ATSDR - Health Consultation - Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

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HEALTH CONSULTATION

Health Outcome Data Evaluation

KELLY AIR FORCE BASE
SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS

APPENDIX A

Initial Cancer Request

After receiving the petition to perform a public health assessment on neighborhoods north and southeast of Kelly Air Force Base, ATSDR requested that the Cancer Registry Division (CRD) of the Texas Department of Health evaluate cancer rates in zip code areas 78211 and 78237. Specifically, incidence (cases) and mortality (deaths) data were evaluated for cancers of the colon, pancreas, lung, prostate, breast, and leukemia for the periods 1985-1992 and 1990-1994 respectively.

In evaluating the cancer incidence data (Tables A-1 and A-2), the number of cancer cases among both males and female residents was either lower than or within the range expected, with the exception of pancreatic cancer which was elevated among males in zip code area 78211. Evaluation of the mortality data (Tables A-3 and A-4) in these two zip codes found the number of cancer deaths among both male and female residents to be either lower than or within the range expected with the exception of colon cancer and leukemia, which were elevated among males in zip code area 78237.

Table A-1. Number of Observed and Expected Cancer Cases and Race-Adjusted Standardized Incidence Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78211, 1985-1992

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Prostate
Leukemia
24
17
48
67
15

38.9
8.7
47.1
91.2
10.9

0.6†
2.0*
1.0
0.7†
1.4

0.4-0.9
1.1-3.1
0.8-1.4
0.6-0.9
0.8-2.3

FEMALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Breast
Leukemia
18
10
15
88
8

5.5
46.7
17.6
9.4
10.2

0.6†
1.1
0.5†
1.0
1.0

0.3-0.9
0.5-2.0
0.3-0.9
0.8-1.2
0.4-2.0

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

Note: The SIR (standardized incidence ratio) is defined as the number of observed cases divided by the number of expected cases. The latter is based on race-, sex-, and age-specific cancer incidence rates for California for the period 1988-1992. The SIR has been rounded to the first decimal place.

CI: confidence interval
* Significantly higher ( at the 5% level) than expected
† Significantly lower (at the 5% level) than expected

Table A-2. Number of Observed and Expected Cancer Cases and Race-Adjusted Standardized Incidence Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78237, 1985-1992

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Prostate
Leukemia
42
15
60
80
13

47.8
11.2
60.5
117.4
13.3

0.9
1.3
1.0
0.7†
1.0

0.6-1.2
0.8-2.2
0.8-1.3
0.5-0.8
0.5-1.7

FEMALE

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Breast
Leukemia
26
14
22
105
13

47.1
13.9
41.1
119.0
11.0

0.6†
1.0
0.5†
0.9
1.2

0.4-0.8
0.6-1.7
0.3-0.8
0.7-1.1
0.6-2.0

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

CI: confidence interval
* Significantly higher ( at the 5% level) than expected
† Significantly lower (at the 5% level) than expected

Table A-3. Number of Observed and Expected Cancer Deaths and Race-Adjusted Standardized Mortality Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78211, 1990-1994

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SMR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Prostate
Leukemia
11
5
32
12
8

7.5
5.7
26.7
10.8
4.1

1.5
0.9
1.2
1.1
1.9

0.7-2.6
0.3-2.0
0.8-1.7
0.6-1.9
0.8-3.8

FEMALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SMR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Breast
Leukemia
7
7
12
11
2

5.8
5.1
10.9
13.3
3.1

1.2
1.4
1.1
0.8
0.6

0.5-2.5
0.6-2.9
0.6-1.9
0.4-1.5
0.1-2.3

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

Note: The SMR (standardized mortality ratio) is defined as the number of observed deaths divided by the number of expected deaths. The latter is based on race-, sex-, and age-specific cancer mortality rates for Texas, 1990-1994. The SMR has been rounded to the first decimal place.

CI: confidence interval

Table A-4. Number of Observed and Expected Cancer Deaths and Race-Adjusted Standardized Mortality Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78237, 1990-1994

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SMR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Prostate
Leukemia
18
7
37
18
14

9.6
7.4
34.8
14.3
5.0

1.9*
0.9
1.1
1.3
2.8*

1.1-3.0
0.4-1.9
0.7-1.5
0.7-2.0
1.5-4.7

FEMALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SMR

95% CI

Colon
Pancreas
Lung
Breast
Leukemia
11
9
16
27
7

8.8
7.7
15.6
18.7
4.3

1.3
1.2
1.0
1.4
1.6

0.6-2.2
0.5-2.2
0.6-1.7
1.0-2.1
0.7-3.3

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

Note: The SMR (standardized mortality ratio) is defined as the number of observed deaths divided by the number of expected deaths. The latter is based on race-, sex-, and age-specific cancer incidence rates for Texas, 1990-1994. The SMR has been rounded to the first decimal place.

CI: confidence interval
* Significantly higher ( at the 5% level) than expected

APPENDIX B

California Incidence Rates

California was initially chosen as the comparison population due to the availability of cancer incidence rates for the Hispanic population in that state. The number of expected cases presented in Tables B1-B3, therefore, was based on race-, sex-, and age-specific cancer incidence rates published by the California Cancer Registry. The initial zip codes of concern were 78211, 78228, and 78237.

During the period 1990-1994, the number of cases observed for cancer of the lung, bladder, kidney, or leukemia was close to the number expected among males and females in zip code 78211 (Table B-1). However, a significant excess of liver cancer was observed among the male residents and a significant excess of cervical cancer was observed among females. A higher than expected number of liver cancer cases was observed among females, although it was of borderline statistical significance. In zip code area 78228, the number of cases of lung, bladder, and leukemia cancer observed among males and females was close to the expected number (Table B-2). A significant excess of liver cancer among males was observed as was a significant excess of kidney cancer among males. The number of liver and kidney cancer cases was higher than expected among females, although the excesses were of borderline statistical significance. No excess of cervical cancer was observed among females. The number of cases observed for lung, bladder, and kidney cancer, as well as leukemia, was close to the number expected among males in zip code 78237 (Table B-3). The number of cases observed of liver and bladder cancer among females in this zip code was also close to the number expected. There was, however, a significant excess of liver cancer observed among the male residents, and a significant excess of cervical and kidney cancer in females. A higher than expected number of leukemia cases and a lower than expected number of lung cancer cases were observed among females, although these excesses were of borderline statistical significance.

Additional Liver Cancer Analysis

Liver cancer incidence data was also examined for 15 additional zip codes in the Kelly AFB area. The analysis of incidence data using California as the comparison population during the period 1990-1994 indicates a statistically significant excess of liver cancer among males in the 78201, 78204, 78205, 78207, and 78227 zip code areas (Table B-4). A higher than expected number of liver cancer cases was observed among males in zip code 78225, although this excess was of borderline statistical significance. Among females in the study area during the same time period, a statistically significant excess of liver cancer was observed in zip code areas 78207, 78212, and 78221.

Discussion

The initial analysis of liver cancer incidence using California rates for comparison found a significant excess of cases among males in all three of the initial zip code areas of concern with a corresponding elevation (although not statistically significant) among females in two zip code areas also. The additional liver cancer analysis using California rates for comparison found a significant excess of cases among males in five of the fifteen zip code areas evaluated and among females in three of the zip code areas.

One of the limitations in using California data for the comparison population is that historically liver cancer rates in Texas have been consistently higher than those in California. This difference in background rates in the Texas and California populations is reflected in the standardized incidence ratios calculated for the zip code areas of concern. Using the California rates as a comparison results in an artificially lower expected number of cases for the San Antonio population and subsequently a higher standardized incidence ratio than if the Texas rates were used. The magnitude of the standardized incidence ratios for both males and females, however, is substantially reduced when using Texas as the comparison population.

