Risk of death for hematological malignancies for residents close to an Italian petrochemical refinery: a population-based case-control study

Abstract

Purpose We investigated the risk of death for hematological malignancies (HMs) in the area surrounding an Italian petrochemical refinery, where atmospheric concentrations of benzene (known carcinogen) had not been adequately monitored in the past.MethodsWe performed a population-based case-control study, using conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of HM death, with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and p trends, in relation to tertiles of time-weighted average residential proximity to the refinery. We identified 177 HM deaths and 349 sex- and age-matched controls from municipal files. Confounding factors were investigated from interviews with consenting relatives for 109 HM deaths and 178 matched controls.ResultsFor males and females combined, risk of HM death was unrelated to residential proximity. For females, ORs of HM death by increasing tertiles of proximity were 1, 2.74 (95 % CI 1.48–5.09, significant) and 1.49 (95 % CI 0.76–2.92) (p trend 0.184). For the subgroup of persons who plausibly spent most of their time at home (long-term retired, homemakers or unemployed, 53 cases, 79 controls), the ORs of leukemia plus non-Hodgkin lymphoma death (38 cases, 56 controls) by increasing tertiles of proximity were 1, 3.44 (95 % CI 1.04–11.37, significant) and 3.25 (95 % CI 0.82–12.87) (p trend 0.083).ConclusionsNo increased risk of HM death for males and females combined living close to the refinery was found. However, the findings for females and a subgroup plausibly spending most of their time at home suggest a relation between increased risk of HM death and residential proximity to the refinery.

Exposición a Benceno en Una Población Infantil Urbana Del Noreste De México

“…Nuestros resultados indican que una parte considerable de la población infantil en Cadereyta Jiménez sobrepasa los niveles considerados como "seguros" para adultos expuestos ocupacionalmente a benceno, lo que indica que existe un riesgo que debe ser evaluado. Está bien definido que el benceno es un cancerígeno en humanos y diversos estudios apoyan que la incidencia de neoplasias hematológicas como las leucemias y el linfoma de No-Hodgkin está fuertemente relacionada con la actividad petroquímica (Micheli et al 2014, Weng et al 2008. Sin embargo, para reforzar las legislaciones ambientales con el fin de reducir la exposición a benceno es necesario considerar otras fuentes importantes de emisión como es el tráfico vehicular y otras actividades industriales, así como evaluar los riesgos en salud asociados a la exposición ambiental a benceno.…”

Spatial variation in mortality risk for hematological malignancies near a petrochemical refinery: A population-based case-control study

“…Details on the study area and participants in this spatial analysis are described in a previous paper (Micheli et al, 2014). …”

“…A study funded by the Region of the Marches in 2003 found that mortality from leukemia and other HMs increased (non-significantly) from 1984 to 2000 in the municipality of Falconara and the adjacent municipality of Chiaravalle, in contrast to decreased or stable HM mortality in the Province of Ancona and Region of the Marches (Baili et al, 2007). However, monitoring data during that time period showed that known carcinogens were present in the atmosphere, and with support from the Region of the Marches (Giunta Regionale, 2004), an additional study was initiated to investigate mortality risk for leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other HMs (Micheli et al, 2014). …”

“…Deaths for HM occurring between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 2003 were identified from death certificates, provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). A total of 177 deaths for HM (89 males and 88 females) were identified (Micheli et al, 2014). …”

“…Recently, in a population-based case-control study, we found a significant excess of HM-related death risk for women and participants who spent most of their time at their home resident in an area surrounding an Italian petrochemical refinery (Micheli et al, 2014). In that study, we combined distances and residency duration as a proxy of residential exposure for a long period of life before the event to analyze HMs death risk using conditional logistic regression.…”