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Rae S, Plummer E, Fitzgerald L, Hogarth L, Bridgewood A, Brown-Schofield L, Graham J, Haigh S, McAnulty C, Drew Y, Haris N, Bashir S, Plummer R, Greystoke A. Prevalence of mutations in common tumour types in Northern England and comparable utility of national and international Trial Finders. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:16355-16363. [PMID: 37702806 PMCID: PMC10645649 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05365-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tumour genomic profiling is of increasing importance in early phase trials to match patients to targeted therapeutics. Mutations vary by demographic group; however, regional differences are not characterised. This was investigated by comparing mutation prevalence for common cancers presenting to Newcastle Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and utility of trial matching modalities. METHODS Detailed clinicogenomic data were obtained for patients presenting September 2017-December 2020. Prevalence of mutations in lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer was compared to TCGA GDC Data Portal. Experimental Cancer (EC) Trial Finder utility in matching trials was compared to a Molecular Tumour Board (MTB) and commercial sequencing reports. RESULTS Of 311 patients with advanced cancer, this consisted of lung (n = 131, 42.1%), colorectal (n = 44, 14.1%), breast (n = 36, 11.6%) and prostate (n = 18, 5.6%). More than one mutation was identified in the majority (n = 260, 84%). Significant prevalence differences compared to TCGA were identified, including a high prevalence of EGFR in lung (P = 0.001); RB1 in breast (P = 0.0002); and multiple mutations in prostate cancer. EC Trial Finder demonstrated significantly different utility than sequencing reports in identifying trials (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Regional differences in mutations may exist with advanced stage accounting for prevalence of specific mutations. A national Trial Finder shows utility in finding targeted trials whilst commercial sequencing reports may over-report 'actionable' mutations. Understanding local prevalence and trial availability could increase enrolment onto matched early phase trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rae
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - E Plummer
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - L Fitzgerald
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - L Hogarth
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - A Bridgewood
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - L Brown-Schofield
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - J Graham
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - S Haigh
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - C McAnulty
- Newcastle Genetics Laboratory, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - Y Drew
- BC Cancer Centre, Vancouver, 600W 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6, Canada
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - N Haris
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - S Bashir
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - R Plummer
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - A Greystoke
- Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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Ciocan C, Franco N, Pira E, Mansour I, Godono A, Boffetta P. Methodological issues in descriptive environmental epidemiology. The example of study Sentieri. LA MEDICINA DEL LAVORO 2021; 112:15-33. [PMID: 33635292 PMCID: PMC8023053 DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v112i1.10099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Descriptive epidemiology identifies associations between environmental exposures and health effects that require results from methodologically stronger studies before causation can be considered. OBJECTIVE To critically review the methodology and results of Sentieri, a descripitive study on residence in areas with one or more industrial source of pollution. METHODS We systematically reviewed the literature quoted by Sentieri for the selection of health effects of nine types of pollution sources of a-priori interest. We also reviewed and meta-analyzed the results of the first report of Sentieri, that analyzed mortality in 44 polluted sites (PS), and 17 causes of deaths during 1995-2002. RESULTS Among 159 study results quoted by Sentieri, 23.9 % were supportive of an association between residence near a pollution source and a health effect, 30.2 % were partially supportive, 10.7 % were not supportive, and 35.2 % were not relevant. Among 653 standardized mortality ratios for associations between PS-specific pollution sources and causes of death, 14.4% were significantly above 1.02, and 9.0% were significantly below 0.98. Among 48 meta-analysis, seven were significantly above 1.0, including five on exposure to asbestos. CONCLUSIONS Sentieri exemplifies the limitations of descriptive environmental epidemiology studies, in which most hypotheses have limited prior support, most results do not show associations, data on potential confounders and other sources of bias are not available. Such studies tend to replicate well-known associations and occasionally can identify critical situations requiring more investigation, but cannot be used to infer causality either in general or in specific circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Ciocan
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Nicolò Franco
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Enrico Pira
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Ihab Mansour
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | | | - Paolo Boffetta
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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Idavain J, Lang K, Tomasova J, Lang A, Orru H. Cancer Incidence Trends in the Oil Shale Industrial Region in Estonia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E3833. [PMID: 32481656 PMCID: PMC7312168 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, excavated, and used for electricity generation and shale oil extraction. During industrial activities in the last 100 years, pollutants have been emitted in large amounts, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. The current study aims to analyse time trends in cancer incidence in the oil shale industry-affected areas and compare them with overall cancer incidence rates and trends in Estonia. We analysed Estonian Cancer Registry data on selected cancer sites that have been previously indicated to have relationships with industrial activities like oil shale extraction. We included lung cancer, kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A statistically significantly higher lung cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was found during the study period (1992-2015) only in males in the oil shale areas as compared to males in Estonia overall: 133.6 and 95.5 per 100,000, respectively. However, there appeared to be a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the lung cancer ASIR in males in the oil shale areas (overall decrease 28.9%), whereas at the same time, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in non-oil shale areas (13.3%) and in Estonia overall (1.5%). Other cancer sites did not show higher ASIRs in the oil shale industrial areas compared to other areas in Estonia. Possible explanations could be improved environmental quality, socio-economic factors, and other morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Idavain
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
