Project Title: Integration muti-scale GIS spatial analysis and environmental exposure assessment to explore the formation mechanism of urban hotspots of cancer prevalence

Project Type: National Natural Science Foundation

Project No.: 40904243

Project Awardee: Li Xinhu

Project Abstract: Carcer now is the top cause of death for urban residents in China, and particularly the mortality rate of lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer in urban region is obviously higher than in rural areas. Even in urban region, some the prevalence and mortality rate of cancer in some spot is higher than that in the suround areas.

 In this project, spatial database of cancer will be established at three different spatial scales in Xiamen. Spatial analysis will be used to find the hotspots of cancer prevalence. Then dietary habits, physical and social environment will be investigated in these hotspots. Soil, water and air will be sampled to annalyze the concentration of toxic chemical materials, based on which the exposure - response relationship will be established. Finally, Bayesian network inference, spatial regression and geographical detectors will be used to determine the major environmental causes, and to clarify the formation mechanism of hotspots of prevalence of cancer in city. The project is characterized by the use of multi-scale GIS-based cancer data, population surveys and macro-environmental exposures based on the analysis to explore the formation mechanism of urban hotspots of cancer.Under back ground of the global environmental change and the rapid urbanization, study on the cancer prevention and causes of inquiry is not only of great significance, but also imperative.

Period of Project: 2010.1-2012.12

Fund of Project: 180,000 RMB