Table B-1. Number of Observed and Expected New Cancer Cases and Race-Adjusted Standardized Incidence Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78211, 1990-1994

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Liver
Lung
Bladder
Kidney
Leukemia
10
27
5
6
6

3.6
28.6
7.3
7.0
6.8

2.8*
0.9
0.7
0.9
0.9

1.3-5.1
0.6-1.4
0.2-1.6
0.3-1.9
0.3-1.9

FEMALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Liver
Lung
Cervix
Bladder
Kidney
Leukemia
5
11
13
4
9
7

1.6
18.0
5.6
2.6
4.4
5.1

3.1
0.6
2.3*
1.5
2.0
1.4

1.0-7.3
0.3-1.1
1.2-4.0
0.4-3.9
0.9-3.9
0.6-2.8

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

CI: confidence interval
Bold type indicates an excess of borderline statistical significance
* Significantly higher (at the 5% level) than expected

Table B-2. Number of Observed and Expected New Cancer Cases and Race Adjusted Standardized Incidence Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78228, 1990-1994

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Liver
Lung
Bladder
Kidney
Leukemia
23
64
23
26
16

6.8
75.6
20.4
15.1
15.2

3.4*
0.8
1.1
1.7*
1.1

2.1-5.1
0.7-1.1
0.7-1.7
1.1-2.5
0.6-1.7

FEMALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Liver
Lung
Cervix
Bladder
Kidney
Leukemia
8
44
16
9
17
9

3.3
58.4
12.2
8.2
10.2
12.8

2.4
0.8
1.3
1.1
1.7
0.7

1.0-4.8
0.5-1.0
0.7-2.1
0.5-2.1
1.0-2.7
0.3-1.3

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

CI: confidence interval
Bold type indicates an excess of borderline statistical significance
* Significantly higher (at the 5% level) than expected

Table B-3. Number of Observed and Expected New Cancer Cases and Race Adjusted Standardized Incidence Ratios, Selected Sites, San Antonio, Texas, Zip Code 78237, 1990-1994

MALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Liver
Lung
Bladder
Kidney
Leukemia
20
40
8
10
9

4.7
36.9
8.4
8.6
8.3

4.3*
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.1

2.6-6.6
0.8-1.5
0.4-1.9
0.6-2.1
0.5-2.1

FEMALES

Site

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

Liver
Lung
Cervix
Bladder
Kidney
Leukemia

5
16
23
6
13
13

2.4
25.8
7.4
3.8
6.2
7.0

2.1
0.6
3.1*
1.6
2.1*
1.9

0.7-4.9
0.4-1.0
2.0-4.7
0.6-3.4
1.1-3.6
1.0-3.2

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

CI: confidence interval
Bold type indicates an excess of borderline statistical significance
* Significantly higher (at the 5% level) than expected

Table B-4. Number of Observed and Expected Liver Cancer Cases and Race-Adjusted Standardized Incidence Ratios, San Antonio, Texas, 1990-1994

MALES

Zip Code

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

78201
16

4.8

3.3*

1.9-5.4

78204
6

1.7

3.5*

1.3-7.7

78205
3

0.3

10.0*

2.1-29.2

78207
23

7.6

3.0*

1.9-4.5

78212
6

3.7

1.6

0.6-3.5

78221
7

3.4

2.1

0.8-4.2

78224
2

1.1

1.8

0.2-6.6

78225
6

2.1

2.8

1.0-6.2

78226
2

0.8

2.5

0.3-9.0

78227
11

3.1

3.5*

1.8-6.3

78229
3

1.9

1.6

0.3-4.6

78238
0

1.5

0.0

0.0-2.5

78242
4

1.4

2.9

0.8-7.3

78245
2

1.3

1.5

0.2-5.6

78252
0

0.1

0.0

0.0-36.9

FEMALES

Zip Code

Observed

Expected

SIR

95% CI

78201
7

3.0

2.3

0.9-4.8

78204
3

1.0

3.0

0.6-8.8

78205
0

0.2

0.0

0.0-18.0

78207
15

4.3

3.5*

2.0-5.8

78212
8

2.2

3.6*

1.6-7.2

78221
7

1.6

4.4*

1.8-9.0

78224
1

0.6

1.7

0.0-9.3

78225
3

1.0

3.0

0.6-8.8

78226
2

0.3

6.7

0.8-24.1

78227
4

1.4

2.9

0.8-7.3

78229
0

1.0

0.0

0.0-3.7

78238
0

0.7

0.0

0.0-5.3

78242
2

0.6

3.3

0.4-12.0

78245
1

0.5

2.0

0.1-11.1

78252
0

0.0

0.0

---

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

CI: confidence interval
Bold type indicates an excess of borderline statistical significance
* Significantly higher (at the 5% level) than expected

APPENDIX C

Additional Liver Cancer Mortality Analysis

When conducting the additional liver analysis, five zip code areas were evaluated in the mortality analysis that were not included in the liver cancer incidence analysis. For the sake of consistency, the results from the same zip code areas were presented in the Health Outcome Data section. The results from the additional zip code areas are presented in Table C-1.

