Environment and Health: Not Only Cancer

Interplay between microglia and environmental risk factors in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease, among the most common neurodegenerative disorders, is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. At present, the Alzheimer's disease main risk remains genetic risks, but major environmental factors are increasingly shown to impact Alzheimer's disease development and progression. Microglia, the most important brain immune cells, play a central role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and are considered environmental and lifestyle "sensors." Factors like environmental pollution and modern lifestyles (e.g., chronic stress, poor dietary habits, sleep, and circadian rhythm disorders) can cause neuroinflammatory responses that lead to cognitive impairment via microglial functioning and phenotypic regulation. However, the specific mechanisms underlying interactions among these factors and microglia in Alzheimer's disease are unclear. Herein, we: discuss the biological effects of air pollution, chronic stress, gut microbiota, sleep patterns, physical exercise, cigarette smoking, and caffeine consumption on microglia; consider how unhealthy lifestyle factors influence individual susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease; and present the neuroprotective effects of a healthy lifestyle. Toward intervening and controlling these environmental risk factors at an early Alzheimer's disease stage, understanding the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease development, and targeting strategies to target microglia, could be essential to future Alzheimer's disease treatments.

Butylparaben induced zebrafish (Danio rerio) kidney injury by down-regulating the PI3K-AKT pathway

Butylparaben, a common endocrine disruptor in the environment, is known to be toxic to the reproductive system, heart, and intestines, but its nephrotoxicity has rarely been reported. In order to study the nephrotoxicity and mechanism of butylparaben, we examined the acute and chronic effects on human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) and zebrafish. Additionally, we assessed the potential remedial effects of salidroside against butylparaben-induced nephrotoxicity. Our in vitro findings demonstrated oxidative stress and cytotoxicity to HEK293T cells caused by butylparaben. In the zebrafish model, the concentration of butylparaben exposure ranged from 0.5 to 15 μM. An assortment of experimental techniques was employed, including the assessment of kidney tissue morphology using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining, kidney function analysis via fluorescent dextran injection, and gene expression studies related to kidney injury, development, and function. Additionally, butylparaben caused lipid peroxidation in the kidney, thereby damaging glomeruli and renal tubules, which resulted from the downregulation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, salidroside ameliorated butylparaben-induced nephrotoxicity through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This study reveals the seldom-reported kidney toxicity of butylparaben and the protective effect of salidroside against toxicological reactions related to nephrotoxicity. It offers valuable insights into the risks to kidney health posed by environmental toxins.

Electrochemical microfluidic sensing platforms for biosecurity analysis

Biosecurity encompasses the health and safety of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. In this article, "biosecurity" is defined as encompassing the comprehensive aspects of human, animal, plant, and environmental safety. Reliable biosecurity testing technology is the key point for effectively assessing biosecurity risks and ensuring biosecurity. Therefore, it is crucial to develop excellent detection technologies to detect risk factors that can affect biosecurity. An electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform integrates fluid control, target recognition, signal transduction, and output and incorporates the advantages of electrochemical analysis technology and microfluidic technology. Thus, an electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platform, characterized by exceptional analytical sensitivity, portability, rapid analysis speed, low reagent consumption, and low risk of contamination, shows considerable promise for biosecurity detection compared to traditional, more complex, and time-consuming detection technologies. This review provides a concise introduction to electrochemical microfluidic biosensors and biosecurity. It highlights recent research advances in utilizing electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platforms to assess biosecurity risk factors. It includes the use of electrochemical microfluidic biosensors for the detection of risk factors directly endangering biosecurity (direct application: namely, risk factors directly endangering the health of human, animals, and plants) and for the detection of risk factors indirectly endangering biosecurity (indirect application: namely, risk factors endangering the safety of food and the environment). Finally, we outline the current challenges and future perspectives of electrochemical microfluidic biosensing platforms.

Epidemiology, risk areas and macro determinants of gastric cancer: a study based on geospatial analysis

BACKGROUND

Both incidence and mortality of gastric cancer in Gansu rank first in china, this study aimed to describe the recent prevalence of gastric cancer and explore the social and environmental determinants of gastric cancer in Gansu Province.

