Gastric Cancer Mortality and Drinking Water Qualities in Taiwan

The possible association between the risk of gastric cancer and nitrate and hardness in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. Data on gastric cancer deaths among eligible residents in Taiwan from 1987 through 1991 (6,766 cases) were obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Taiwan Provincial Department of Health. Controls were deaths from other causes (6,766 controls) and were matched individually to the cases by sex, year of birth, and year of death. Data on nitrate–nitrogen (NO₃–N) and hardness levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan were collected from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The municipality of residence for cases and controls was assumed to be the source of the subject's nitrate and hardness exposure via drinking water. There was no difference in gastric cancer rates between the groups with different levels of nitrate. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for death from gastric cancer was 0.95 (0.87–1.03) for the group with water nitrate levels between 0.23 and 0.44 mg/L, and 1.02 (0.93–1.11) for the group with nitrate levels greater than 0.45 mg/L. However, the results show a significant negative relationship between drinking water hardness and gastric cancer mortality. Odds ratios were 1.16 (1.07–1.26) and 1.65 (1.52–1.79), respectively, for exposure to moderately hard water and soft water compared with the use of hard water. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health risk. Received: 27 November 1996/Accepted: 16 April 1997     

Rectal cancer mortality and total hardness levels in Taiwan's drinking water.

The possible association between the risk of rectal cancer and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible rectal cancer deaths (986 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1990 through 1994 were compared with deaths from other causes (986 controls), and the hardness levels of the drinking water used by these residents were determined. Data on water hardness throughout Taiwan were collected from Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair matched to the cases by sex, year of birth, and year of death. The results show a significant negative relationship between drinking water hardness and rectal cancer mortality. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were 1.24 (1.01-1. 55) and 1.38 (1.10-1.73), respectively, for exposure to moderately hard water and soft water compared with the use of hard water. Trend analyses showed an increasing odds ratio for rectal cancer with decreasing levels of hardness in drinking water. This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.     

Esophageal cancer mortality and total hardness levels in Taiwan's drinking water

The possible association between the risk of esophageal cancer and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible esophageal cancer deaths (2084 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1987 through 1996 were compared with deaths from other causes (2084 controls), and the hardness levels of the drinking water used by these residents were determined. Data on water hardness throughout Taiwan have been collected from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair-matched to the cases by sex, year of birth, and year of death. The results show that there is a 42% excess risk of mortality from esophageal cancer in relation to the use of soft water (adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals was 1.42 (1.22-1.66). This is an important finding for the Taiwan water industry and human health.     

Does calcium in drinking water modify the association between nitrate in drinking water and risk of death from colon cancer?

The objective of this study was to explore whether calcium (Ca) levels in drinking water modified the effects of nitrate on colon cancer risk. A matched case–control study was used to investigate the relationship between the risk of death from colon cancer and exposure to nitrate in drinking water in Taiwan. All colon cancer deaths of Taiwan residents from 2003 through 2007 were obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Taiwan Provincial Department of Health. Controls were deaths from other causes and were pair-matched to the cases by gender, year of birth and year of death. Information on the levels of nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) and Ca in drinking water have been collected from Taiwan Water Supply Corporation (TWSC). The municipality of residence for cases and controls was assumed to be the source of the subject's NO₃-N and Ca exposure via drinking water. We observed evidence of an interaction between drinking water NO₃-N and Ca intake via drinking water. This is the first study to report effect modification by Ca intake from drinking water on the association between NO₃-N exposure and risk of colon cancer mortality.     

Calcium and magnesium in drinking water and risk of death from acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan

Many studies have examined the association between cardiovascular disease mortality and water hardness. However, the results have not been consistent. This report examines whether calcium and magnesium in drinking water are protective against acute myocardial infarction (AMI). All eligible AMI deaths (10,094 cases) of Taiwan residents from 1994 to 2003 were compared with deaths from other causes (10,094 controls), and the levels of calcium and magnesium in drinking water of these residents were determined. Data on calcium and magnesium levels in drinking water throughout Taiwan have been obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation. The control group consisted of people who died from other causes and the controls were pair matched to the cases by sex, year of birth, and year of death. The adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.79 (0.73-0.86) for the group with water calcium levels between 25.1 and 42.4 mg/L and 0.71 (0.65-0.77) for the group with calcium levels of 42.6 mg/L or more. After adjustment for calcium levels in drinking water, there was no difference between the groups with different levels of magnesium. The results of the present study show that there is a significant protective effect of calcium intake from drinking water on the risk of death from AMI.     

