Palin L

An Italian population-based case-control study on the association between farming and cancer: Are pesticides a plausible risk factor?

ABSTRACT This population-based case-control study investigated the association between farming (a proxy for pesticide exposure) and cancer in the Vercelli suburban area (northwest Italy). The residents, aged 25 to 79 years, in the above-mentioned area during the period 2002–2009 were considered. Cases were all the first hospital admissions for cancer. Controls were all the subjects not included in the cases and not excluded from the study. Cases and controls were classified according to whether they occupationally resulted farmers or nonfarmers during the period 1965–2009. Cancer odds ratios (ORs) between farmers and nonfarmers were calculated with generalized linear mixed models adjusted by gender and age. Farmers showed higher odds for all cancers (OR=1.459; p < .001), nonmelanoma skin cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. The results suggest a plausible association between pesticide exposure and cancer occurrence.

Cancer morbidity of residents living near an oil refinery plant in North-West Italy.

Cerano is a municipality of the Province of Novara (North-West Italy). To assess the morbidity associated to its proximity to a petrochemical plant, standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of oncological pathologies in the period 2003–2009 were calculated based on age-sex specific rates for the district of the Local Health Authority of Novara (ASL13) and the main regional city of Turin. For all cancers combined, men showed a significant higher risk (SIR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.02–1.40) compared to the ASL13 population; significantly lower risks for both men and women were observed in comparison to the Turin population. Among women, a significant excess of mesothelioma cancers was reported; a significantly higher risk for lympho-haematopoietic pathologies was also observed compared to the Turin population only. Several other cancers have significantly lower rates in Cerano for both men and women. Despite some studies’ limitations, these findings could suggest potential chemical risk factors and need further investigation.

Geographical and epidemiological analysis of oncological incidence in paediatric and adolescent ages in a municipality of North-Western Italy: Vercelli, years 2002-2009

INTRODUCTION This study of the geographical incidence on the oncological mortality in young age (0-44 years) in the City of Vercelli, was aimed to address the concerns of the population and the request of municipal administrators. A detailed and sophisticated study for a City of medium-small size is due for the presence of various sources of pressure, such as a MSW incinerator just a few kilometres from the city and an intensive agricultural activity that characterizes the entire area. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study is based on the census analysis of the population, and of the hospital admission cards, and it considers epidemiological standardized estimators and spatial analysis through Bayesian models, as well. RESULTS Both approaches highlight Major risks for the area south of the city for major tumours such as total cancer in women (SIR / SMR significant excess of about 50%), colorectal (mean increments SMR / SIR between 3 and 4 times), ovary (mean increments SMR / SIR between 3:04 and times), and nervous system (increases 3 times for both indicators). CONCLUSION These results deserve further studies through inferential case-control and cohort analysis, given the marginal role of the possible occupational hazards in the aetiology of juvenile cancer disorders.

Exploration study on mortality trends in the territory surrounding an incineration plant of urban solid waste in the municipality of Vercelli (Piedmont, Italy) 1988-2009

BACKGROUND The places, where the incinerators are located, often present problems of heterogeneous people having different environmental factors. It becomes important to evaluate the possible etiologic role of various environmental risk factors and try to quantify as they affect in the excess epidemiological. METHODS This study considers the ISTAT index mortality due to all causes occurred from 1988 to 2009 referred to ten municipalities at south of Vercelli (Piedmont, North Western Italy) placed nearby the active incinerator from 1977 (10 latent years). The risks were calculated considering this area at risk versus the municipalities placed at North of Vercelli and versus the Vercelli. RESULTS Some significant statically excesses emerged in the South area such as neoplasia of nervous system, liver and total of tumours. CONCLUSIONS The study presents some drawbacks, but it is a work creditable of widening by specific research ad hoc such as cohort and/or control where it is possible to verify various environmental, occupational and occasional factors.