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• 1. [Article] Leukemia incidence and benzene air pollution in Portland Oregon

  Benzene is a widespread urban pollutant and monitoring results show concentrations are particularly high in Portland, Oregon. Nationally, benzene air pollution is the largest contributor to total cancer ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Leukemia incidence and benzene air pollution in Portland Oregon Author: Voss, Robert W. Benzene is a widespread urban pollutant and monitoring results show concentrations are particularly high in Portland, Oregon. Nationally, benzene air pollution is the largest contributor to total cancer risk from air pollutants. We used data from several data sets including: modeled benzene distribution at the census block group level from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, ten-year leukemia incidence from the Oregon State Cancer Registry, and demographic data from the U.S. Census to examine the correlation of benzene with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), total myeloid leukemia (TML) and total leukemia subgroups. Modeled benzene values were averaged to census tracts using GIS methods. We performed Poisson regression on data for all census tracts and also aggregated data to quartiles of benzene concentration and modeled exposure to determine incidence rate ratios (IRR). We mapped the distribution of benzene, and agestandardized leukemia rates to examine spatial patterns which may not be evident in statistical analysis. Our regression results found no significant association between benzene and leukemia at the census tract level. AML IRR was slightly elevated for females at the second, but not the third and fourth quartiles of benzene modeled exposure. We found non-significant elevations in AML IRR for those less than 19 years of age at the second and fourth, but not the third quartiles of benzene modeled exposure. We did not observe a monotonically increasing trend toward higher incidence of leukemia with higher modeled benzene exposure. Nor did we see a tendency toward a stronger association in the myeloid types of leukemia. Similar modeling results were produced for perchloroethylene, a cooccurring air toxin that is not considered a leukemiagen. Although the general spatial pattern of leukemia incidence does not appear visually similar to the benzene distribution, some census tracts near point source emissions of benzene had AML rates in the highest bracket. There were some census tracts with elevated TML in the under 19 year old age group near major highways. Our overall result shows no association between benzene and leukemia at the census tract level. Census tract level ambient air pollution data such as ours is homogenous within census tract measurement units. Most census tracts in our study area are between one and seven miles across so variability of ambient exposure within a few hundred yards of major roads was not captured in our air pollution data. This misclassification of exposure, along with misclassification of case residence in time and place limits the utility of an ecologic design such as ours to detect small changes in disease incidence. The magnitude of cancer risk from ambient benzene is very small, so any misclassifications of exposure or case residence may render even large datasets incapable of detecting elevated incidence rates. Future efforts to investigate health effects of ambient benzene or other mobile source pollutants could incorporate road and residence location as well as modeled air pollution data at the census tract level to achieve more definitive results. Title: Leukemia incidence and benzene air pollution in Portland Oregon Author: Voss, Robert W. Benzene is a widespread urban pollutant and monitoring results show concentrations are particularly high in Portland, Oregon. Nationally, benzene air pollution is the largest contributor to total cancer risk from air pollutants. We used data from several data sets including: modeled benzene distribution at the census block group level from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, ten-year leukemia incidence from the Oregon State Cancer Registry, and demographic data from the U.S. Census to examine the correlation of benzene with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), total myeloid leukemia (TML) and total leukemia subgroups. Modeled benzene values were averaged to census tracts using GIS methods. We performed Poisson regression on data for all census tracts and also aggregated data to quartiles of benzene concentration and modeled exposure to determine incidence rate ratios (IRR). We mapped the distribution of benzene, and agestandardized leukemia rates to examine spatial patterns which may not be evident in statistical analysis. Our regression results found no significant association between benzene and leukemia at the census tract level. AML IRR was slightly elevated for females at the second, but not the third and fourth quartiles of benzene modeled exposure. We found non-significant elevations in AML IRR for those less than 19 years of age at the second and fourth, but not the third quartiles of benzene modeled exposure. We did not observe a monotonically increasing trend toward higher incidence of leukemia with higher modeled benzene exposure. Nor did we see a tendency toward a stronger association in the myeloid types of leukemia. Similar modeling results were produced for perchloroethylene, a cooccurring air toxin that is not considered a leukemiagen. Although the general spatial pattern of leukemia incidence does not appear visually similar to the benzene distribution, some census tracts near point source emissions of benzene had AML rates in the highest bracket. There were some census tracts with elevated TML in the under 19 year old age group near major highways. Our overall result shows no association between benzene and leukemia at the census tract level. Census tract level ambient air pollution data such as ours is homogenous within census tract measurement units. Most census tracts in our study area are between one and seven miles across so variability of ambient exposure within a few hundred yards of major roads was not captured in our air pollution data. This misclassification of exposure, along with misclassification of case residence in time and place limits the utility of an ecologic design such as ours to detect small changes in disease incidence. The magnitude of cancer risk from ambient benzene is very small, so any misclassifications of exposure or case residence may render even large datasets incapable of detecting elevated incidence rates. Future efforts to investigate health effects of ambient benzene or other mobile source pollutants could incorporate road and residence location as well as modeled air pollution data at the census tract level to achieve more definitive results. Close