- Department of Health Statistics, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Katrin Lang
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
| | - Jelena Tomasova
- Estonian Health Board, Paldiski mnt 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia;
| | - Aavo Lang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Hans Orru
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden
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Jephcote C, Mah A. Regional inequalities in benzene exposures across the European petrochemical industry: A Bayesian multilevel modelling approach. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 132:104812. [PMID: 31421386 PMCID: PMC6857433 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pollutants released from the petrochemical industry are thought to increase the risk of mortality in fence-line communities, yet the results from previous studies are often inconsistent and lack a global perspective, hampered by the absence of cohesive cross-country research. OBJECTIVES To provide the first Pan-European analysis of benzene exposures from the petrochemical industry, connecting polluting practices to pollution episodes and disparities in regional mortality rates, identifying the measures of best environmental practice to mitigate adverse outcomes. METHODS The activity, classification and location of onshore petrochemical facilities within EU-28 Member States were extracted from the 'European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register' (E-PRTR), which holds records on 31,753 industrial operations for the reporting period of 2007-15. Parent company records were collected from the Moody's Analytics Amadeus database of 487,338 active companies across Europe. The EUROSTAT census provided records of income, life expectancy, and the underlying demographics used to calculate standardised health outcomes based on 9,936 sub-populations within the NUTS2 regions. The European Environment Agency provided ambient concentrations of benzene from 579 air quality stations. Bayesian multilevel models were constructed to account for variability caused by spatial hierarchical structures, uncertainty in the estimates, and to incorporate both individual and group-level influences. RESULTS Higher levels of benzene emissions from petrochemical operations, both overall and in terms of specific pollution events, were associated with increased mortality rates for nearby residential populations, particularly in areas with socioeconomic deprivation. We identify uneven patterns of polluting practices within the industry, and locations that require epidemiological studies. CONCLUSIONS While petrochemical facilities in all European Union regions are regulated to be compliant with the annual average benzene limit of 5 μg/m3, uneven exposures still present regional health inequalities. We recommend extending benzene regulations to an hourly or daily limit, alongside the strengthening of regulation for other toxic petrochemical releases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin Jephcote
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
| | - Alice Mah
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
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Wang L, Sun W, Zhou K, Zhang M, Bao P. Spatial Analysis of Built Environment Risk for Respiratory Health and Its Implication for Urban Planning: A Case Study of Shanghai. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16081455. [PMID: 31022924 PMCID: PMC6518356 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Urban planning has been proven and is expected to promote public health by improving the built environment. With a focus on respiratory health, this paper explores the impact of the built environment on the incidence of lung cancer and its planning implications. While the occurrence of lung cancer is a complicated and cumulative process, it would be valuable to discover the potential risks of the built environment. Based on the data of 52,009 lung cancer cases in Shanghai, China from 2009 to 2013, this paper adopts spatial analytical methods to unravel the spatial distribution of lung cancer cases. With the assistance of geographic information system and Geo-Detector, this paper identifies certain built environments that are correlated with the distribution pattern of lung cancer cases in Shanghai, including the percentage of industrial land (which explains 28% of the cases), location factors (11%), and the percentages of cultivated land and green space (6% and 5%, respectively). Based on the quantitative study, this paper facilitates additional consideration and planning intervention measures for respiratory health such as green buffering. It is an ecological study to illustrate correlation that provides approaches for further study to unravel the causality of disease incidence and the built environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Wenyao Sun
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Kaichen Zhou
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Minlu Zhang
- Shanghai Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Shanghai 200336, China.
| | - Pingping Bao
- Shanghai Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Shanghai 200336, China.
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Adverse risk factor trends limit gains in coronary heart disease mortality in Barbados: 1990-2012. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215392. [PMID: 30995272 PMCID: PMC6469800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although most countries face increasing population levels of obesity and diabetes their effect on coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality has not been often studied in small island developing states (SIDs) where obesity rates are among the highest in the world. We estimated the relative contributions of treatments and cardiovascular risk factors to the decline in CHD mortality from 1990 to 2012 in the Caribbean island, Barbados. Methods We used the IMPACT CHD mortality model to estimate the effect of increased coverage of effective medical/surgical treatments and changes in major CHD risk factors on mortality trends in 2012 compared with 1990. We calculated deaths prevented or postponed (DPPs) for each model risk factor and treatment group. We obtained data from WHO Mortality database, population denominators from the Barbados Statistical Service stratified by 10-year age group (ages 25–34 up to 85 plus), population-based risk factor surveys, Global Burden of Disease and Barbados’ national myocardial infarction registry. Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed. Results In 1990 the age-standardized CHD mortality rate was 109.5 per 100,000 falling to 55.3 in 2012. Implementation of effective treatment accounted for 56% DPPs (95% (Uncertainty Interval (UI) 46%, 68%), mostly due to the introduction of treatments immediately after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (14%) and unstable angina (14%). Overall, risk factors contributed 19% DPPs (95% UI 6% to 34%) mostly attributed to decline in cholesterol (18% DPPs, 95% UI 12%, 26%). Adverse trends in diabetes: 14% additional deaths(ADs) 95% UI 8% to 21% ADs) and BMI (2% ADs 95%UI 0 to 5% ADs) limited potential for risk factor gains. Conclusions Given the significant negative impact of obesity/diabetes on mortality in this analysis, research that explores factors affecting implementation of evidenced-based preventive strategies is needed. The fact that most of the decline in CHD mortality in Barbados was due to treatment provides an example for SIDs about the advantages of universal access to care and treatment.
