OBJECTIVES. Our objectives were (1) to describe an analysis of the spatial pattern of cancer incidence in Ontario and (2) to discuss the quality of data in the Ontario Cancer Registry with respect to the accuracy of local cancer rates. METHODS. Cancer incidence rates were calculated for 22 cancer sites in 49 counties of Ontario during 1976 to 1986. Capture-recapture methods were used to estimate completeness of case registration, and completeness of residence information was also assessed. Spatial autocorrelation was used in measuring the geographic pattern of incidence rates. Comparisons were also made between sexes and with earlier data from 1966 to 1975. RESULTS. The quality of the geographic data in the registry appeared good, and corrections for incomplete or inaccurate registration had little impact. About one third of the sex-site combinations showed some evidence of spatial patterning in the cancer rate. Particularly strong regional variation was noted for cancers of the stomach, lung, uterus, and prostate. CONCLUSIONS. The analysis revealed a number of cancers with significant spatial patterning of risk. Further work is needed to relate the cancer data to other information on potential life-style and environmental factors.

Previous efforts to synthesize information on community responses to various noise sources have been forced to rely on a variety of surveys conducted in different countries over a number of years. Comparability of both the noise measurements and the questions asked has been limited, and has of necessity relied on professional judgment. Data collected recently around Toronto International Airport provide a direct comparison of response to two sources, based on 673 interviews of persons exposed to a variety of levels of both aircraft and road traffic noise. The results of that analysis do not support the assumption that response to these two noise sources is the same. For the same value of Ldn, a greater percentage of the sample is highly annoyed by aircraft noise than by road traffic noise. Possible reasons for this contradiction of the results of a previous synthesis of noise surveys are discussed.

A set of 49 national, intranational and international health atlases was surveyed to characterize their mapping methodology with respect to the populations covered, the diseases represented, the mapping techniques, and statistical methods. Little consistency was found concerning the choice of data function to be mapped, minimum event frequency requirements, method of age standardization, or map colour systems. Many atlases did not include basic epidemiological information; for instance, approximately half the atlases did not quote population denominators. There was a tendency to emphasize statistical significance over rate values, and to focus on high rather than low risk. Very few atlases included supplemental information on environmental factors. Most adopted a descriptive stance, and attempted no aetiological interpretation. We conclude that inter-atlas comparisons are made very difficult by methodological differences, and that even regional comparisons within atlases should be made cautiously. We propose a set of methodological guidelines for consideration in future atlases.

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Abstract. The HADRIAN human modelling system is under development as part of the EPSRC funded AUNT-SUE project. The HADRIAN system aims to foster a 'design for all' ethos by allowing ergonomists and designers to see the effects of different kinds of disability on the physical capabilities of elderly and disabled people. This system is based upon the long established SAMMIE system, and uses data collected from 102 people, 79 of whom are registered as disabled, or have age related mobility issues. The HADRIAN system allows three dimensional CAD data of new products to be imported, with a subsequent automated analysis using all of the 102 sample members. The following paper describes the process and results gathered from a validation study using an ATM design as a case study. The results indicated that fine tuning of the behavioural data built into HADRIAN would improve the accuracy of an automated product analysis.

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