PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF CANCER RATES IN PRIMARY ORGANIC CHEMICAL-PRODUCING COUNTIES
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The study is designed to determine whether there is an association between cancer mortality and the production of environmental carcinogens. Mortality rates of counties containing organic chemical production facilities are compared to rates of control counties. Twelve different cancer sites in lung, stomach, etc., and eight organic carcinogens were considered. Although a rigorous statistical analysis was not conducted, for most cancer sites mortality rates were found to be higher in counties of organic carcinogen production than in control counties. The study aids in the development of statistical techniques for determining the contribution of environmental contaminants to the rise in cancer rates. Research of this type assists in the identification of compounds that need to be regulated.