Abstract
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin, or TCDD) is a powerful carcinogen in experimental animals, whereas the evidence in humans is limited. We examined Cancer mortality from 1976 to 1991 among residents of Seveso, Italy, which was highly contaminated after an industrial accident. The area was divided into zones with decreasing exposure to dioxin (A = highest, B = lower R = lowest). The population of a surrounding noncontaminated area was used as a reference group. Zone A was small (11,516 person-years); in that zone, we saw a moderate increase in mortality from digestive cancer among women [relative risk (RR) = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-3.5]. In zone B, we also saw excesses at digestive sites (83,610 person-years), 10 years after the accident. Women had an increased mortality from stomach cancer (RR = 2.4; 95% CI = 0.8-5.7), and men had increased mortality from rectal cancer (RR = 6.2; 95% CI = 1.7-15.9). Hematologic neoplasms were increased. The highest risks were seen in zone B for leukemia in men (RR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.3-6.4), multiple myeloma in women (RR = 6.6; 95% CI = 1.8-16.8), and Hodgkin's disease in both genders (RR = 3.3; 95% CI = 0.4-11.9 m men; and RR = 6.5; 95% CI = 0.7-23.5 in women). Soft tissue sarcoma was elevated only among zone R males (256,408 person-years; RR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.6-5.4). We found no increase for all-cancer mortality or major specific sites (for example, respiratory among males, breast among females). The specific excesses that we observed were not explained by bias or confounding, and their association with dioxin exposure is plausible. The follow-up is continuing.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 646-652 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Epidemiology |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 1997 |
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Keywords
- Digestive cancer
- Dioxins
- Environmental health
- Industrial disasters
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Mortality
- Neoplasms
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
Cite this
Dioxin exposure and cancer risk : A 15-year mortality study after the 'Seveso accident'. / Bertazzi, Pier Alberto; Zocchetti, Carlo; Guercilena, Stefano; Consonni, Dario; Tironi, Adriana; Landi, Maria Teresa; Pesatori, Angela Cecilia.
In: Epidemiology, Vol. 8, No. 6, 11.1997, p. 646-652.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Dioxin exposure and cancer risk
T2 - A 15-year mortality study after the 'Seveso accident'
AU - Bertazzi, Pier Alberto
AU - Zocchetti, Carlo
AU - Guercilena, Stefano
AU - Consonni, Dario
AU - Tironi, Adriana
AU - Landi, Maria Teresa
AU - Pesatori, Angela Cecilia
PY - 1997/11
Y1 - 1997/11
N2 - Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin, or TCDD) is a powerful carcinogen in experimental animals, whereas the evidence in humans is limited. We examined Cancer mortality from 1976 to 1991 among residents of Seveso, Italy, which was highly contaminated after an industrial accident. The area was divided into zones with decreasing exposure to dioxin (A = highest, B = lower R = lowest). The population of a surrounding noncontaminated area was used as a reference group. Zone A was small (11,516 person-years); in that zone, we saw a moderate increase in mortality from digestive cancer among women [relative risk (RR) = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-3.5]. In zone B, we also saw excesses at digestive sites (83,610 person-years), 10 years after the accident. Women had an increased mortality from stomach cancer (RR = 2.4; 95% CI = 0.8-5.7), and men had increased mortality from rectal cancer (RR = 6.2; 95% CI = 1.7-15.9). Hematologic neoplasms were increased. The highest risks were seen in zone B for leukemia in men (RR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.3-6.4), multiple myeloma in women (RR = 6.6; 95% CI = 1.8-16.8), and Hodgkin's disease in both genders (RR = 3.3; 95% CI = 0.4-11.9 m men; and RR = 6.5; 95% CI = 0.7-23.5 in women). Soft tissue sarcoma was elevated only among zone R males (256,408 person-years; RR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.6-5.4). We found no increase for all-cancer mortality or major specific sites (for example, respiratory among males, breast among females). The specific excesses that we observed were not explained by bias or confounding, and their association with dioxin exposure is plausible. The follow-up is continuing.
AB - Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin, or TCDD) is a powerful carcinogen in experimental animals, whereas the evidence in humans is limited. We examined Cancer mortality from 1976 to 1991 among residents of Seveso, Italy, which was highly contaminated after an industrial accident. The area was divided into zones with decreasing exposure to dioxin (A = highest, B = lower R = lowest). The population of a surrounding noncontaminated area was used as a reference group. Zone A was small (11,516 person-years); in that zone, we saw a moderate increase in mortality from digestive cancer among women [relative risk (RR) = 1.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-3.5]. In zone B, we also saw excesses at digestive sites (83,610 person-years), 10 years after the accident. Women had an increased mortality from stomach cancer (RR = 2.4; 95% CI = 0.8-5.7), and men had increased mortality from rectal cancer (RR = 6.2; 95% CI = 1.7-15.9). Hematologic neoplasms were increased. The highest risks were seen in zone B for leukemia in men (RR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.3-6.4), multiple myeloma in women (RR = 6.6; 95% CI = 1.8-16.8), and Hodgkin's disease in both genders (RR = 3.3; 95% CI = 0.4-11.9 m men; and RR = 6.5; 95% CI = 0.7-23.5 in women). Soft tissue sarcoma was elevated only among zone R males (256,408 person-years; RR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.6-5.4). We found no increase for all-cancer mortality or major specific sites (for example, respiratory among males, breast among females). The specific excesses that we observed were not explained by bias or confounding, and their association with dioxin exposure is plausible. The follow-up is continuing.
KW - Digestive cancer
KW - Dioxins
KW - Environmental health
KW - Industrial disasters
KW - Leukemia
KW - Lymphoma
KW - Mortality
KW - Neoplasms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030770295&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030770295&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00001648-199710000-00006
DO - 10.1097/00001648-199710000-00006
M3 - Article
C2 - 9345664
AN - SCOPUS:0030770295
VL - 8
SP - 646
EP - 652
JO - Epidemiology
JF - Epidemiology
SN - 1044-3983
IS - 6
ER -