• 2. [Article] Do Community Development Financial Institutions Promote Economic Growth in Neighborhoods? A Multi-Metro Area Analysis of Home Values

  2017

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Do Community Development Financial Institutions Promote Economic Growth in Neighborhoods? A Multi-Metro Area Analysis of Home Values Author: McRae, Caitlin 2017 Title: Do Community Development Financial Institutions Promote Economic Growth in Neighborhoods? A Multi-Metro Area Analysis of Home Values Author: McRae, Caitlin 2017 Close

• 3. [Article] Immigration and crime: Is public opinion pragmatic?

  There are record numbers of immigrants in the U.S., with no indication of declining in the future. Social debates surrounding issues such as immigration are fragile. It is critical that research and knowledge ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Immigration and crime: Is public opinion pragmatic? Author: Zojonc, Angelique, D There are record numbers of immigrants in the U.S., with no indication of declining in the future. Social debates surrounding issues such as immigration are fragile. It is critical that research and knowledge put out to the public and used by policy makers to create or reform immigration legislation must accurately portray the societal facts. This research explores the relationship between anomie and deviance, using immigration as the measurement for anomie and crime as the measurement for deviance. Data measured at the census tract level came from the 2010 U.S. Census and 2009-2011 Uniform Crime Report for Tucson, Arizona. Using an OLS regression model, the results from this research find a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) between anomie and deviance, after controlling for young males, poverty, and ethnicity, three factors known to affect crime. Title: Immigration and crime: Is public opinion pragmatic? Author: Zojonc, Angelique, D There are record numbers of immigrants in the U.S., with no indication of declining in the future. Social debates surrounding issues such as immigration are fragile. It is critical that research and knowledge put out to the public and used by policy makers to create or reform immigration legislation must accurately portray the societal facts. This research explores the relationship between anomie and deviance, using immigration as the measurement for anomie and crime as the measurement for deviance. Data measured at the census tract level came from the 2010 U.S. Census and 2009-2011 Uniform Crime Report for Tucson, Arizona. Using an OLS regression model, the results from this research find a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) between anomie and deviance, after controlling for young males, poverty, and ethnicity, three factors known to affect crime. Close

• 4. [Article] Unsubstantiated fears : assessing the effects of recent immigration on part I index crimes

