Studies have demonstrated a relationship between segregation and level of education, occupational opportunities, and risk behaviors, yet a paucity of research has elucidated the association between residential segregation and health. We examined residential segregation by racial composition in census tracts in Metropolitan Charleston. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of racial characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and various segregation and deprivation indices on estimated cancer risk by air toxics.

Segregation indices were used to measure the distribution of groups of people from different races within neighborhoods. Simple linear regression was conducted between segregation indices or sociodemographic variables and cancer risk controlling for urban-rural effects. The Townsend Index was used to measure socioeconomic status deprivation in the study area.

Cancer risk for all sources exceeded 28 ppl/million for half of the census tracts. Background (15.3) and on road (5.8) emission sources accounted for the greatest portion of exposure. There was no real pattern of correlation between race-based segregation (Dissimilarity Index) and cancer risk. However, for all source, area, and on road emissions, the higher the Diversity index, the higher the risk (r=0.13, p<0.01; r=0.14, p<0.01; r=0.11, p<0.05, respectively). Percent Black had the strongest association with cancer risk among the sociodemographic variables. The Townsend Index demonstrated statistically significant differences among quartiles for all emissions sources. Furthermore, a one unit increase in the Isolation Index increased cancer risk by 12.6 ppl/million, which is the highest among all segregation indices.

Our findings demonstrate residential segregation and socioeconomic deprivation may explain disparities in cancer risk in Metropolitan Charleston. Future studies should focus on elucidating the mechanisms by which segregation and neighborhood disadvantage perpetuate health inequalities.

Citation Format: LaShanta Rice, Kristen Burwell, Chengsheng Jiang, Hongmei Zhang, Ashok Samantapudi, Sacoby Wilson. Cancer risk by air toxics in the Lowcountry: Examining the role of residential segregation and sociodemographic factors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C08. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C08