,10) 100.1 0 Hamilton County(6,10) 95.6 0.01 Hardee County(6,10) 103.2 25.5 0.0065 Hendry County(6,10) 89 19.7 0.0065 Hernando County(6,10) 105.7 18.7 0.0065 Highlands County(6,10) 105.4 19.8 0.003 Hillsborough County(6,10) 121.8 22.4 0.0065 25 Holmes County(6,10) 56.9 27.4 0.01 Indian River County(6,10) 103.1 15.9 0.0065 Jackson County(6,10) 61.6 23.2 0.01 Jefferson County(6,10) 103.5 33.9 0.01 Lafayette County(6,10) 96.2 0.01 Lake County(6,10) 117.7 23.1 0.01 Lee County(6,10) 109.8 16.8 0.01 Leon County(6,10) 117 22.3 0.01 Levy County(6,10) 114.2 28.7 0.0065 Liberty County(6,10) 123.4 0.01 Madison County(6,10) 84.2 0.01 Manatee County(6,10) 110.2 18.1 0.0065 Marion County(6,10) 127.4 21.1 0.0065 Martin County(6,10) 128.2 18.4 0.0065 Miami-Dade 105 18.6 0.01 26 County(6,10) Monroe County(6,10) 107.7 25.6 0 Nassau County(6,10) 137 25.2 0.01 Okaloosa County(6,10) 113.3 23.3 0.003 Okeechobee County(6,10) 110.3 28.5 0.001 Orange County(6,10) 114.3 21.4 0.01 Osceola County(6,10) 105.1 23.6 0.001 Palm Beach County(6,10) 118.9 19.5 0.01 Pasco County(6,10) 112.6 22.1 0.0065 Pinellas County(6,10) 120.4 20.3 0.003 Polk County(6,10) 120.9 18.9 0.0065 Putnam County(6,10) 116.7 22.2 0.0065 Santa Rosa County(6,10) 112.2 24 0.0065 Sarasota County(6,10) 124.9 20.6 0.0065 Seminole County(6,10) 117 24.9 0.01 27 St. Johns County(6,10) 127.1 20.6 0.01 St. Lucie County(6,10) 104.7 22.3 0.0065 Sumter County(6,10) 110.6 15.7 0.0065 Suwannee County(6,10) 103 14.6 0.01 Taylor County(6,10) 118.5 32.7 0.003 Union County(6,10) 195.5 0.01 Volusia County(6,10) 110.7 20.2 0.0065 Wakulla County(6,10) 127.8 0 Walton County(6,10) 109 22.3 0.0065 Washington County(6,10) 72.6 0.01 28 WORK CITED 1. 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