  In this paper I examine the impact of recent immigration, in addition to other community predictors on community counts of violent and property crimes in Austin, Texas, a multi-ethnic city. I combine data ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Unsubstantiated fears : assessing the effects of recent immigration on part I index crimes Author: Stansfield, Richard In this paper I examine the impact of recent immigration, in addition to other community predictors on community counts of violent and property crimes in Austin, Texas, a multi-ethnic city. I combine data from the 2000 US census of population and housing with census tract level uniform crime report data from the Austin police department’s records management system in order to examine the impact of recently arrived immigrants predominantly from Mexico. Negative binomial regression models do not provide any support for the assumption that increased immigration is associated with an increased threat to public safety, and in fact show partial evidence to suggest a protective effect off recent immigration against property acquisition crimes and rape. The increase in exclusionary and restrictive immigration policies in the United States have been premised on the increased threat to public safety that immigrants, whether legal or illegal, pose. I discuss the impact of such practices that continue to overlook the empirical evidence. Title: Unsubstantiated fears : assessing the effects of recent immigration on part I index crimes Author: Stansfield, Richard In this paper I examine the impact of recent immigration, in addition to other community predictors on community counts of violent and property crimes in Austin, Texas, a multi-ethnic city. I combine data from the 2000 US census of population and housing with census tract level uniform crime report data from the Austin police department’s records management system in order to examine the impact of recently arrived immigrants predominantly from Mexico. Negative binomial regression models do not provide any support for the assumption that increased immigration is associated with an increased threat to public safety, and in fact show partial evidence to suggest a protective effect off recent immigration against property acquisition crimes and rape. The increase in exclusionary and restrictive immigration policies in the United States have been premised on the increased threat to public safety that immigrants, whether legal or illegal, pose. I discuss the impact of such practices that continue to overlook the empirical evidence. Close

• 5. [Article] Irrational Fear or Cause for Concern? The Effects of Hispanic Immigration on Crime Rates in Tucson, Arizona

  2012

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Irrational Fear or Cause for Concern? The Effects of Hispanic Immigration on Crime Rates in Tucson, Arizona Author: Algara, Carlos 2012 Title: Irrational Fear or Cause for Concern? The Effects of Hispanic Immigration on Crime Rates in Tucson, Arizona Author: Algara, Carlos 2012 Close

• 6. [Article] Groundwater arsenic concentrations and cancer incidence rates : a regional comparison in Oregon

  Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a global issue with national and local implications. Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been linked to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Groundwater arsenic concentrations and cancer incidence rates : a regional comparison in Oregon Author: Fleming, Harmony S. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a global issue with national and local implications. Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been linked to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health outcomes. The primary exposure route of inorganic arsenic is ingestion from drinking water due to natural contamination in groundwater from dissolution of natural mineral deposits and anthropogenic sources. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a spatial relationship between groundwater arsenic concentrations and cancer incidences within two regions of Oregon. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine if there is a spatial relationship between arsenic concentrations in the Willamette Valley and Southeast Oregon and incidence rates of bladder, kidney, liver and lung cancers; (2) contribute to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s development of the Environmental Public Health Tracking network by using secondary data to investigate linkages of arsenic in groundwater and associated health effects; and (3) serve as an exploratory tool for identifying a public health concern that can be followed up with comprehensive analytical studies of the region. The study used four secondary data sets: Cancer data from the Oregon State Cancer Registry; community water system arsenic data from the Oregon Department of Human Services Drinking Water Program; groundwater arsenic data from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Inventory System; and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data set were combined and then analyzed with statistical and spatial analysis methods. This study did incur challenges of data compatibility and required extensive data preparation activities of several of the data sets. One such data manipulation was the integration of two independent sources of water quality data which had not been done before in Oregon and may not have accurately defined the exposure risk of sub-populations. Another limitation was that missing cases due to geocoding were more likely to be in rural census tracts due to the P.O. Box and Rural Route addresses, thus possibly contributing to an underestimation of the number of cancer cases used in the study analyses. Results indicate several significant differences of risk between demographic and arsenic concentration intervals. However, the inherent limitations of secondary data have produced some unexpected results. Using the arsenic Quintile 1 (0 - 0.9 μg/L) as a reference point, the results showed that arsenic concentration levels in groundwater do not impact the incidence rates of bladder, kidney, liver or lung cancer in populations over the age of 40 in regions with arsenic concentrations above 1 μg/L. Further, although cancer incidence rates might be expected to increase with increasing groundwater arsenic concentrations in Quintiles 3, 4 and 5, the results in this study show otherwise. Maps of the study regions depicting arsenic concentration levels in groundwater show that arsenic is widely distributed but concentration levels can vary greatly between census tracts located in close proximity. The distribution of arsenic in the region may be affected by geological formations that are known to be associated with higher arsenic levels. Follow-up studies are recommended for regions of the state that were found to have arsenic concentration at or above the current MCL regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Rural regions of the state that rely on private groundwater wells not regulated by the federal standard would also be appropriate. Results of this study will be shared with the Oregon Environmental Public Health Tracking network, their research partners and other interested state and local agencies. Title: Groundwater arsenic concentrations and cancer incidence rates : a regional comparison in Oregon Author: Fleming, Harmony S. Arsenic contamination of groundwater is a global issue with national and local implications. Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water has been linked to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health outcomes. The primary exposure route of inorganic arsenic is ingestion from drinking water due to natural contamination in groundwater from dissolution of natural mineral deposits and anthropogenic sources. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a spatial relationship between groundwater arsenic concentrations and cancer incidences within two regions of Oregon. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine if there is a spatial relationship between arsenic concentrations in the Willamette Valley and Southeast Oregon and incidence rates of bladder, kidney, liver and lung cancers; (2) contribute to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s development of the Environmental Public Health Tracking network by using secondary data to investigate linkages of arsenic in groundwater and associated health effects; and (3) serve as an exploratory tool for identifying a public health concern that can be followed up with comprehensive analytical studies of the region. The study used four secondary data sets: Cancer data from the Oregon State Cancer Registry; community water system arsenic data from the Oregon Department of Human Services Drinking Water Program; groundwater arsenic data from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Inventory System; and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Data set were combined and then analyzed with statistical and spatial analysis methods. This study did incur challenges of data compatibility and required extensive data preparation activities of several of the data sets. One such data manipulation was the integration of two independent sources of water quality data which had not been done before in Oregon and may not have accurately defined the exposure risk of sub-populations. Another limitation was that missing cases due to geocoding were more likely to be in rural census tracts due to the P.O. Box and Rural Route addresses, thus possibly contributing to an underestimation of the number of cancer cases used in the study analyses. Results indicate several significant differences of risk between demographic and arsenic concentration intervals. However, the inherent limitations of secondary data have produced some unexpected results. Using the arsenic Quintile 1 (0 - 0.9 μg/L) as a reference point, the results showed that arsenic concentration levels in groundwater do not impact the incidence rates of bladder, kidney, liver or lung cancer in populations over the age of 40 in regions with arsenic concentrations above 1 μg/L. Further, although cancer incidence rates might be expected to increase with increasing groundwater arsenic concentrations in Quintiles 3, 4 and 5, the results in this study show otherwise. Maps of the study regions depicting arsenic concentration levels in groundwater show that arsenic is widely distributed but concentration levels can vary greatly between census tracts located in close proximity. The distribution of arsenic in the region may be affected by geological formations that are known to be associated with higher arsenic levels. Follow-up studies are recommended for regions of the state that were found to have arsenic concentration at or above the current MCL regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Rural regions of the state that rely on private groundwater wells not regulated by the federal standard would also be appropriate. Results of this study will be shared with the Oregon Environmental Public Health Tracking network, their research partners and other interested state and local agencies. Close

• 7. [Article] Modeling spatial effects of PM₂.₅ on term low birth weight in Los Angeles County

  This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Elsevier. The published article can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Modeling spatial effects of PM₂.₅ on term low birth weight in Los Angeles County Author: Gomez-Rubio, Virgilio, Coker, Eric, Li, Arthur, Su, Jason, Ritz, Beate, Molitor, John, Kile, Molly L., Liverani, Silvia, Jerrett, Michael, Cockburn, Myles, Ghosh, Jokay, Beckerman, Bernardo This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Elsevier. The published article can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-research/ Title: Modeling spatial effects of PM₂.₅ on term low birth weight in Los Angeles County Author: Gomez-Rubio, Virgilio, Coker, Eric, Li, Arthur, Su, Jason, Ritz, Beate, Molitor, John, Kile, Molly L., Liverani, Silvia, Jerrett, Michael, Cockburn, Myles, Ghosh, Jokay, Beckerman, Bernardo This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Elsevier. The published article can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-research/ Close

