Respiratory organs cancer mortality in New Jersey counties and the relationship with selected demographic and environmental variables

Najem, G. Reza; Molteni, Kevin H.

doi:10.1016/0091-7435(83)90203-7

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…However, in a study of another Niagara Falls waste site, no excess in cancer mortality was detected in three surrounding census tracts from 1973 to 1982 (NYSDOH, unpublished data), a finding consistent with that observed in the present study. Some other hazardous waste site studies have reported elevated mortality from specific cancers (Najem and Greer 1985; Najem et al 1983, 1985; Najem and Molteni 1983), but others have not (Baker et al 1988; Budnick et al 1984; Najem et al 1984, 1994; Polednak and Janerich 1989). Dunne et al (1990) reported negative findings in an Australian population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality among Former Love Canal Residents

Gensburg

Pantea

Fitzgerald

et al. 2009

Environ Health Perspect

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BackgroundThe Love Canal is a rectangular 16-acre, 10-ft deep chemical waste landfill situated in a residential neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York. This seriously contaminated site first came to public attention in 1978. No studies have examined mortality in the former residents of the Love Canal neighborhood (LC).ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe the mortality experience of the former LC residents from the years 1979–1996.MethodsFrom 1978 to 1982, 6,181 former LC residents were interviewed. In 1996, 725 deaths from 1979–1996 were identified in this cohort, using state and national registries. We compared mortality rates with those of New York State (NYS) and Niagara County. Survival analysis examined risks by potential exposure to the landfill.ResultsWe were unable to demonstrate differences in all-cause mortality for either comparison population for 1979 1996. Relative to NYS, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was elevated [SMR = 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.16–1.66] for death from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but not relative to Niagara County. Death from external causes of injury was also elevated relative to both NYS and Niagara County, especially among women (SMR = 1.95; 95% CI, 1.25 2.90).ConclusionsThe role of exposure to the landfill in explaining these excess risks is not clear given limitations such as multiple comparisons, a qualitative exposure assessment, an incomplete cohort, and no data on deaths prior to 1978. Lack of elevation for AMI when compared with Niagara County but not NYS suggests possible regional differences. However, direct cardiotoxic or neurotoxic effects from landfill chemicals or indirect effects mediated by psychological stress cannot be ruled out. Revisiting the cohort in the future could reveal patterns that are not yet apparent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality among Former Love Canal Residents

Gensburg

Pantea

Fitzgerald

et al. 2009

Environ Health Perspect

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“…A county-level ecologic study in New Jersey found associations between proximity to toxic waste sites and mortality from lung cancer (Najem and Molteni 1983), and gastrointestinal organ cancers (Najem et al 1983), but not bladder cancer (Najem et al 1984). Other similar studies did not find an elevation in total cancer incidence near hazardous waste sites (Baker et al 1988; Najem et al 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer Incidence among Former Love Canal Residents

Gensburg

Pantea

Kielb

et al. 2009

Environ Health Perspect

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Background The Love Canal was a rectangular 16-acre, 10-ft-deep chemical waste landfill situated in a residential neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York. This seriously contaminated site came to public attention in 1978. Only one prior study examined cancer incidence in former residents of the Love Canal neighborhood (LC). Objective In this study we aimed to describe cancer incidence in former LC residents from 1979 to 1996 and to investigate whether it differs from that of New York State (NYS) and Niagara County (NC). Methods From 1978 to 1982, we interviewed 6,181 former residents, and 5,052 were eligible to be included in this study. In 1996, we identified 304 cancer diagnoses in this cohort using the NYS Cancer Registry. We compared LC cancer incidence with that of NYS and NC using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs), and we compared risks within the LC group by potential exposure to the landfill using survival analysis. Results SIRs were elevated for cancers of the bladder [SIR NYS = 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.91–2.16] and kidney (SIR NYS = 1.48; 95% CI, 0.76–2.58). Although CIs included 1.00, other studies have linked these cancers to chemicals similar to those found at Love Canal. We also found higher rates of bladder cancer among residents exposed as children, based on two cases. Conclusions In explaining these excess risks, the role of exposure to the landfill is unclear given such limitations as a relatively small and incomplete study cohort, imprecise exposure measurements, and the exclusion of cancers diagnosed before 1979. Given the relatively young age of the cohort, further surveillance is warranted.

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Cancer mortality in U.S. counties with hazardous waste sites

Harmon

Coe

1993

Popul Environ

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Respiratory organs cancer mortality in New Jersey counties and the relationship with selected demographic and environmental variables

Cited by 8 publications

References 12 publications

Mortality among Former Love Canal Residents

Mortality among Former Love Canal Residents

Cancer Incidence among Former Love Canal Residents

Cancer mortality in U.S. counties with hazardous waste sites

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