title: Lung cancer risk and past exposure to emissions from a large steel plant.
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.
authors: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Breugelmans
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Ameling
authors: Marten
authors: M
authors: Marra
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Fischer
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: van de Kassteele
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Lijzen
authors: Arie
authors: A
authors: Oosterlee
authors: Rinske
authors: R
authors: Keuken
authors: Otto
authors: O
authors: Visser
authors: Danny
authors: D
authors: Houthuijs
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: van Wiechen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013232:Steel
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D013232:Steel