METHODS

The incidence of gastric cancer in each city of Gansu Province was calculated by utilizing clinical data from patients with gastric cancer (2013-2021) sourced from the medical big data platform of the Gansu Province Health Commission, and demographic data provided by the Gansu Province Bureau of Statistics. Subsequently, we conducted joinpoint regression analysis, spatial auto-correlation analysis, space-time scanning analysis, as well as an exploration into the correlation between social and environmental factors and GC incidence in Gansu Province with Joinpoint_5.0, ArcGIS_10.8, GeoDa, SaTScanTM_10.1.1 and GeoDetector_2018.

RESULTS

A total of 75,522 cases of gastric cancer were included in this study. Our findings suggested a significant upward trend in the incidence of gastric cancer over the past nine years. Notably, Wuwei, Zhangye and Jinchang had the highest incidence rates while Longnan, Qingyang and Jiayuguan had the lowest. In spatial analysis, we have identified significant high-high cluster areas and delineated two high-risk regions as well as one low-risk region for gastric cancer in Gansu. Furthermore, our findings suggested that several social and environmental determinants such as medical resource allocation, regional economic development and climate conditions exerted significant influence on the incidence of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric cancer remains an enormous threat to people in Gansu Province, the significant risk areas, social and environmental determinants were observed in this study, which may improve our understanding of gastric cancer epidemiology and help guide public health interventions in Gansu Province.

Chronic Occupational Exposure to Traffic Pollution Is Associated with Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Healthy Urban Traffic Control Police

Urban traffic officers in many low- and middle-income countries are exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP) while working vehicle control on heavily congested streets. The impact of chronic TRAP exposure on the cardiovascular health, including the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), of this outdoor occupational group remains unclear. This cross-sectional study compared the average mean and maximum CIMT measurements of two groups of relatively young, healthy traffic police (32 ± 7 years; 77% male) in Quito, Ecuador, who were without clinical evidence of serious cardiovascular or other disease. Previously published background data on PM10 (a TRAP surrogate) indicated that street levels of the pollutant were several orders of magnitude higher at the street intersections worked by traffic police compared to those working only in an office. Accordingly, officers permanently assigned to daily traffic control duties requiring them to stand 0-3 m from heavily trafficked street intersections were assigned to the high exposure group (n = 61). The control group (n = 54) consisted of officers from the same organization who were permanently assigned to office duties inside an administration building. Mean and maximum CIMT were measured with ultrasound. General linear models were used to compare the CIMT measurements of the high exposure and control groups, adjusting for covariates. The adjusted average mean and maximum CIMT measures of the high exposure group were increased by 11.5% and 10.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (p = 0.0001). These findings suggest that chronic occupational exposure to TRAP is associated with increased CIMT in traffic police. This is important since even small increases in arterial thickening over time may promote earlier progression to clinical disease and increased premature mortality risk.

A Pan-Cancer Analysis of Prognostic and Immunological Roles for Cell Death Genes

The dysregulation of cell death is closely associated with the development, progression, tumor microenvironment (TME), and prognosis of cancer. However, there is no study that comprehensively explores the prognostic and immunological role of cell death in human pan-cancer. We used published human pan-cancer RNA-sequencing and clinical data to explore the prognostic and immunological roles of programmed cell death, which included apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. A total of 9925 patients were included for bioinformatic analysis, with 6949 and 2976 patients in the training cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Five-hundred and ninety-nine genes were defined as programmed-cell-death-related genes. In the training cohort, 75 genes were identified to define PAGscore by survival analysis. According to the median value of PAGscore, patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups, and subsequent analyses demonstrated that the high-risk group had a higher level of genomic mutation frequency, hypoxia score, immuneScore, expression of immune genes, activity of malignant signaling pathways, and cancer immunity cycle. Most anti-tumor and pro-tumor components of the TME showed greater activity in high-risk patients. Scores of malignant cell properties were also higher in high-risk patients. These findings were confirmed in the validation cohort and external cohort. Our study constructed a reliable gene signature to distinguish prognosis-favorable and prognosis-unfavorable patients and demonstrated that cell death was significantly associated with cancer prognosis and the TME.

Thyroid Carcinoma: A Review for 25 Years of Environmental Risk Factors Studies

Environmental factors are established contributors to thyroid carcinomas. Due to their known ability to cause cancer, exposure to several organic and inorganic chemical toxicants and radiation from nuclear weapons, fallout, or medical radiation poses a threat to global public health. Halogenated substances like organochlorines and pesticides can interfere with thyroid function. Like phthalates and bisphenolates, polychlorinated biphenyls and their metabolites, along with polybrominated diethyl ethers, impact thyroid hormones biosynthesis, transport, binding to target organs, and impair thyroid function. A deeper understanding of environmental exposure is crucial for managing and preventing thyroid cancer. This review aims to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and the development of thyroid cancer.

Alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolic profile of PM2.5 exposure-induced thyroid dysfunction rats

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has drawn more and more interest due to its adverse effects on health. Thyroid has been demonstrated to be the key organ impacted by PM_2.5. However, the mechanisms for PM_2.5 exposure-induced thyrotoxicity remain unclear. To explore the mechanisms, a rat thyroid injury model was established by exposing rats to PM_2.5 via passive pulmonary inhalation. Thyroid hormones and thyroid function proteins were detected. The thyroid function affected by PM_2.5 exposure was investigated via metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that PM_2.5 exposure induced remarkable alterations in gut microbiome evenness, richness, and composition. Metabolomics profiling revealed that the urine metabolites levels were changed by PM_2.5 exposure. The altered gut microbiota and urine metabolites showed significant correlations with thyroid function indicators (total T3, total T4 and thyrotropin hormone, etc.). These metabolites were involved in metabolic pathways including thyroid hormone synthesis, metabolisms of tryptophan, d-Glutamine and D-glutamate, histidine, glutathione, etc. The altered gut microbiota showed significant correlations with urine metabolites (glutathione, citric acid, D-Glutamic acid, kynurenic acid and 5-Aminopentanoic acid, etc.). For example, the taurocholic acid levels positively correlated with the relative abundance of several genera including Elusimicrobium (r = 0.9741, p = 0.000000), Muribaculum (r = 0.9886, p = 0.000000), Candidatus_Obscuribacter (r = 0.8423, p = 0.000585), Eubacterium (r = 0.9237, p = 0.000017), and Parabacteroides (r = 0.8813, p = 0.000150), while it negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Prevotella (r = -0.8070, p = 0.001509). PM_2.5 exposure-induced thyrotoxicity led to remarkable alterations both in gut microbiome composition and some metabolites involved in metabolic pathways. The altered intestinal flora and metabolites can in turn influence thyroid function in rats. These findings may provide novel insights regarding perturbations of the gut-thyroid axis as a new mechanism for PM_2.5 exposure-induced thyrotoxicity.

Pyroptosis participates in PM2.5-induced air-blood barrier dysfunction

Epidemiological studies have shown that particulate matters with diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) play an important role in inducing and promoting respiratory diseases, but its underlying mechanism remains to be explored. The air-blood barrier, also known as the alveolar-capillary barrier, is the key element of the lung, working as the site of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange between pulmonary vasculatures. In this study, a mouse PM_2.5 exposure model was established, which leads to an induced lung injury and air-blood barrier disruption. Oxidative stress and pyroptosis were observed in this process. After reducing the oxidative stress by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment, the air-blood barrier function was improved and the effect of PM_2.5 was alleviated. The level of pyroptosis and related pathway were also effectively relieved. These results indicate that acute PM_2.5 exposure can cause lung injury and the alveolar-capillary barrier disruption by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the participation of pyroptosis pathway.

