A Graphical Analysis of the Interrelationships among Waterborne Asbestos, Digestive System Cancer and Population Density

Abstract

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Report on cancer risks associated with the ingestion of asbestos. DHHS Committee to Coordinate Environmental and Related Programs.

“…The size of the fibers needs to be considered in evaluating the potential hazards of asbestos in drinking water. Epidemiology A number of epidemiologic evaluations conducted in seven areas of the United States and Canada examined the association between drinking water supplies containing asbestos and cancer mortality (8,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54).…”

“…Tarter et al (48,49) analyzed the available waterborne asbestos concentration levels and digestive system cancer data from the San Francisco Bay Area to address interrelationships between these variables and population density. They observed that higher waterborne asbestos concentration levels and higher incidence rates of digestive system cancer were reported in the densely populated census tracts of the city of San Francisco compared to the non-San Francisco census tract (49).…”

“…Tarter et al (48,49) analyzed the available waterborne asbestos concentration levels and digestive system cancer data from the San Francisco Bay Area to address interrelationships between these variables and population density. They observed that higher waterborne asbestos concentration levels and higher incidence rates of digestive system cancer were reported in the densely populated census tracts of the city of San Francisco compared to the non-San Francisco census tract (49). The authors concluded that the degree of association between waterborne asbestos concentration levels and digestive system cancer rates differed considerably between San Francisco census tracts and non-San Francisco census tracts, suggesting that population density or some other factor associated with living in San Francisco might be an important confounding variable.…”

Report on cancer risks associated with the ingestion of asbestos. DHHS Committee to Coordinate Environmental and Related Programs

“…They observed that higher waterborne asbestos concentration levels and higher incidence rates of digestive system cancer were reported in the densely populated census tracts of the city of San Francisco compared to the non-San Francisco census tract (49). The authors concluded that the degree of association between waterborne asbestos concentration levels and digestive system cancer rates differed considerably between San Francisco census tracts and nonSan Francisco census tracts, suggesting that population density or some other factor associated with living in San Francisco might be an important confounding variable.…”

“…A number of epidemiologic evaluations conducted in seven areas of the United States and Canada examined the association between drinking water supplies containing asbestos and cancer mortality (8,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54).…”