title: An investigation of cancer rates in the Argentia region, Newfoundland and Labrador: an ecological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Argentia region of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, was home to a US naval base during a 40-year period between the 1940s and the 1990s. Activities on the base resulted in contamination of the soil and groundwater in the region with chemicals such as heavy metals and dioxins, and residents have expressed concern about higher rates of cancer in their community. This study investigated the rate of cancer diagnosis that is disproportionately high in the Argentia region.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases of cancer diagnosed between 1985 and 2011 were obtained for the Argentia region, two comparison communities, and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Crude and age-standardized incidence rates of cancer diagnosis were calculated and compared. The crude incidence rate was adjusted for differences in age demographics using census data, and age-standardized incidence rates were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the Argentia region had a higher crude rate of cancer diagnosis, the age-standardized incidence rate did not differ significantly from the comparison communities or the provincial average. Argentia has an aging population, which may have influenced the perception of increased cancer diagnosis in the community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not detect an increased burden of cancer in the Argentia region.
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6 ; Discipline of Family Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6 ; Discipline of Family Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Marshall
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peach
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.affiliation: Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Health Research, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 2X5.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bornstein
authors.affiliation: Community Health and Humanities, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buehler
authors.affiliation: Newfoundland and Labrador Cancer Registry, Eastern Health Authority, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McCrate
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.affiliation: Community Health and Humanities, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Peizhong Peter
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare Research Unit, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada A1B 3V6.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cullen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants