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On March 17, 44 people attended the BCERF Ad Hoc Discussion Group meeting held in the Assembly Parlor at the Capitol Building in Albany.
Participants were eager to discuss the timely information presented on two important New York State projects: the Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative and the Pesticide Sales and Use Registry (PSUR). Director June Fessenden MacDonald's BCERF update included announcement of her own retirement and pleasure working with the group during these last years (see Letter from the Director on page 9). She also described the coming expansion of the Community Environmental Health Education projects to take place in the current budget year.
NYS Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative
The group was fortunate to have Dr. Mark Baptiste, Director of the Bureau of Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance at the NYS Department of Health (DOH), come to discuss the cancer mapping project, or, the NYS Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative. This project involves four work teams focusing on: cancer registry improvement; cancer outcomes mapping; cancer risk factors mapping, and; risk communication (map interpretation for the public). An advisory council plays an important role in the project, addressing questions such as unit of analysis (for example, is zip code an appropriate unit of analysis?), priorities for the Initiative, and techniques for integrated and meaningful analysis and display of data.
Dr. Baptiste discussed the criteria for success of the Initiative. The analysis and dissemination of results must be scientifically valid, responsive to the needs of the public, and maintain the confidentiality of all New Yorkers. He outlined the time line for the project - many readers will by now have seen the county maps, as well as the sub-county (by zip code) breast cancer incidence maps, which were released in mid-April. Many people have wondered how areas which are described as having "excessive" cancers are determined. Dr. Baptiste described the statistical techniques used to identify excesses that are least likely to be due to chance.
Also important are the Initiative's strategies for health risk communication. He discussed audience identification, the development of fact sheets, and recommendations derived from focus groups. The BCERF Ad Hoc group had questions such as whether there are plans to overlay data, such as that of the DEC, with these incidence maps. Dr. Baptiste said these data sets will be examined, but no definite plans are in place for maps. Another question brought up the problem of length of residence in a particular zip code - with people's migrations we will have issues when looking at environmental exposures. Dr. Baptiste described that this surveillance tool is not a complete source of data on residential histories, but rather can be hypothesis-generating, and that other epidemiological inquiries like the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project can follow up. Further questions and discussion contributed to what was an overall important interaction on this critical project.
Three Agenda Items on Pesticide Sales and Use Registry (PSUR)
In the first of three agenda items addressing PSUR, Bill Smith of Cornell's Pesticide Management Education program reported on satellite database development relative to PSUR. Cornell's role is to provide technical expertise to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on PSUR, as well as database design and implementation. Bill outlined major initiatives, such as technology forums, additions to the database, and replacing paper-based labels. He also looked to the future, describing activities with which his program would be involved, and demonstrated possible searches on the database. Several questions from the group focused on the problems members of the public face in obtaining information on inert ingredients.
The presentation of Bob Haggerty, Chief of the Pesticide Reporting Section of the Bureau of Pesticide Management, NYC DEC, kicked off the remainder of the afternoon's discussion of PSUR. He and Bill Smith provided an update on PSUR, as well as touching on related legislation in other states. Bob announced that DEC is moving in one year, but that it will not affect PSUR. He continues statewide education on the requirements of the law, with 4,000 attendees at workshops last November and December. Unfortunately, data quality is still an issue, and additionally, 3,000 entities did not report by February 1. Enforcement actions are being taken.
Audrey Thier of Environmental Advocates began the panel discussion of PSUR: Perspectives on the First Three Years. While her organization is pleased with the generation of data so far, she suggested several improvements. These include: active ingredient reporting; translation of gallons and other measures to pounds; measures of homeowner use, and; mandatory electronic reporting. She also noted that farmers use less pesticide than other commercial applicators.
Patrick Hooker, Director of Governmental Relations for the NY Farm Bureau followed, began by agreeing with Ms. Thier about where in the state pesticides are applied and intensity of use. He emphasized that pesticides would not be used if not they were not needed, which is apparent by the expense, time and training required for their use. He also relayed farmers' concern that good products might be pulled from the market. He urged activists to consider the PSUR program relative to resources spent.
Gunther Fishgold of 1-in-9 Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coaltion urged reporting of all pesticide use, and improved research in the possible link between pesticide exposure and breast cancer risk. His group would like to see pesticide use data overlayed with data of cancer incidence in a mapping project.
Pat Voges, the Government Affairs Chairman of the Nassau/Suffolk Landscape Gardeners Association spoke as someone "who represents the people who fill out the forms." He emphasized that until those who illegally apply pesticides are removed from business, the data are not meaningful. He also made the case that many who need to report are not able to do so electronically, such as many single-family businesses. The panel offered perspectives on these many issues. Audrey Thier suggested some of the possibilities for electronic reporting for those without computers, as are offered in California. Diverse perspectives came together on the issue of illegal applicators, with the group reaching consensus. One action point was that, with guidance, consumers could play a key role by being aware of laws and making sure to only hire certified pesticide applicators.
Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors
Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine
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