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Crawford H, Wilkinson H. The Novel Use of Life Grids in a Phenomenological Study of Family Carers of People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities and Dysphagia. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2019; 29:589-596. [PMID: 29553299 DOI: 10.1177/1049732318761028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Life grids have been used in qualitative studies for the last two decades. They provide an activity which researcher and participant can focus their attention on, help build rapport, and reduce the control the researcher may hold within a session. Here we describe the novel use of life grids at the end of a data collection phase. Used in this previously unreported way, life grids assisted the closure of the data collection phase by summarizing the data collection and marking departure from the field. Creation of a life grid produced a tangible outcome, evidencing the work undertaken within the data collection period. They served as a powerful member checking tool, allowing participants to make additions and corrections to the data. In this article, the use of life grids in this novel way is described and recommended by the authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Crawford
- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
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Orru H, Idavain J, Pindus M, Orru K, Kesanurm K, Lang A, Tomasova J. Residents' Self-Reported Health Effects and Annoyance in Relation to Air Pollution Exposure in an Industrial Area in Eastern-Estonia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E252. [PMID: 29393920 PMCID: PMC5858321 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Eastern Estonia has large oil shale mines and industrial facilities mainly focused on electricity generation from oil shale and shale oil extraction, which produce high air pollution emissions. The "Study of the health impact of the oil shale sector-SOHOS" was aimed at identifying the impacts on residents' health and annoyance due to the industrial processing. First, a population-wide survey about health effects and annoyance was carried out. Second, the total and oil shale sectors' emitted concentrations of benzene, phenol, and PM2.5 were modelled. Third, the differences between groups were tested and relationships between health effects and environmental pollution studied using multiple regression analysis. Compared to the control groups from non-industrial areas in Tartu or Lääne-Viru, residents of Ida-Viru more frequently (p < 0.05) reported wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, a long-term cough, hypertension, heart diseases, myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes. All health effects except asthma were reported more frequently among non-Estonians. People living in regions with higher levels of PM2.5, had significantly higher odds (p < 0.05) of experiencing chest tightness (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26), shortness of breath (1.16, 1.03-1.31) or an asthma attack (1.22, 1.04-1.42) during the previous year. People living in regions with higher levels of benzene had higher odds of experiencing myocardial infarction (1.98, 1.11-3.53) and with higher levels of phenol chest tightness (1.44, 1.03-2.00), long-term cough (1.48, 1.06-2.07) and myocardial infarction (2.17, 1.23-3.83). The prevalence of adverse health effects was also higher among those who had been working in the oil shale sector. Next to direct health effects, up to a quarter of the residents of Ida-Viru County were highly annoyed about air pollution. Perceived health risk from air pollution increased the odds of being annoyed. Annoyed people in Ida-Viru had significantly higher odds of experiencing respiratory symptoms during the last 12 months, e.g., wheezing (2.30, 1.31-4.04), chest tightness (2.88, 1.91-4.33 or attack of coughing (1.99, 1.34-2.95).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Orru
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden.
| | - Jane Idavain
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
- National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 14, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Mihkel Pindus
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Kati Orru
- Institute of Social Sciences, University of Tartu, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Kaisa Kesanurm
- Estonian Environmental Research Centre, Marja 4d, 10614 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Aavo Lang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
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Eom SY, Choi J, Bae S, Lim JA, Kim GB, Yu SD, Kim Y, Lim HS, Son BS, Paek D, Kim YD, Kim H, Ha M, Kwon HJ. Health effects of environmental pollution in population living near industrial complex areas in Korea. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TOXICOLOGY 2018; 33:e2018004. [PMID: 29370680 PMCID: PMC5903037 DOI: 10.5620/eht.e2018004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Yong Eom
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jonghyuk Choi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Korea
| | - Sanghyuk Bae
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Korea
| | - Ji-Ae Lim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Korea
| | - Guen-Bae Kim
- Environmental Health Research Division, Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Korea
| | - Seung-Do Yu
- Environmental Health Research Division, Environmental Health Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Korea
| | - Yangho Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Hyun-Sul Lim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea
| | - Bu-Soon Son
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea
| | - Domyung Paek
- Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Dae Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Heon Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Mina Ha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Korea
| | - Ho-Jang Kwon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Korea
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A G, A S, D B, A S, RG W. Development of a Method to Obtain More Accurate General and Oral Health Related Information Retrospectively. JOURNAL OF DENTAL BIOMATERIALS 2017; 4:409-418. [PMID: 28959773 PMCID: PMC5608071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Early childhood is a crucial period of life as it affects one's future health. However, precise data on adverse events during this period is usually hard to access or collect, especially in developing countries. OBJECTIVES This paper first reviews the existing methods for retrospective data collection in health and social sciences, and then introduces a new method/tool for obtaining more accurate general and oral health related information from early childhood retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Early Childhood Events Life-Grid (ECEL) was developed to collect information on the type and time of health-related adverse events during the early years of life, by questioning the parents. The validity of ECEL and the accuracy of information obtained by this method were assessed in a pilot study and in a main study of 30 parents of 8 to 11 year old children from Shiraz (Iran). Responses obtained from parents using the final ECEL were compared with the recorded health insurance documents. RESULTS There was an almost perfect agreement between the health insurance and ECEL data sets (Kappa value=0.95 and p < 0.001). Interviewees remembered the important events more accurately (100% exact timing match in case of hospitalization). CONCLUSIONS The Early Childhood Events Life-Grid method proved to be highly accurate when compared with recorded medical documents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golkari A
