Guidelines for Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns

For Public Health

At a glance

NCEH/ATSDR makes peer review information available to demonstrate efforts to utilize transparent and independent peer review, appropriate research methods, and the highest level of data quality. This ATSDR report shares the guidelines for examining unusual patterns of cancer and environmental concerns.

Details

Title: Guidelines for Examining Unusual Patterns of Cancer and Environmental Concerns

Subject of Planned Report: The guidelines presented here update the 2013 publication, "Investigating Suspected Cancer Clusters and Responding to Community Concerns: Guidelines from the CDC and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)."

Purpose of Planned Report: This document is intended to help health departments as they investigate patterns of disease in communities.

Type of Dissemination: ISI

Timing of Review (including deferrals): January 2022

Type of Review (panel, individual or alternative procedure): Individual

Opportunities for the Public to Comment (how and when): A request for public comment was released as a Federal Register Notice to solicit input from the public. The notice was open from May 15, 2019, through July 15, 2019, for public comments. A second federal register notice was published May 25, 2022. This solicitation was open for public comment for 60 days.

Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comments before the Review: No

Number of Reviewers: 3

Primary Disciplines or Expertise: cancer cluster investigations, environmental epidemiology, environmental risk assessment, geospatial methods and statistics, cancer registry data, and community outreach and risk communication

Reviewers Selected by (agency or designated outside organization): CDC/ATSDR

Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: No

Reviewers

Academic and Professional Credentials

MD

PhD

Current Position Title

Senior Biostatistician

Organizational Affiliation(s)

Verge Genomics

Areas of Expertise, Discipline, Relevant Experiences

  • Pediatric cancer
  • Environmental public health tracking
  • Biostatistics
  • Clinical medicine
  • Environmental epidemiology

Recommended by Scientific/Professional
Society or General Public

No

Academic and Professional Credentials

PhD

Current Position Title

Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Organizational Affiliation(s)

Emory University
Rollins School of Public Health

Areas of Expertise, Discipline, Relevant Experiences

  • Data science
  • Applied and theoretical statistics
  • Disease surveillance
  • Infectious disease
  • Spatial analysis
  • Public health preparedness and response

Recommended by Scientific/Professional
Society or General Public

No

Academic and Professional Credentials

  • MPH
  • PhD
  • CTR

Current Position Title

Program Manager of Data Use and Research

Organizational Affiliation(s)

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries

Areas of Expertise, Discipline, Relevant Experiences

Cancer registries and cancer epidemiology

Recommended by Scientific/Professional
Society or General Public

No
Content Source
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
About This Page
Published: November 12, 2024
Updated: August 7, 2024

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: August 28, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.