Cancer atlases: Uses and limitations

Summary Atlases of cancer mortality have recently appeared in many nations. This paper cautions environmental professionals against using them to draw cause-and-effect conclusions because of limitations of the map as a conveyor of information, and limitations of the data used in cancer atlases. Appropriate uses include, finding clues for detailed epidemiological and environmental research, places with poor data, regions requiring special equipment and personnel, and as tools for persuading the public to be less fatalistic about cancer and more supportive of public health protection and education programs.Dr Michael Greenberg is both Professor of the School of Urban and Regional Policy, and Acting Director of the Graduate Program in Public Health, at the University of Medicine and Dentistry and Rutgers University.