Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

12-2025

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health

First Committee Member

Shaun Cross

Second Committee Member

Eleanor G Rogan

Third Committee Member

Muhammad Zahid

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association between glyphosate usage and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) at the county level in Nebraska using population-based cancer surveillance data and applied glyphosate by geographic location. A combination of statistical, rural–urban, and geospatial analytic approaches was used to assess the group differences and temporal trends between herbicide use and disease burden. Glyphosate use increased substantially over time, particularly in eastern and south-central counties with high corn and soybean production; however, there was no significant rural–urban difference. Incidence of NHL increased consistently between 1987 and 2014, and several agricultural, sparsely populated counties with the highest age-adjusted NHL rates were identified. Although the simple correlation between glyphosate usage and NHL incidence was low, multivariable regression explained county-level variation, and geospatial analyses (Bivariate LISA and Getis-Ord Gi*) identified statistically significant High–High clusters where elevated glyphosate use and higher NHL incidence co-occurred. Although ecological data cannot establish causality, the findings indicate a geographically patterned relationship between glyphosate intensity and NHL burden and highlight the need for targeted environmental monitoring and further epidemiologic investigation in high-use agricultural regions.

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Available for download on Sunday, December 12, 2027

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