title: Consumption of Lake Ontario sport fish and the incidence of colorectal cancer in the New York State Angler Cohort Study (NYSACS).
abstract: Fish consumption is hypothesized to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Nonetheless, consuming sport fish from the Great Lakes increases exposure to certain persistent organic pollutants, namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine insecticides, which may increase the risk of cancer. Evidence that exposure to persistent organic pollutants is associated with colorectal cancer is sparse. We examined colorectal cancer incidence in the New York State Angler Cohort Study (NYSACS), a prospective cohort of 17,110 anglers and spouses age 18-40 years at enrollment. In 1991, participants completed a mailed self-administered questionnaire that ascertained the number of years that fish from Lake Ontario were consumed, as well as potential confounders. Forty-one histologically confirmed first primary incident colorectal cancers diagnosed as of December 31, 2008 were identified via the New York State Cancer Registry. Vital status was ascertained by linkage with the Social Security Administration Death File. Rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with Poisson regression, adjusting for age, pack-years of smoking, and sex. Compared with never consumers, colorectal cancer incidence was statistically non-significantly lower among consumers of Lake Ontario sport fish (RR=0.66; 95% CI: 0.35; 1.24). Incidence of colon cancer was lower among Lake Ontario sport fish consumers (RR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.20; 1.00). We did not observe any evidence of effect measure modification by sex or age. Although consumption of Lake Ontario sport fish may have an inverse association with colorectal cancer risk, inferences are complicated by a small number of cases and a lack of information regarding potential confounders including other dietary factors. However, our results do not provide support for the hypothesis that consumption of contaminated sport fish increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States. Electronic address: Catherine.callahan@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, United States.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Vena
authors.affiliation: Pacific Disaster Center, Kihei, HI 96753, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States.
authors.forename: Mya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bonner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D060106:Lakes; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017747:Seafood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Colon cancer; Colorectal cancer; Fish; Organochlorines; Persistent organic pollutants