[Molecular mechanism of EGFR signaling evoked by environmental pollutant 1,2-naphthoquinone]

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the most extensively examined receptor tyrosine kinase. Several EGFR mutations and modifications have been shown to induce self-activation, which plays a central role in carcinogenesis. Recently, environmental chemicals such as PM2.5 can also activate EGFR and become risk factors for cancer. Although, the detailed mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we focused on 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ) which is a secondary metabolite of naphthalene. Humans are exposed to 1,2-NQ through the combustion of fossil and diesel fuel and from tobacco smoke and PM2.5. Here, we demonstrate that 1,2-NQ is a novel EGFR-specific activator. We found that 1,2-NQ forms a covalent bond called N-arylation with EGFR Lys80 which is in the extracellular domain by LC-MS/MS. This modification activates the EGFR-Akt signaling pathway, which inhibits serum deprivation-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Our study reveals an original mode of EGFR activation via covalent binding. We propose the correlation between EGFR activation without ligands and environmental pollutant-associated diseases such as cancer.

National cohort and meteorological data based nested case-control study on the association between air pollution exposure and thyroid cancer

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of exposure to meteorological conditions, including air pollution, on thyroid cancer. A nested case–control study was conducted utilizing 4632 patients with thyroid cancer and 18,528 control subjects who were matched at a 1:4 ratio by age group, sex, income, and region of residence. Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort data from 2002 to 2015 were used. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for thyroid cancer correlated with meteorological and air pollution exposure over a moving average of 3 years before the index dates. For all participants, the adjusted ORs associated with relative humidity (1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, P value = 0.023), ambient atmospheric pressure (1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03, P value < 0.001), and sunshine duration (1.17, 95% CI 1.04–1.31, P value = 0.007) indicated correlations with the occurrence of thyroid cancer; however, these results were inconsistent in the subgroup analyses. Overall, exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) (1.33, 95% CI 1.24–1.43, P value < 0.001) and particulate matter (PM₁₀) (0.64, 95% CI 0.60–0.69, P value < 0.001) were related to thyroid cancer. These relationships persisted in the subgroup analyses. In conclusion, thyroid cancer occurrence was positively associated with NO₂ exposure and negatively associated with PM₁₀ exposure.

Mediterranean diet: a nutrient-packed diet and a healthy lifestyle for a sustainable world

The Mediterranean diet (MD), as a sustainable diet and a healthy way of living, is in a good agreement with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (2015). © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reimagining What We Measure in Atherosclerosis-a "Phenotype Stack"

The term phenotype is so commonly used that we often assume that we each mean the same thing. The general definition, the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of their genotype with the environment, is often left to the eye of the beholder. Whether applied to the multiple levels of biological phenomena or the intact human being, our ability to characterize, classify, and analyze phenotype has been limited by measurement deficits, computing limitations, and a culture that avoids the generalizable. With the advent of modern technology, there is the potential for a revolution in phenotyping, which incorporates old and new in structured ways to dramatically advance basic understanding of biology and behavior and to lead to major improvements in clinical care and public health. This revolution in how we think about phenotypes will require a radical change in the scale at which biomedicine operates with significant changes in the unit of action, which will have far-reaching implications for how care, translation, and discovery are implemented.

Cardiovascular Effects of Indoor Air Pollution from Solid Fuel: Relevance to Sub-Saharan Africa

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This research aims to summarize evidence on the cardiovascular effects of indoor air pollution (IAP) from solid fuel and identify areas for research and policy for low- and middle-income countries.

RECENT FINDINGS

IAP affects people from low socioeconomic status in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, who depend upon biomass as a fuel for cooking, heating, and lighting. In these settings, IAP disproportionately affects women, children, the elderly, and people with cardiopulmonary disease. The health effects of IAP include acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumoconiosis, cataract and blindness, pulmonary tuberculosis, adverse effects to pregnancy, cancer, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. New methods for assessing individual IAP exposure, exposing pathways of IAP-related cardiovascular disease, and performing qualitative research focusing on population preferences regarding strategies to reduce IAP exposure have been the most important developments in tackling the burden of IAP. Unfortunately, major disparities exist regarding research into the cardiovascular effects of IAP, with only few studies coming from sub-Saharan Africa, despite this region having the highest proportion of households using solid fuels. Premature cardiovascular deaths and disability can be averted in low-middle income countries by addressing biomass fuel usage by the most disadvantaged settings. While research is needed to uncover the mechanisms involved in cardiovascular outcomes linked to IAP, immediate action is needed to educate the most affected populations on IAP health hazards and to reduce their exposure to this environmental risk through promoting improved housing and better ventilation, as well as increasing access to affordable clean cooking energy.

