Buzz
Out of every 100,000 Americans, 451 will be diagnosed with cancer each year. However, these rates differ by region: certain counties experience higher cancer rates than others, and these rates closely align with a map of environmental quality, which you should explore now—this may be one of the last available versions.
A study published in *Cancer* magazine today compared this map with cancer rates and revealed a disparity of 39 cancer cases (per 100,000 people) between areas with the highest and lowest environmental quality. This measure takes into account factors such as air, water, and land pollution, along with other environmental conditions like crime, traffic safety, and access to healthy food.
The environmental data was gathered between 2000 and 2005, and the cancer data spans from 2006 to 2010. There are many caveats, of course: if you developed cancer later in life due to pollutants you were exposed to as a child, this connection might not be reflected in the data (particularly if you’ve moved since). But overall, environmental quality appears to correlate with cancer rates.
This data is “essential,” and it’s endangered.
The study does not indicate whether relocating to a higher-ranked area will improve your health or by how much. The 'environment' they measured includes factors like poverty and race, which differ by region, but cannot be altered simply by moving. Additionally, with such a broad perspective, the study may overlook nuances, such as whether higher breast cancer rates are linked to areas where people are more likely to afford or have insurance for regular mammograms.
Despite its limitations, this data is 'essential to cancer control and the health of the general public,' as cancer researcher Scarlett Lin Gomez notes in a commentary article published alongside the study. However, it's in jeopardy: much of the pollution data comes from the Environmental Protection Agency, which the *Trump administration is dismantling*.
Gomez also highlights several political actions that could hinder the future collection of public health data. For instance, *HR 482* would ban federal databases that track racial disparities. So, take advantage of this data while it's still available.
