Research Article

A Retrospective Chart Review Evaluating the Relationship between Cancer Diagnosis and Residential Water Source on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, USA

Published: N/A

Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010145

Abstract

Well water contamination in heavily agricultural regions has previously been linked with increased cancer incidence and mortality. The lower Eastern shore of Maryland is a rural, agricultural region with some of the highest rates of cancer in Maryland and the United States. Our study sought to characterize residential private well water use among cancer patients on the lower Eastern shore of Maryland, and to compare private well water utilization between cancer patients and the general regional population. Retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients diagnosed with colon, lung, melanoma or breast cancer at a regional hospital from 1 January 2017 through 31 December 2018. Residential water source was determined using residential address and municipal water records. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare residential private well water utilization between our study population and the baseline regional population. The majority of cancer patients (57%) lived in homes supplied by private well water (428/746). Cancer patients were more likely to live in homes supplied by private well water compared to individuals in the general regional population (57% vs. 32%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, cancer patients on the lower Eastern shore of Maryland were more likely to live in homes supplied by residential private well water than the regional population. Additional studies are needed to evaluate well water use and cancer risk in this vulnerable region.

Faculty Members

  • Angela DeRidder - Department of Hematology and Oncology, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, 100 E. Carroll St., Salisbury, MD 21801, USA
  • Veera Holdai - Department of Math and Computer Science, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA
  • Sowjanya Kalluri - Department of Internal Medicine, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, 100 E. Carroll St., Salisbury, MD 21801, USA

Themes

  • cancer risk and environmental factors
  • water quality and health
  • groundwater contamination
  • public health concerns in agricultural areas
  • rural health disparities

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