Date of Conferral
5-3-2024
Date of Award
May 2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Health
Advisor
David Anderson
Abstract
Factors such as geographical location/proximity and exposure to external environmental events, as well as poor regulatory processes, are known to increase the risk for cancers among affected populations. There is still a gap in the literature related to the incidence of cancers in specific regions with heavy industrialization and environmental health hazards. In West Virginia, chemical contamination events have occurred in or near water systems. The goal of this quantitative, retrospective study was to discover whether there were any differences in the incidence of disease or adverse health effects and cancers due to chemical contamination in four counties (Kanawha, Mingo, Putnam, and Wood) that border the Elk, Ohio, Kanawha, and Tug Fork Rivers, and in bordering counties. The conceptual framework was the epidemiological triangle. Secondary, archived data regarding incidence of cancers was primarily collected from the state Department of Health and Human Resources. Using analysis of variance, results revealed a significant association between proximity to chemical contamination and kidney cancer in Kanawha and Mingo counties, as well as breast and soft tissue cancers in Putnam County. Implications for positive social change include providing key insights for rural-dwelling individuals and/or communities directly or indirectly affected by environmental contamination events that can potentially reduce risk of certain diseases.
Recommended Citation
Peters, Janice Lorraine Taylor, "Toxicological Impacts of River Chemical Spills in Affected West Virginia Counties" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15742.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15742
