Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of the assessment of spatial variation and clustering in environmental surveillance of birth defects

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of small area spatial analysis of birth defects in environmental surveillance. Two approaches are reviewed: (1) the investigation of identified geographically localised potential environmental hazards, and (2) the detection of clustering. Examples are given where these 2 types of investigation have been used in the follow-up of individual clusters. Finally, it is argued that environmental surveillance, incorporating the 2 groups of spatial methods, should become a part of public health practice on both proactive and reactive basis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Elliott P, Martuzzi M, Shaddick G. Spatial statistical methods in environmental epidemiology: A critique. Stat Med Res 1995; 4: 137–159.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bithell JF. Statistical methods for analysing point-source exposures. In: Elliott P, Cuzick J, English D, Stern R (eds), Geographical and environmental epidemiology. Oxford: OUP, 1992: 221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hills M, Alexander F. Statistical methods used in assessing the risk of disease near a source of possible environmental pollution: A review. JR Statist Soc A 1989; 152: 353–363.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hills M. Some comments on methods for investigating disease risk around a point source. In: Elliott P, Cuzick J, English D, Stern R (eds), Geographical and environmental epidemiology. Oxford: OUP, 1992: 231–237.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lawson AB, Waller LA. A review of point pattern methods for spatial modelling of events around sources of pollution. Environmetrics 1996; 7: 471–487.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shaddick G, Elliott P. Use of Stone's method in studies of disease risk around point sources of environmental pollution. Stat Med 1996; 15: 1927–1934.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Stone RA. Investigations of excess environmental risks around putative sources: Statistical problems and a proposed test. Stat Med 1988; 7: 649–660.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bithell JF, Stone RA. On statistical methods for analysing the geographical distribution of cancer cases near nucelar installations. J Epid Comm Health 1989; 43: 79–85.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Diggle P, Rowlingson B. A conditional approach to point process modelling of elevated risk. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A 1994; 157: 433–440.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Richardson S. Statistical methods for geographical correlation studies. In: Elliott P, Cuzick J, English D, Stern R (eds), Geographical and environmental epidemiology. Oxford: OUP, 1992: 181–204.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dolk H, Shaddick G, Walls P, et al. Cancer incidence near radio and television transmitters in Great Britain I. Sutton Coldfield transmitter. Amer J Epid 1997; 145: 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Dolk H, Elliott P, Shaddick G, et al. Cancer incidence near radio and television transmitters in Great Britain II. All high power transmitters. Amer J Epid 1997; 145: 10–17.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Elliott P, et al. Cancer incidence near municipal incinerators in Britain. Br J Cancer 1996 Mar; 73(5): 702–710.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dolk H, Vrijheid M, Armstrong B, et al. Risk of congenital anomolies near hazardous-waste landfill sites in Europe: The EUROHAZCON study. Lancet 1998; 352: 423–427.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Croen L, Shaw GM, Sanbonmatsu L, et al. Maternal residential proximity to hazardous waste sites and risk of selected congenital malformations. Epidemiology 1997; 8: 347–354.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Geschwind SA, Stolwijk JAJ, Bracken M, et al. Risk of congenital malformations associated with proximity to hazardous waste sites. Am J Epid 1992; 135: 1197–1207.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bhopal RS, Phillimore P, Moffat S, Foy C. Is living near a coking works harmful to health? J Epid Comm Health 1994; 48: 237–247.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lawson AB, Williams FLR. Armadale: A case-study in environmental epidemiology. JR Statist Soc A 1994; 157: 285–298.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lawson A. On the analysis of mortality events associated with a prespecified fixed point. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A 1993; 156: 363–377.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Little J, Elwood JM. Epidemiology of anencephalus and spina bifida. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992: 456–520.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Morris R, Carstairs V. Which deprivation? A comparison of selected deprivation indices. J Pub Health Med 1991; 13: 318–326.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dolk H, Mertens B, Kleinschmidt I, et al. A standardisation approach to the control of socioeconomic confounding in small area studies of environment and health. J Epid Comm Health 1995; 49(Suppl 2): S9–S14.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bithell JF, Dutton SJ, Neary NM, Vincent TJ. Controlling socioeconomic confounding using regression methods. J Epid Comm Health 1995; 49(Suppl 2): S15–S19.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Neutra R. Counterpoint from a cluster buster. Amer J Epid 1990; 132: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  25. English D. Geographical epidemiology and ecological studies. In: Elliott P, Cuzick J, English D, Stern R (eds), Geographical and environmental epidemiology. Oxford: OUP, 1992: 3–13.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Alexander FE. Clusters and clustering of childhood cancer: A review. Eur J Epidemiol 1999; 15: 669–674.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Quataert PKM. Statistical methods for cluster studies: Methodological problems and overview. Eur J Epidemiol 1999; 15: 643–653.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Knox EG. Detection of clusters. In: Elliott P (ed), Methodology of enquiries into disease clustering. Proceedings of a meeting held on 22 April 1988 at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. London: Small area health Statistics Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1989: 17–20.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rothman KJ. A sobering start for the cluster busters' conference. Amer J Epid 1990; 132suppl 1: S6–S13.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Niyonsenga T, De Wals P. Methods for the follow-up of clusters of adverse reproductive outcomes. Eur J Epidemiology 1999; 15: 655–659.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Dolk H, Elliott P. Evidence for clusters of anophthalmia is thin. Br Med J 1993; 307: 203.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Dolk H, Busby A, Armstrong BG, Walls PH. Geographical variation in Anophthalmia/Microphthalmia in England 1988–1994: Very little clustering but a higher prevalence in rural areas. Br Med J 1998; 317: 905–910.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Botting B. Limb reduction defects and coastal areas. Lancet 1994; 343: 1033–1034.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Smith D, Neutra R. Approaches to disease cluster investigations in a state health department. Statistics in Medicine 1993; 12: 1757–1762.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Schneider D, Greenberg MR, Donaldson MH, Choi D. Cancer clusters: The importance of monitoring multiple geographic scales. Soc Sci Med 1993; 37: 753–759.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Khoury MJ, Botto L, Mastrioacovo P, Skjaerven R, Castilla E, Erickson JD. Monitoring for multiple malformations: An international perspective. Epidemiol Rev 1994; 16: 335–342.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Czeizel A, Elek C, Gundy S, et al. Environmental trichloroform and cluster of congenital abnormalities. Lancet 1993; 341: 539–542.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Helen Dolk

Authors
  1. Helen Dolk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dolk, H. The role of the assessment of spatial variation and clustering in environmental surveillance of birth defects. Eur J Epidemiol 15, 839–845 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007569831029

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007569831029

Search

Navigation