IMPLEMENTATION OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND CORRELATION OF CANCER CASES AND GROUNDWATER CONTAMINANTS IN RURAL COMMUNITY OF FRUITHURST, AL

This study analyzed potential spatial correlations between groundwater contaminants and four types of cancer (lung, stomach, leukemia, and lymphoma) in Fruithurst, a rural community (population = 1,600) in Alabama. The study employed Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze household surveys (N= 792) and well water data of (N = 25). The survey data were geocoded with 2010 census block population data to calculate cancer cases per capita. Measurements of natural and anthropogenic contaminants in groundwater were imported into ArcGIS for analysis. The results show that 83, 100, 73, 75% of the lung, stomach, leukemia, and lymphoma cancer cases use well water as their primary source of potable water. Radon levels in water wells screened in the Heflin Phyllite range from 1.3 to 8,449 pCi/L. Radon in approximately 16% of well water exceeds the EPA’s advisory limit of 4,000 pCi/L. Most trace elements in well water were not found in concentrations exceeding the U.S. EPA MCL, suggesting that they are mostly sequestered in the Heflin Phyllite. The zinc and Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) data suggest a possible local hydrologic connection of groundwater near a rubber factory. An interpolated surface map for radon was produced and the mean groundwater radon level was calculated for each census block. Moran’s I Bivariate analysis shows significant spatial correlations between radon and leukemia in six census blocks. The community-based research coupled with GIS analysis allows identification of possible environmental factors impacting public health in rural communities.