Cancer mortality and chemical exposure in a retrospective zinc and lead smelter cohort: A 48-year follow-up

Long-Term Effect of Temperature Increase on Liver Cancer in Australia: A Bayesian Spatial Analysis

BACKGROUND

While some evidence has potentially linked climate change to carcinogenic factors, the long-term effect of climate change on liver cancer risk largely remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

Our objective is to evaluate the long-term relationship between temperature increase and liver cancer incidence in Australia.

METHODS

We mapped the spatial distribution of liver cancer incidence from 2001 to 2019 in Australia. A Bayesian spatial conditional autoregressive (CAR) model was used to estimate the relationships between the increase in temperature at different lags and liver cancer incidence in Australia, after controlling for chronic hepatitis B prevalence, chronic hepatitis C prevalence, and the Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Spatial random effects obtained from the Bayesian CAR model were also mapped.

RESULTS

The research showed that the distribution of liver cancer in Australia is spatially clustered, most areas in Northern Territory and Northern Queensland have higher incidence and relative risk. The increase in temperature at the lag of 30 years was found to correlate with the increase in liver cancer incidence in Australia, with a posterior mean of 30.57 [95% Bayesian credible interval (CrI): 0.17, 58.88] for the univariate model and 29.50 (95% CrI: 1.27, 58.95) after controlling for confounders, respectively. The results were not highly credible for other lags.

DISCUSSION

Our Bayesian spatial analysis suggested a potential relationship between temperature increase and liver cancer. To our knowledge, this research marks the first attempt to assess the long-term effect of global warming on liver cancer. If the relationship is confirmed by other studies, these findings may inform the development of prevention and mitigation strategies based on climate change projections. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14574.

Pollution levels and probability risk assessment of potential toxic elements in soil of Pb-Zn smelting areas

Soil pollution around Pb-Zn smelters has attracted widespread attention around the world. In this study, we compiled a database of eight potentially toxic elements (PTEs) Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Mn in the soil of Pb-Zn smelting areas by screening the published research papers from 2000 to 2023. The pollution assessment and risk screening of eight PTEs were carried out by geo-accumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk index (PERI) and health risk assessment model, and Monte Carlo simulation employed to further evaluate the probabilistic health risks. The results suggested that the mean values of the eight PTEs all exceeded the corresponding values in the upper crust, and more than 60% of the study sites had serious Pb and Cd pollution (Igeo > 4), with Brazil, Belgium, China, France and Slovenia having higher levels of pollution than other regions. Besides, PTEs in smelting area caused serious ecological risk (PERI = 10912.12), in which Cd was the main contributor to PREI (86.02%). The average hazard index (HI) of the eight PTEs for adults and children was 7.19 and 9.73, respectively, and the average value of total carcinogenic risk (TCR) was 4.20 × 10-3 and 8.05 × 10-4, respectively. Pb and As are the main contributors to non-carcinogenic risk, while Cu and As are the main contributors to carcinogenic risk. The probability of non-carcinogenic risk in adults and children was 84.05% and 97.57%, while carcinogenic risk was 92.56% and 79.73%, respectively. In summary, there are high ecological and health risks of PTEs in the soil of Pb-Zn smelting areas, and Pb, Cd, As and Cu are the key elements that cause contamination and risk, which need to be paid attention to and controlled. This study is expected to provide guidance for soil remediation in Pb-Zn smelting areas.

The association between polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin exposure and cancer mortality in the general population: a cohort study

Introduction

Earlier research has indicated that being exposed to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in the workplace can heighten the likelihood of cancer-related deaths. Nevertheless, there is limited information available regarding the connection between PCDD exposure and the risk of cancer mortality in the general population (i.e., individuals not exposed to these substances through their occupation).

Methods

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) detected PCDDs in the general population, and the death data were recently updated as of December 31, 2019. We conducted Cox regression analysis and controlled for covariates including age, gender, ethnicity, educational attainment, physical activity, alcohol intake, NHANES survey period, BMI category, cotinine concentration, and household earnings.

Results

After accounting for confounding factors, the findings indicated that for each incremental rise of 1 log unit in 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, there was a 76% rise in the likelihood of death from any cause, with a p value of 0.003. An increase of 1 log unit in the concentration of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran could potentially lead to a 90% higher risk of cancer mortality, as indicated by a p value of 0.034 and a 95% confidence interval of 0.05-2.43. As the concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran increased, the dose-response curve indicated a proportional rise in the risk of cancer mortality, accompanied by a linear p value of 0.044. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that our findings were resilient.

Discussion

In the general population, an elevated risk of cancer mortality was observed in PCDDs due to the presence of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran. Mechanistic research is required to further confirm it.

Insight into the Burden of Malignant Respiratory Tumors and their Relationship with Smoking Rates and Lead Contamination in Mexico

We aimed to report the results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 related to respiratory malignant tumors (tracheal, bronchial, and lung) in Mexico. We also evaluated the relationship between the burden of these neoplasms and the proportion of daily smokers and total lead emissions in 2019. A cross-sectional analysis of ecological data was performed. The burden of these tumors was 152,189 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and years of life lost (YLL) contributed to 99% of them. The highest DALYs rates (per 100,000) were observed in the states of Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Nayarit. We documented a linear relationship between the DALYs rates and the prevalence of daily smokers (β = 8.50, 95% CI 1.58-15.38) and the total lead emissions (tons/year: β = 4.04, 95% CI 0.07-8.01). If later replicated, our study would provide insight into the major relevance of regulating tobacco use and the activities associated with the production of lead dust and other hazardous contaminants.