Environ Int. 2018 Dec;121:404-414. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.018. Epub 2018 Sep 24.
Risks and burden of lung cancer incidence for residential petrochemical industrial complexes: A meta-analysis and application.
Environment international
Cheng-Kuan Lin, Yu-Tien Hsu, David C Christiani, Huei-Yang Hung, Ro-Ting Lin
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Building 1 Room 1401, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Kresge Building, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
- Departments of Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Building 1 Room 1401, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
- Department of Clinical Education and Training, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 30261461
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.018
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Higher incidence of lung cancer may be associated with residential proximity to a petrochemical industrial complex (PIC) due to exposure to various carcinogens, although results from previous epidemiologic studies remain inconclusive. Because disease burden due to residential inequality is a public health and societal concern, this study analyzed published data to estimate lung cancer incidence in association with residential proximity to PICs.
METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis on selected epidemiologic studies that met the following criteria: lung cancer incidence was coded by the International Classification of Diseases; exposure groups were clearly defined as residents living near PICs; and confidence intervals were available or calculable from original articles. We further applied a population attributable factor (PAF) method to estimate disease burden attributable to living near PICs in 22 European Union (EU) countries.
RESULTS: Meta-analysis included six studies with a total of 466,066 residents living near PICs in six countries. Residents living near PICs had a 19% higher risk of lung cancer compared to those who lived farther away (95% CI = 1.06-1.32). By sex, risks were higher and more significant for females (RR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.09-1.54; P = 0.004) than males (RR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.95-1.33; P = 0.173). By location, only groups in Europe had a significantly greater risk of lung cancer with exposure to PICs (95% CI = 1.03-1.33; P = 0.019), although groups in other locations showed similar trends. By bona fide observation, observation of residents for at least seven years provided sufficient latency to estimate risk (RR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.17-1.34; P < 0.001). Regarding burden of lung cancer in 22 EU countries, 494 males and 478 females were attributed to living in the vicinity of a PIC annually.
CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer incidence is significantly higher in individuals living near PICs. This result provides strong epidemiologic evidence for further policy to regulate potential pollutants near PICs.
HIGHLIGHTS: Higher incident rates of lung cancer for residents living close to petrochemical industry complex.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Disease burden; Lung cancer; Oil and gas industry; Petroleum; Refinery; Residential exposure
Substances
MeSH terms
Publication Types