- Oral and Dental Disease Research Center and Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
,Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sabokseir A
- Oral and Dental Disease Research Center and Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Blane D
- Department of Social Science and Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sheiham A
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Watt RG
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
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Marino E, Caruso M, Campagna D, Polosa R. Impact of air quality on lung health: myth or reality? Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2015; 6:286-98. [PMID: 26336597 DOI: 10.1177/2040622315587256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The respiratory system is a primary target of the harmful effects of key air pollutants of health concern. Several air pollutants have been implicated including particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is well known that episodes of exposure to high concentrations of outdoor air pollutants can cause acute respiratory exacerbations. However, there is now increasing evidence suggesting that significant exposure to outdoor air pollutants may be also associated with development of lung cancer and with incident cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respiratory allergies. Here we provide a critical appraisal of the impact of air pollution on respiratory diseases and discuss strategies for preventing excessive exposure to harmful air pollutants. However, the evidence that significant exposure to air pollutants is causing COPD, lung cancer or respiratory allergies is not conclusive and therefore regulators must be aware that execution of clean air policies may not be that cost-effective and may lead to unintended consequences. Addressing the lung health effects of air pollution must be considered work in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Marino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, and UOC di Medicina Interna e Immunologia Clinica, Università di Catania, Italy
| | - Massimo Caruso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, and UOC di Medicina Interna e Immunologia Clinica, Università di Catania, Italy
| | - Davide Campagna
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, and UOC di Medicina Interna e Immunologia Clinica, Università di Catania, Italy
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- UOC di Medicina Interna e Immunologia Clinica, Policlinico Universitario, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, 95100, Catania, Italy
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Lung cancer risk and past exposure to emissions from a large steel plant. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 2013:684035. [PMID: 24324501 PMCID: PMC3845394 DOI: 10.1155/2013/684035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We studied the spatial distribution of cancer incidence rates around a large steel plant and its association with historical exposure. The study population was close to 600,000. The incidence data was collected for 1995–2006. From historical emission data the air pollution concentrations for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and metals were modelled. Data were analyzed using Bayesian hierarchical Poisson regression models. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for lung cancer was up to 40% higher than average in postcodes located in two municipalities adjacent to the industrial area. Increased incidence rates could partly be explained by differences in socioeconomic status (SES). In the highest exposure category (approximately 45,000 inhabitants) a statistically significant increased relative risk (RR) of 1.21 (1.01–1.43) was found after adjustment for SES. The elevated RRs were similar for men and women. Additional analyses in a subsample of the population with personal smoking data from a recent survey suggested that the observed association between lung cancer and plant emission, after adjustment for SES, could still be caused by residual confounding. Therefore, we cannot indisputably conclude that past emissions from the steel plant have contributed to the increased risk of lung cancer.
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Pasetto R, Comba P, Pirastu R. Lung Cancer Mortality in a Cohort of Workers in a Petrochemical Plant: Occupational or Residential Risk? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2013; 14:124-8. [DOI: 10.1179/oeh.2008.14.2.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Pascal M, Pascal L, Bidondo ML, Cochet A, Sarter H, Stempfelet M, Wagner V. A review of the epidemiological methods used to investigate the health impacts of air pollution around major industrial areas. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 2013:737926. [PMID: 23818910 PMCID: PMC3684125 DOI: 10.1155/2013/737926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Revised: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We performed a literature review to investigate how epidemiological studies have been used to assess the health consequences of living in the vicinity of industries. 77 papers on the chronic effects of air pollution around major industrial areas were reviewed. Major health themes were cancers (27 studies), morbidity (25 studies), mortality (7 studies), and birth outcome (7 studies). Only 3 studies investigated mental health. While studies were available from many different countries, a majority of papers came from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. Several studies were motivated by concerns from the population or by previous observations of an overincidence of cases. Geographical ecological designs were largely used for studying cancer and mortality, including statistical designs to quantify a relationship between health indicators and exposure. Morbidity was frequently investigated through cross-sectional surveys on the respiratory health of children. Few multicenter studies were performed. In a majority of papers, exposed areas were defined based on the distance to the industry and were located from <2 km to >20 km from the plants. Improving the exposure assessment would be an asset to future studies. Criteria to include industries in multicenter studies should be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Pascal
- French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, 12 Rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Staint-Maurice, France.