• 8. [Article] Economic impact study for Detroit Lake and the Upper North Santiam Canyon

  Published May 2006. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Economic impact study for Detroit Lake and the Upper North Santiam Canyon Author: Sorte, Bruce, Buerger, Chris, Oregon State University. Extension Service Published May 2006. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog Title: Economic impact study for Detroit Lake and the Upper North Santiam Canyon Author: Sorte, Bruce, Buerger, Chris, Oregon State University. Extension Service Published May 2006. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog Close

• 9. [Article] Employment growth, social capital, and spatial determinants of poverty change

  This study models poverty changes across the United States between 1990 and 2000 as a function of spatial poverty variables (variables that attempt to capture the spatial effects of poverty and poverty ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Employment growth, social capital, and spatial determinants of poverty change Author: Crandall, Mindy S. This study models poverty changes across the United States between 1990 and 2000 as a function of spatial poverty variables (variables that attempt to capture the spatial effects of poverty and poverty changes), social capital, local employment growth, and demographic controls. Newly available decennial census data at the tract level is used to capture the benefits of a more homogeneous geographic aggregation. The spatial variables account for the effects of own poverty, poverty pockets, and dynamic spatial spillovers on poverty changes. Local economic and social context variables include measures for social capital and employment growth. Spatial econometric model formulations are compared with OLS, and results indicate that spillovers (a spatial lag variable) as well as a spatial error correction are significant. Overall, being in a poverty pocket (being surrounded by high poverty tracts) had a detrimental effect on tract outcomes, while employment growth and social capital had positive ones. Interaction terms are used in a second model to assess the effects of initial own poverty level on poverty change determinants. Significant spatial lag and spatial error correction parameters again indicate that the fates of neighboring tracts are tied together. Results from the interaction model show that there are significant differences in poverty determinants based on tract poverty rate at the beginning of the period. Having higher levels of minorities or poverty pocket location had a negative effect on poverty reduction in low poverty tracts, while college education rates had a positive effect. Poverty reductions in high poverty tracts were speeded by employment growth and social capital. The results suggest that anti-poverty policies, to be most effective, need to be sensitive to the effects of geography, and that employment growth is effective in reducing poverty, particularly in high poverty areas. Title: Employment growth, social capital, and spatial determinants of poverty change Author: Crandall, Mindy S. This study models poverty changes across the United States between 1990 and 2000 as a function of spatial poverty variables (variables that attempt to capture the spatial effects of poverty and poverty changes), social capital, local employment growth, and demographic controls. Newly available decennial census data at the tract level is used to capture the benefits of a more homogeneous geographic aggregation. The spatial variables account for the effects of own poverty, poverty pockets, and dynamic spatial spillovers on poverty changes. Local economic and social context variables include measures for social capital and employment growth. Spatial econometric model formulations are compared with OLS, and results indicate that spillovers (a spatial lag variable) as well as a spatial error correction are significant. Overall, being in a poverty pocket (being surrounded by high poverty tracts) had a detrimental effect on tract outcomes, while employment growth and social capital had positive ones. Interaction terms are used in a second model to assess the effects of initial own poverty level on poverty change determinants. Significant spatial lag and spatial error correction parameters again indicate that the fates of neighboring tracts are tied together. Results from the interaction model show that there are significant differences in poverty determinants based on tract poverty rate at the beginning of the period. Having higher levels of minorities or poverty pocket location had a negative effect on poverty reduction in low poverty tracts, while college education rates had a positive effect. Poverty reductions in high poverty tracts were speeded by employment growth and social capital. The results suggest that anti-poverty policies, to be most effective, need to be sensitive to the effects of geography, and that employment growth is effective in reducing poverty, particularly in high poverty areas. Close