Discussion

The additional analysis of liver cancer mortality in five zip code areas did not find a significant excess of cases among males or females in any of the zip code areas.

Table C-1. Number of Observed and Expected Liver Cancer Deaths and Race-Adjusted Standardized Mortality Ratios, San Antonio, Texas, 1991-1995

MALES

Zip Code

Observed

Expected

SMR

95% CI

78212 11 6.8 1.6 0.8-2.9

78229 6 3.4 1.8 0.6-3.8

78238 0 2.3 0.0 0.0-1.6

78245
2

1.9

1.1

0.1-3.8

78252
0

0.1

0.0

0.0-36.9

FEMALES

Zip Code

Observed

Expected

SMR

95% CI

78212 6 5.4 1.1 0.4-2.4

78229 1 2.1 0.5 0.0-2.7

78238 0 1.5 0.0 0.0-2.5

78245 1 0.9 1.1 0.0-6.2

78252 0 0.1 0.0 0.0-36.9

Data provided by the Cancer Registry Division of the Texas Department of Health.

CI: confidence interval
Bold type indicates an excess of borderline statistical significance
* Significantly higher (at the 5% level) than expected

Next Section Table of Contents

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Department of Health and Human Services

MALES
Site	Observed	Expected	SIR	95% CI
Colon Pancreas Lung Prostate Leukemia	24 17 48 67 15	38.9 8.7 47.1 91.2 10.9	0.6† 2.0* 1.0 0.7† 1.4	0.4-0.9 1.1-3.1 0.8-1.4 0.6-0.9 0.8-2.3
FEMALES
Site	Observed	Expected	SIR	95% CI
Colon Pancreas Lung Breast Leukemia	18 10 15 88 8	5.5 46.7 17.6 9.4 10.2	0.6† 1.1 0.5† 1.0 1.0	0.3-0.9 0.5-2.0 0.3-0.9 0.8-1.2 0.4-2.0

MALES
Zip Code	Observed	Expected	SIR	95% CI
78201	16	4.8	3.3*	1.9-5.4
78204	6	1.7	3.5*	1.3-7.7
78205	3	0.3	10.0*	2.1-29.2
78207	23	7.6	3.0*	1.9-4.5
78212	6	3.7	1.6	0.6-3.5
78221	7	3.4	2.1	0.8-4.2
78224	2	1.1	1.8	0.2-6.6
78225	6	2.1	2.8	1.0-6.2
78226	2	0.8	2.5	0.3-9.0
78227	11	3.1	3.5*	1.8-6.3
78229	3	1.9	1.6	0.3-4.6
78238	0	1.5	0.0	0.0-2.5
78242	4	1.4	2.9	0.8-7.3
78245	2	1.3	1.5	0.2-5.6
78252	0	0.1	0.0	0.0-36.9
FEMALES
Zip Code	Observed	Expected	SIR	95% CI
78201	7	3.0	2.3	0.9-4.8
78204	3	1.0	3.0	0.6-8.8
78205	0	0.2	0.0	0.0-18.0
78207	15	4.3	3.5*	2.0-5.8
78212	8	2.2	3.6*	1.6-7.2
78221	7	1.6	4.4*	1.8-9.0
78224	1	0.6	1.7	0.0-9.3
78225	3	1.0	3.0	0.6-8.8
78226	2	0.3	6.7	0.8-24.1
78227	4	1.4	2.9	0.8-7.3
78229	0	1.0	0.0	0.0-3.7
78238	0	0.7	0.0	0.0-5.3
78242	2	0.6	3.3	0.4-12.0
78245	1	0.5	2.0	0.1-11.1
78252	0	0.0	0.0	---