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Hendryx M, Luo J. Cancer hospitalizations in rural-urban areas in relation to carcinogenic discharges from Toxics Release Inventory facilities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2012; 23:155-169. [PMID: 22838640 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2012.708919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This paper examines whether carcinogenic pollutants discharged from US Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities are related to cancer hospitalization rates among the general population in rural and urban areas. We analyzed cancer hospitalizations (N = 440,061) across 20 states to find age- and sex-adjusted population cancer hospitalization rates. Multiple regression models were used to determine whether cancer hospitalization rates at the county level (N = 1102 counties) were associated with higher levels of carcinogenic discharges from TRI facilities, controlling for other risks. Significantly higher hospitalization rates were found in relation to higher TRI discharges for several cancer types that varied from urban to rural setting. Carcinogenic discharges from TRI facilities were associated with excess inpatient cancer treatment costs of $902.8 million in 2009. Future research may strive to move beyond ecological designs to examine cancer risks from TRI releases to better our understanding of cancer etiology and to establish appropriate environmental safeguards as indicated by the evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hendryx
- Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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Pasanen K, Pukkala E, Turunen AW, Patama T, Jussila I, Makkonen S, Salonen RO, Verkasalo PK. Mortality Among Population With Exposure to Industrial Air Pollution Containing Nickel and Other Toxic Metals. J Occup Environ Med 2012; 54:583-91. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0b013e3182492050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Pearce MS, Glinianaia SV, Ghosh R, Rankin J, Rushton S, Charlton M, Parker L, Pless-Mulloli T. Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy is associated with birth weight, but not gestational age, 1962-1992: a cohort study. Environ Health 2012; 11:13. [PMID: 22404858 PMCID: PMC3324390 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-11-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to air pollutants is suggested to adversely affect fetal growth, but the evidence remains inconsistent in relation to specific outcomes and exposure windows. METHODS Using birth records from the two major maternity hospitals in Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England between 1961 and 1992, we constructed a database of all births to mothers resident within the city. Weekly black smoke exposure levels from routine data recorded at 20 air pollution monitoring stations were obtained and individual exposures were estimated via a two-stage modeling strategy, incorporating temporally and spatially varying covariates. Regression analyses, including 88,679 births, assessed potential associations between exposure to black smoke and birth weight, gestational age and birth weight standardized for gestational age and sex. RESULTS Significant associations were seen between black smoke and both standardized and unstandardized birth weight, but not for gestational age when adjusted for potential confounders. Not all associations were linear. For an increase in whole pregnancy black smoke exposure, from the 1(st) (7.4 μg/m(3)) to the 25(th) (17.2 μg/m(3)), 50(th) (33.8 μg/m(3)), 75(th) (108.3 μg/m(3)), and 90(th) (180.8 μg/m(3)) percentiles, the adjusted estimated decreases in birth weight were 33 g (SE 1.05), 62 g (1.63), 98 g (2.26) and 109 g (2.44) respectively. A significant interaction was observed between socio-economic deprivation and black smoke on both standardized and unstandardized birth weight with increasing effects of black smoke in reducing birth weight seen with increasing socio-economic disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study progress the hypothesis that the association between black smoke and birth weight may be mediated through intrauterine growth restriction. The associations between black smoke and birth weight were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for passive smoking. These findings add to the growing evidence of the harmful effects of air pollution on birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Pearce
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Svetlana V Glinianaia
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Rakesh Ghosh
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Judith Rankin
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Steven Rushton
- Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
| | - Martin Charlton
- National Centre for Geocomputation, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Louise Parker
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Tanja Pless-Mulloli
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
- Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
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Bhopal R. Response to: What we want to know is … is it true or false? Public Health 2011; 125:238-9; discussion 239-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2011.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Signorino G, Pasetto R, Gatto E, Mucciardi M, La Rocca M, Mudu P. Gravity models to classify commuting vs. resident workers. An application to the analysis of residential risk in a contaminated area. Int J Health Geogr 2011; 10:11. [PMID: 21272299 PMCID: PMC3040125 DOI: 10.1186/1476-072x-10-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The analysis of risk for the population residing and/or working in contaminated areas raises the topic of commuting. In fact, especially in contaminated areas, commuting groups are likely to be subject to lower exposure than residents. Only very recently environmental epidemiology has started considering the role of commuting as a differential source of exposure in contaminated areas. In order to improve the categorization of groups, this paper applies a gravitational model to the analysis of residential risk for workers in the Gela petrochemical complex, which began life in the early 60s in the municipality of Gela (Sicily, Italy) and is the main source of industrial pollution in the local area. RESULTS A logistic regression model is implemented to measure the capacity of Gela "central location" to attract commuting flows from other sites. Drawing from gravity models, the proposed methodology: a) defines the probability of finding commuters from municipalities outside Gela as a function of the origin's "economic mass" and of its distance from each destination; b) establishes "commuting thresholds" relative to the origin's mass. The analysis includes 367 out of the 390 Sicilian municipalities. Results are applied to define "commuters" and "residents" within the cohort of petrochemical workers. The study population is composed of 5,627 workers. Different categories of residence in Gela are compared calculating Mortality Rate Ratios for lung cancer through a Poisson regression model, controlling for age and calendar period. The mobility model correctly classifies almost 90% of observations. Its application to the mortality analysis confirms a major risk for lung cancer associated with residence in Gela. CONCLUSIONS Commuting is a critical aspect of the health-environment relationship in contaminated areas. The proposed methodology can be replicated to different contexts when residential information is lacking or unreliable; however, a careful consideration of the territorial characteristics ("insularity" and its impact on transportation time and costs, in our case) is suggested when specifying the area of application for the mobility analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Signorino
- Department of Economics, Statistics, Mathematics and Sociology, University of Messina, Via Tommaso Cannizzaro 278, Messina, Italy
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Lung cancer risk and pollution in an industrial region of Northern Spain: a hospital-based case-control study. Int J Health Geogr 2011; 10:10. [PMID: 21266041 PMCID: PMC3040690 DOI: 10.1186/1476-072x-10-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Accepted: 01/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Asturias, an Autonomous Region in Northern Spain with a large industrial area, registers high lung cancer incidence and mortality. While this excess risk of lung cancer might be partially attributable to smoking habit and occupational exposure, the role of industrial and urban pollution also needs to be assessed. The objective was to ascertain the possible effect of air pollution, both urban and industrial, on lung cancer risk in Asturias. Methods This was a hospital-based case-control study covering 626 lung cancer patients and 626 controls recruited in Asturias and matched by ethnicity, hospital, age, and sex. Distances from the respective participants' residential locations to industrial facilities and city centers were computed. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for categories of distance to urban and industrial pollution sources were calculated, with adjustment for sex, age, hospital area, tobacco consumption, family history of cancer, and occupation. Results Whereas individuals living near industries displayed an excess risk of lung cancer (OR = 1.49; 95%CI = 0.93-2.39), which attained statistical significance for small cell carcinomas (OR = 2.23; 95%CI = 1.01-4.92), residents in urban areas showed a statistically significant increased risk for adenocarcinoma (OR = 1.92; 95%CI = 1.09-3.38). In the Gijon health area, residents in the urban area registered a statistically significant increased risk of lung cancer (OR = 2.17; 95%CI = 1.25-3.76), whereas in the Aviles health area, no differences in risk were found by area of exposure. Conclusions This study provides further evidence that air pollution is a moderate risk factor for lung cancer.
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Axelsson G, Barregard L, Holmberg E, Sallsten G. Cancer incidence in a petrochemical industry area in Sweden. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2010; 408:4482-4487. [PMID: 20619881 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2009] [Revised: 06/04/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Emissions from petrochemical industries may contain suspected or established carcinogens. As increased incidence of cancer in residential areas close to petrochemical industries has been reported in the literature, we conducted a study of cancer incidence in Stenungsund, Sweden, where petrochemical industries were established in the mid 1960s. A number of cancer cases in the central parts of Stenungsund were collected from the regional cancer registry for each year between 1974 and 2005. In addition to the total number of cases, the numbers of leukemia, lymphoma, liver cancer, lung cancer, and brain cancer were also collected. Expected numbers for each year were calculated based on age- and sex-specific incidence rates in reference areas. Levels of carcinogenic volatile hydrocarbons (VOC) were estimated from measurements and emission data. A dispersion model was used to classify Stenungsund into a "low" and "high" ethylene level area. Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) for all cancer for the entire period was 1.02 (95% CI 0.97-1.08). The occurrence of leukemia, lymphoma, and cancer in the central nervous system was slightly lower than expected for the entire period. SIR for lung cancer was 1.37 (95% CI 1.10-1.69), and SIR for liver cancer was 1.50 (0.82-2.53). VOC levels were low. Taking estimated exposure and demographic factors into account, our assessment is that occurrence of cancer was not affected by industrial emissions in any of the studied sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gösta Axelsson
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Environmental exposure to emissions from petrochemical sites and lung cancer: the lower Mississippi interagency cancer study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2010; 2010:759645. [PMID: 20300547 PMCID: PMC2838364 DOI: 10.1155/2010/759645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2009] [Revised: 12/12/2009] [Accepted: 01/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
To investigate potential links between environmental exposure to petrochemical plant emissions and lung cancer, a population-based case-control study (LMRICS) was conducted in eleven Louisiana parishes bordering the Mississippi River. Cases and age, gender, and race-matched controls were interviewed regarding potential risk factors. Residential history was geocoded to provide indices of long-term proximity to industrial sites. Cases were more likely to have lived near a petrochemical site. Models adjusted for other risk factors, however, showed small or no association with lung cancer (odds ratio for residence within a half-mile of a site = 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.58-2.08). While associations were strongest for exposures exceeding 15 years, none approached statistical significance and there was no clear dose-response across exposure duration, distance categories, or when sites were grouped according to carcinogenicity rating of chemical releases. Residential proximity to petrochemical plants along the lower Mississippi thus showed no significant association with lung cancer.
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Pearce MS, Glinianaia SV, Rankin J, Rushton S, Charlton M, Parker L, Pless-Mulloli T. No association between ambient particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and stillbirth risk in the north of England, 1962-1992. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2010; 110:118-22. [PMID: 19863953 PMCID: PMC2832733 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2009.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2009] [Revised: 10/01/2009] [Accepted: 10/02/2009] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Research evidence suggests that exposure to ambient air pollutants can adversely affect the growth and development of the foetus and infant survival. Much less is known regarding the potential for an association between black smoke air pollution and stillbirth risk. This potential association was examined using data from the historical cohort UK Particulate Matter and Perinatal Events Research (PAMPER) study. METHODS Using data from paper-based neonatal records from the two major maternity hospitals in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), a birth record database of all singletons born during 1961-1992 to mothers resident in the city was constructed. Weekly black smoke levels were obtained from routine data recorded at 20 air pollution monitoring stations over the study period. A two-stage statistical modelling strategy was used, incorporating temporally and spatially varying covariates to estimate black smoke exposure during each trimester and for the whole pregnancy period for each individual pregnancy. Conditional logistic regression models, with stratification on year of birth, were used to assess potential associations between black smoke exposures in pregnancy and stillbirth risk. RESULTS The PAMPER database consists of 90,537 births, between 1962 and 1992, with complete gestational age and residential address information, of which 812 were stillborn. There was no association between black smoke exposures in any trimester or across whole pregnancy and risk of stillbirth. Adjustment for potential confounders did not alter these results. CONCLUSIONS While black smoke in pregnancy is likely to be related to other pregnancy outcomes, our findings do not suggest that black smoke air pollution exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Pearce
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
