Environmental Factors and Cancer Mortality in Italy: Correlational Excercise

Abstract

Mortality rates for 21 cancer sites in 20 Italian regions have been correlated with several economic and dietary variables (including alcohol and coffee consumption), patterns of cigarette smoking and reproductive habits. In both sexes, a large number of strong correlations emerged, the most notable ones being the strong positive coefficients between cigarettes sold in the early 1950s and lung cancer mortality in middle-aged males in the early 1970s, between gross internal product or meat consumption and cancer of the intestines in both sexes, between total per caput consumption and cancer of the prostate and between mean age at first birth, gross internal product and milk consumption and cancer of the breast. Cancer of the ovary was positively correlated with mean age at the first birth, and negatively with average number of births. Among the unexpected correlations observed, the most remarkable ones were the strong positive coefficient between skin cancer mortality and latitude (which can however be explained in terms of different constitutional characteristics of skin color in various Italian regions), and the pattern of coefficients emerging for gastric cancer, showing positive correlations with gross internal product or meat and negative ones with bread, pasta or fish. These and other results (including the analysis of several first-order partial correlation coefficients) are discussed with regard to their limitations and major points of interest, and in comparison with similar studies conducted on different populations.

The density of melanocytic nevi correlates with constitutional variables and history of sunburns: A prevalence study among Italian schoolchildren

“…Interestingly, at variance with other countries of the northern hemisphere where north-south gradients in melanoma mortality rates are observed, in Italy, higher rates have been documented in the north than in the south. 32 It has been suggested that the relation between sun exposure and melanocytic nevi may be complex with a parabolic dose-response curve. 33 Ultraviolet light radiation may have both a direct action on melanocytes and an indirect one through the immune system.…”

Effect of endogenous and exogenous hormones on testicular cancer: the epidemiological evidence

“…Sigurdson et al, (1999) found that high fat consumption 1 year before diagnosis of TC was associated with an increased risk of TC. TC was also associated with consumption of dairy products (Decarli and La Vecchia, 1986, Davies et al, 1996, Ganmaa et al, 2002, Garner et al, 2003, Stang et al, 2006. Dairy products, particularly milk and cheese, contain the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone (Ganmaa et al, 2002).…”

Epidemiology of testicular cancer: An overview

“…Diet has been associated with testicular cancer in several studies. 43,80,85,[144][145][146][147][148] Despite the inconclusive nature of these findings, a recent article states: ''The timing of the testicular cancer trend is consistent with a dietary origin, and the search for candidates should extend beyond hormonal agents to include those capable of causing genetic damage.'' 116 .…”

“…High intake of fat has been associated with increased risk of testicular cancer, 145,147 a finding consistent with many reports for cancers at other hormonally influenced sites such as breast, prostate, colon and ovary. 147,[149][150][151] Dairy products, particularly milk and cheese, 85,144,146,148,152 have been linked to testicular cancer. These foods contain the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.…”

“…A recent study examined the relationship between dietary intake of phytoestrogens and testicular cancer but did not observe an association. 155 Other foods found to have an association with testicular cancer are meat, 85,144,147,156 low intake of fruits and vegetables 156 and low intake of dietary calcium.…”