Additional burden of cancers due to environmental carcinogens in Newfoundland and Labrador: a spatial analysis

Abstract

Several environmental carcinogens are found to be spread across wide geographic areas, and the exposed inhabitants are at risk of developing various types of cancers. Arsenic and disinfection by-products in drinking water, ultraviolet rays from the sun, and agricultural chemicals used in golf courses were found to be the possible cancer risks. The study aimed to estimate the risks of cancer due to exposure to environmental carcinogens known to be present in wide geographic areas in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The NL cancer care registry provided 2008–2017 data (histological diagnosis, age, sex, and six-digit postal code) on cancers relevant to arsenic, disinfection by-products , ultraviolet rays , and agricultural chemical exposures. The geographic distribution of environmental carcinogens was collected from government sources and previous studies. Risk ratios (RR) of annual prevalence rates of cancers in high-risk (exposed to environmental carcinogens) and low-risk populations. For ultraviolet rays , arsenic, disinfection by-products , and agricultural chemicals, the RR (95% CI) were 1.5 (1.4–1.6), 1.25 (1.03–1.51), 1.8 (1.67–1.94), and 1.49 (1.3–1.7), respectively. An excess number of cancers in high-risk areas was possibly associated with exposure to environmental carcinogens . Public health regulations, environmental monitoring, health promotion, and increased awareness in high-risk areas can prevent exposure to environmental carcinogens.

Low Cost Activated Carbon for Removal of NOM and DBPs: Optimization and Comparison

“…The experiments were performed in triplicate. A second-order quadratic model can correlate the factors to the responses (i.e., DOC removal and q e ) using Equation (1).…”

“…Chronic exposure to disinfection byproducts (e.g., trihalomethanes (THMs) and halo acetic acids (HAAs)) in drinking water through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact increases the risk of adverse health effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorizes certain types of THMs and HAAs in Group 2B with the possible increase of the risk for liver cancers [1,2]. The US EPA suggests the maximum allowable levels of 80 ppb (parts per billion) for four THMs (THM4) (i.e., chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane) and 60 ppb for five HAAs (HAA5) (i.e., monochloroacetic acids, dichloroacetic acids, trichloroacetic acids, monobromoacetic acids, dibromoacetic acids) [3].…”

“…An increased level of NOM in the last two decades [4][5][6][7] due to global warming, acute raining, soil erosion [8,9], and water contamination has led to reduced or worsened effectiveness of water treatment processes by decreasing the lifespan of activated carbon pores [10]. Of the residents in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), 79% are serviced by the public water distribution system, where 15% of the consumers are in contact with high levels of THM4 and HAA5 in their drinking water [1]. The average of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), a surrogate indicator of NOM content, in two-thirds of the surface waters of NL is more than 5 mg/L, with an average of 9 mg/L in some areas of the province.…”

“…1 Treated water samples with modified activated carbon. Al-AC: aluminum coated activated carbon, Fe-AC: iron coated activated carbon.…”