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Hodgson S, Shirley M, Bythell M, Rankin J. Residential mobility during pregnancy in the north of England. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2009; 9:52. [PMID: 19912662 PMCID: PMC2784435 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-9-52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Accepted: 11/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many epidemiological studies assign exposure to an individual's residence at a single time point, such as birth or death. This approach makes no allowance for migration and may result in exposure error, leading to reduced study power and biased risk estimates. Pregnancy outcomes are less susceptible to this bias, however data from North American populations indicate that pregnant women are a highly mobile group. We assessed mobility in pregnant women in the north of England using data from the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey (NorCAS). Methods Data were extracted from NorCAS for 1985 to 2003. Eligible cases had a gestational age at delivery of ≥ 24 weeks (a viable delivery) (n = 11 559). We assessed mobility between booking appointment (average gestational age 13 weeks) and delivery for pregnancies where the address at booking appointment and delivery were known. The impacts on mobility of maternal age and area-level socio-economic indicators were explored using standard descriptive statistics. A sensitivity analysis and a small validation exercise were undertaken to assess the impact of missing data on the estimate of mobility. Results Out of 7 919 eligible cases for whom addresses at booking and delivery were known, 705 (8.9% (95% CI 8.3 - 9.5)) moved between booking and delivery; the mean and median moving distance was 9.7 and 1.4 km respectively. Movers were significantly younger (25.4 versus 27.3 years, p < 0.01) and lived in more deprived areas (index of multiple deprivation score 38.3 versus 33.7, p < 0.01) than non movers. Conclusion Mobility in the north of England (9%) is considerably lower than that reported in North America and the only other study from the UK (23%). Consistent with other studies, mobility was related to maternal age and socio-economic status, and the majority of moves were over a relatively short distance. Although this population appears relatively stable, the mobility we have observed may still introduce misclassification or error into an exposure assessment relying solely on postcode at delivery, and migration should still therefore be considered a potential source of bias in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Hodgson
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Hodgson S, Shirley M, Bythell M, Rankin J. Residential mobility during pregnancy in the north of England. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2009. [PMID: 19912662 DOI: 10.1186/1471–2393–9–52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many epidemiological studies assign exposure to an individual's residence at a single time point, such as birth or death. This approach makes no allowance for migration and may result in exposure error, leading to reduced study power and biased risk estimates. Pregnancy outcomes are less susceptible to this bias, however data from North American populations indicate that pregnant women are a highly mobile group. We assessed mobility in pregnant women in the north of England using data from the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey (NorCAS). METHODS Data were extracted from NorCAS for 1985 to 2003. Eligible cases had a gestational age at delivery of > or = 24 weeks (a viable delivery) (n = 11 559). We assessed mobility between booking appointment (average gestational age 13 weeks) and delivery for pregnancies where the address at booking appointment and delivery were known. The impacts on mobility of maternal age and area-level socio-economic indicators were explored using standard descriptive statistics. A sensitivity analysis and a small validation exercise were undertaken to assess the impact of missing data on the estimate of mobility. RESULTS Out of 7 919 eligible cases for whom addresses at booking and delivery were known, 705 (8.9% (95% CI 8.3 - 9.5)) moved between booking and delivery; the mean and median moving distance was 9.7 and 1.4 km respectively. Movers were significantly younger (25.4 versus 27.3 years, p < 0.01) and lived in more deprived areas (index of multiple deprivation score 38.3 versus 33.7, p < 0.01) than non movers. CONCLUSION Mobility in the north of England (9%) is considerably lower than that reported in North America and the only other study from the UK (23%). Consistent with other studies, mobility was related to maternal age and socio-economic status, and the majority of moves were over a relatively short distance. Although this population appears relatively stable, the mobility we have observed may still introduce misclassification or error into an exposure assessment relying solely on postcode at delivery, and migration should still therefore be considered a potential source of bias in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Hodgson
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Edwards R. Spousal smoking as an indicator of total secondhand smoke exposure. Nicotine Tob Res 2009; 11:606-13. [PMID: 19346508 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntp024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study assessed the utility of spousal smoking as a measure of secondhand smoke exposure. Methods The investigation involved secondary analysis of data from 526 female participants of a lung cancer case-control study from northeastern England. Secondhand smoke exposure was measured in the home (spousal and nonspousal), workplace, and social/other settings over the whole life course. RESULTS Almost all women (99.1%) had at least 10 years of secondhand smoke exposure from at least one source, most commonly from parental smoking in childhood, and spousal smoking, the workplace, and social settings during adulthood. Spousal smoking was strongly correlated with overall secondhand smoke exposure in the home over the life course but was weakly correlated (Kendall's tau = -.04 to .12) with secondhand smoke exposure from other domestic sources and with secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace or social/other settings. Most women who gave no history of spousal secondhand smoke exposure recalled at least 10 years of secondhand smoke exposure in other settings: in the home through other sources (83.2% > or = 10 "smoker-years"), through workplaces (63.4% > or =10 "exposure-years"), or in social settings (82.0% > or =10 exposure-years). Almost all (96.9%) reported at least 10 years of exposure from at least one of these nonspousal sources. DISCUSSION Using spousal smoking as a proxy of total secondhand smoke exposure would have meant that these subjects would have been misclassified as not exposed to secondhand smoke. This misclassification may bias estimates of association with health outcomes toward the null. Studies of the effects of secondhand smoke exposure on health outcomes should evaluate all potential sources of secondhand smoke exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Edwards
- Department of Public Health, Health Promotion and Policy Research Group, PO Box 7343, Wellington, New Zealand.