Role of Emerging Environmental Risk Factors in Thyroid Cancer: A Brief Review

Environmental factors are recognized as risk factors of thyroid cancer in humans. Exposure to radiation, both from nuclear weapon or fallout or medical radiation, and to some organic and inorganic chemical toxicants represent a worldwide public health issue for their proven carcinogenicity. Halogenated compounds, such as organochlorines and pesticides, are able to disrupt thyroid function. Polychlorinated biphenyls and their metabolites and polybrominated diethyl ethers bind to thyroid, transport proteins, replace thyroxin, and disrupt thyroid function as phthalates and bisphenolates do, highly mimicking thyroid hormones. A better knowledge of environmental risks represents a very important tool for cancer prevention through true risks prevention and management. This approach is very important because of the epigenetic origin’s theory of cancer. Therefore, the aim of this review was study the association between environmental agents and thyroid cancer promotion.

iTRAQ based proteomic analysis of PM2.5 induced lung damage

Haze pollution has become a global environmental problem, subsequently affecting air quality, climate, economy and human health. Notably, PM_2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) significantly accounts for a variety of adverse health effects, in particular pulmonary diseases such as asthma and lung cancer. Clinical diagnosis and medical treatment of the lung damage caused by PM_2.5 still remain significant challenges due to the lack of specific biomarkers and pathways. Here, we established a rat model of nonsurgical intratracheal instillation to investigate PM_2.5 exposure and employed iTRAQ based analytical technique and bioinformatics tools to identify putative biomarkers and pathways. We identified 163 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Among these proteins, we screened six DEPs (HMOX1, MP2K5, XRCC1 E9PTZ7, KNT2 and A1AG) as the putative biomarkers, with significant differentially expressed levels (percentage increment > 140%). Pathway analysis indicated that calcium signaling, MAPK and PI3K/AKT might be involved in the process of PM_2.5-induced lung damage. Western-blotting was used to verify DEPs in the AEC-II cell model for early diagnosis. In summary, our data can serve as fundamental research clues for further studies of PM_2.5-induced toxicity in the lungs.

Research on biomarkers and pathways provides new diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic strategies for PM_2.5 correlated lung diseases.

Temporal trends in respiratory mortality and short-term effects of air pollutants in Shenyang, China

Short-term exposures to air pollution are associated with acute effects on respiratory health. This study aimed to describe 10-year temporal trends in respiratory mortality in the urban areas of Shenyang, China, according to gender and age and estimate the effects of air pollution on respiratory diseases (ICD-10J00-J99) and lung cancer (ICD-10 C33-C34) using a case-crossover design. During the study period 2013-2015, the exposure-response relationship between ambient air pollutants and mortality data was fitted by a quasi-Poisson model. Age-standardized mortality rates for a combined number of respiratory diseases and for lung cancer declined in Shenyang; however, death counts increased with aging. Deaths from respiratory diseases increased by 4.7% (95% CI, 0.00-9.9), and lung cancer mortality increased by 6.5% (95% CI, 1.2-12.0), both associated with a 10 μg/m³ increase in exposure to particulate matter < 2.5 μg in diameter (PM2.5). Moreover, males in Shenyang's urban areas were more susceptible to the acute effects of PM2.5 and SO₂ exposure; people aged ≥ 65 years had a high susceptibility to ozone, and those aged < 65 years were more susceptible to other air pollutants. These results provided an updated estimate of the short-term effects of air pollution in Shenyang. Since population aging is also associated with increasing mortality from respiratory diseases and lung cancer, reinforcing air quality control measures and health-promoting behaviors is urgent and necessary in Shenyang.

Harmful impact of air pollution on severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: particulate matter is hazardous

Introduction

Particulate matter and air pollution in Korea are becoming worse. There is a lack of research regarding the impact of particulate matter on patients with COPD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various air pollution factors, including particulate matter, on the incidence rate of severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) events.

Methods

We analyzed the relationship between air pollutants and AECOPD events that required hospitalization at Guro Hospital in Korea from January 1, 2015 to May 31, 2017. We used general linear models with Poisson distribution and log-transformation to obtain adjusted relative risk (RR). We conducted further analysis through the Comprehensive Air-quality Index (CAI) that is used in Korea.

Results

Among various other air pollutants, particulate matter was identified as a major source of air pollution in Korea. When the CAI score was over 50, the incidence rate of severe AECOPD events was statistically significantly higher [RR 1.612, 95% CI, 1.065-2.440, P=0.024]. Additionally, the particulate matter levels 3 days before hospitalization were statistically significant [RR 1.003, 95% CI, 1.001-1.005, P=0.006].

Conclusion

Particulate matter and air pollution increase the incidence rate of severe AECOPD events. COPD patients should be cautioned against outdoor activities when particulate matter levels are high.

Inhibition of miR-32 activity promoted EMT induced by PM2.5 exposure through the modulation of the Smad1-mediated signaling pathways in lung cancer cells

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial morphological event during tumor progression. The present study reported that EMT could be triggered by airborne fine particulate matter (PM) with a mean diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in human lung cancer cells. We also aimed to elucidate the possible mechanisms of these processes. The results showed that treatment with PM2.5 promoted the activity of the SMAD family member 1 (Smad1)-mediated signaling pathway and downregulated the expression of the inhibitory Smad proteins Smad6 and Smad7 in lung cancer cells. Moreover, the knockdown of Smad1 suppressed the EMT process induced by PM2.5 exposure. Our data further revealed that miR-32 has a negative effect on PM2.5-induced EMT. The results showed that the expression level of miR-32 was significantly upregulated in the PM2.5-induced EMT process. The knockdown of miR-32 enhances the activity of the Smad1-mediated signaling pathway, which promotes the EMT process induced by PM2.5. Thus, these findings indicate that PM2.5 can induce the EMT process through the Smad1-mediated signaling pathway, and miR-32 may act as an EMT inhibitor in lung cancer cells.

Hospitalizations in Pediatric and Adult Patients for All Cancer Type in Italy: The EPIKIT Study under the E.U. COHEIRS Project on Environment and Health

Background: Cancer Registries (CRs) remain the gold standard for providing official epidemiological estimations. However, due to CRs’ partial population coverage, hospitalization records might represent a valuable tool to provide additional information on cancer occurrence and expenditures at national/regional level for research purposes. The Epidemiology of Cancer in Italy (EPIKIT) study group has been built up, within the framework of the Civic Observers for Health and Environment: Initiative of Responsibility and Sustainability (COHEIRS) project under the auspices of the Europe for Citizens Program, to assess population health indicators. Objective: To assess the burden of all cancers in Italian children and adults. Methods: We analyzed National Hospitalization Records from 2001 to 2011. Based on social security numbers (anonymously treated), we have excluded from our analyses all re-hospitalizations of the same patients (n = 1,878,109) over the entire 11-year period in order to minimize the overlap between prevalent and incident cancer cases. To be more conservative, only data concerning the last five years (2007–2011) have been taken into account for final analyses. The absolute number of hospitalizations and standardized hospitalization rates (SHR) were computed for each Italian province by sex and age-groups (0–19 and 20–49). Results: The EPIKIT database included a total of 4,113,169 first hospital admissions due to main diagnoses of all tumors. The annual average number of hospital admissions due to cancer in Italy has been computed in 2362 and 43,141 hospitalizations in pediatric patients (0–19 years old) and adults (20–49 years old), respectively. Women accounted for the majority of cancer cases in adults aged 20–49. As expected, the big city of Rome presented the highest average annual number of pediatric cancers (n = 392, SHR = 9.9), followed by Naples (n = 378; SHR = 9.9) and Milan (n = 212; SHR = 7.3). However, when we look at SHR, minor cities (i.e., Imperia, Isernia and others) presented values >10 per 100,000, with only 10 or 20 cases per year. Similar figures are shown also for young adults aged 20–49. Conclusions: In addition to SHR, the absolute number of incident cancer cases represents a crucial piece of information for planning adequate healthcare services and assessing social alarm phenomena. Our findings call for specific risk assessment programs at local level (involving CRs) to search for causal relations with environmental exposures.