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Monge-Corella S, García-Pérez J, Aragonés N, Pollán M, Pérez-Gómez B, López-Abente G. Lung cancer mortality in towns near paper, pulp and board industries in Spain: a point source pollution study. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:288. [PMID: 18702814 PMCID: PMC2527328 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2008] [Accepted: 08/14/2008] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study sought to ascertain whether there might be excess lung cancer mortality among the population residing in the vicinity of Spanish paper and board industries which report their emissions to the European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER). METHODS This was an ecological study that modelled the Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) for lung cancer in 8073 Spanish towns over the period 1994-2003. Population exposure to industrial pollution was estimated on the basis of distance from town of residence to pollution source. An exploratory, near-versus-far analysis was conducted, using mixed Poisson regression models and an analysis of the effect of municipal proximity within a 50-kilometre radius of each of the 18 installations. RESULTS Results varied for the different facilities. In two instances there was an increasing mortality gradient with proximity to the installation, though this was exclusively observed among men. CONCLUSION The study of cancer mortality in areas surrounding pollutant foci is a useful tool for environmental surveillance, and serves to highlight areas of interest susceptible to being investigated by ad hoc studies. Despite present limitations, recognition is therefore due to the advance represented by publication of the EPER and the study of pollutant foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Monge-Corella
- Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Area, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier García-Pérez
- Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Area, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Aragonés
- Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Area, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Pollán
- Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Area, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pérez-Gómez
- Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Area, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gonzalo López-Abente
- Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Area, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Clapp RW, Jacobs MM, Loechler EL. Environmental and occupational causes of cancer: new evidence 2005-2007. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2008; 23:1-37. [PMID: 18557596 PMCID: PMC2791455 DOI: 10.1515/reveh.2008.23.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
What do we currently know about the occupational and environmental causes of cancer? As of 2007, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified 415 known or suspected carcinogens. Cancer arises through an extremely complicated web of multiple causes, and we will likely never know the full range of agents or combinations of agents. We do know that preventing exposure to individual carcinogens prevents the disease. Declines in cancer rates-such as the drop in male lung cancer cases from the reduction in tobacco smoking or the drop in bladder cancer among cohorts of dye workers from the elimination of exposure to specific aromatic amines-provides evidence that preventing cancer is possible when we act on what we know. Although the overall age-adjusted cancer incidence rates in the United States among both men and women have declined in the last decade, the rates of several types of cancers are on the rise; some of which are linked to environmental and occupational exposures. This report chronicles the most recent epidemiologic evidence linking occupational and environmental exposures with cancer. Peer-reviewed scientific studies published from January 2005 to June 2007 were reviewed, supplementing our state-of-the-evidence report published in September 2005. Despite weaknesses in certain individual studies, we consider the evidence linking the increased risk of several types of cancer with specific exposures somewhat strengthened by recent publications, among them brain cancer from exposure to non-ionizing radiation, particularly radiofrequency fields emitted by mobile telephones; breast cancer from exposure to the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) before puberty; leukemia from exposure to 1,3-butadiene; lung cancer from exposure to air pollution; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) from exposure to pesticides and solvents; and prostate cancer from exposure to pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metal working fluids or mineral oils. In addition to NHL and prostate cancer, early findings from the National Institutes of Health Agricultural Health Study suggest that several additional cancers may be linked to a variety of pesticides. Our report also briefly describes the toxicological evidence related to the carcinogenic effect of specific chemicals and mechanisms that are difficult to study in humans, namely exposures to bis-phenol A and epigenetic, trans-generational effects. To underscore the multi-factorial, multi-stage nature of cancer, we also present a technical description of cancer causation summarizing current knowledge in molecular biology. We argue for a new cancer prevention paradigm, one based on an understanding that cancer is ultimately caused by multiple interacting factors rather than a paradigm based on dubious attributable fractions. This new cancer prevention paradigm demands that we limit exposure to avoidable environmental and occupational carcinogens, in combination with additional important risk factors like diet and lifestyle. The research literature related to environmental and occupational causes of cancer is constantly growing, and future updates will be carried out in light of new biological understanding of the mechanisms and new methods for studying exposures in human populations. The current state of knowledge is sufficient to compel us to act on what we know. We repeat the call of ecologist Sandra Steingraber: "From the right to know and the duty to inquire flows the obligation to act."
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W Clapp
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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Stewart BW. Banding carcinogenic risks in developed countries: A procedural basis for qualitative assessment. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2008; 658:124-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2007.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Brunekreef B. Health effects of air pollution observed in cohort studies in Europe. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2007; 17 Suppl 2:S61-S65. [PMID: 18079765 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jes.7500628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2007] [Accepted: 09/13/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, several studies in Europe have associated within-city contrasts in air pollution with various health end points including mortality in cohort studies of adults, and respiratory morbidity in cross-sectional and cohort studies of children. Many of these studies have used NO2 contrasts as the primary exposure variable, which raises the issue of whether such associations are uniquely found for NO2 per se, or whether NO2 acts as a surrogate for a complex mixture of combustion pollutants primarily derived from vehicular traffic. Exposure assessment in these studies has been based on dispersion modelling, on data from routine monitoring networks, on stochastic models developed from dedicated spatially resolved monitoring, or some combination of these. The results of a number of recent European studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Brunekreef
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences and Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Universiteit Utrecht, PO Box 80178, Utrecht 3508 TD, The Netherlands.
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