Effect modification of the association between trihalomethanes and pancreatic cancer by drinking water hardness: Evidence from an ecological study

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between total trihalomethanes (TTHM) levels in public water supplies and risk of pancreatic cancer and to determine whether calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels in drinking water modify the effects of TTHM on risk to develop pancreatic cancer. A matched case-control study was used to investigate the relationship between the risk of death attributed to pancreatic cancer and exposure to TTHM in drinking water in 53 municipalities in Taiwan. All pancreatic cancer deaths in the 53 municipalities from 1998 through 2007 were obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Taiwan Provincial Department of Health. Controls were deaths from other causes and were pair matched to the cancer cases by gender, year of birth, and year of death. Each matched control was selected randomly from the set of possible controls for each cancer case. Data on TTHM levels in drinking water were collected from Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. Information on the levels of Ca and Mg in drinking water was obtained from the Taiwan Water Supply Corporation. The municipality of residence for cancer cases and controls was presumed to be the source of the subject's TTHM, Ca, and Mg exposure via drinking water. Relative to individuals whose TTHM exposure level<4.9 ppb, the adjusted OR (95% CI) for pancreatic cancer was 1.01 (0.85-1.21) for individuals who resided in municipalities served by drinking water with a TTHM exposure>4.9 ppb. There was no evidence of an interaction of drinking water TTHM levels with low Ca intake via drinking water. However, we observed evidence of an interaction between drinking water TTHM concentrations and Mg intake via drinking water. Our findings showed that the correlation between TTHM exposure and risk of pancreatic cancer is influenced by Mg in drinking water. Increased knowledge of the interaction between Mg and TTHM in reducing pancreatic cancer risk will aid in public policy making and standard setting.     

Gastric cancer mortality and nitrate levels in Wisconsin drinking water.

The association between nitrate levels in public and private sources of drinking water and gastric cancer mortality in Wisconsin was investigated in a case-control study. All gastric cancer deaths of Wisconsin residents from 1982 through 1985 were compared with deaths from other causes (controls), and nitrate levels in the home drinking water of these residents were determined. Nitrate measures for public sources were obtained from historic nitrate data from municipal sources that existed in 1970. Nitrate measures for private water sources were obtained by testing the wells individually at the existing residences. Controls were matched individually to gastric cancer cases with respect to sex, year of birth, year of death, Wisconsin birth, and Wisconsin residency at the time of death. Matched-pair analyses were performed on the paired data, and the following levels of nitrate-nitrogen exposure were used as indicators of exposure: 0.5, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/l. Matched-pair analysis was also performed for which private water supply constituted exposure. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were, respectively, 0.92 (0.75, 1.12); 0.97 (0.74, 1.35); 0.86 (0.69, 1.08); 1.50 (0.12, 18.25); and 1.09 (0.82, 1.47) for exposure to private well-water sources. These results did not indicate an increased risk of gastric cancer at any level.     

Female lung cancer and petrochemical air pollution in Taiwan.

To investigate the relationship between petrochemical air pollution and female lung cancer, we conducted a matched case-control study among women who had died in Taiwan from 1990 through 1994. Data about all eligible female lung cancer deaths were obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Taiwan Provincial Department of Health. The control group included women who died from nonneoplasms and diseases that were not associated with respiratory problems. We pair-matched the controls to the cases by sex, year of birth, and year of death. Each matched control was selected randomly from the set of possible controls for each case. We used the proportion of a municipality's total population employed in the petrochemical manufacturing industry as an indicator of a resident's exposure to air emissions from the petrochemical manufacturing industry. The subjects were divided into tertiles according to the above indicator. Women who lived in the 2 groups of municipalities characterized by higher levels of petrochemical pollution had a statistically significant higher risk of developing lung cancer than the group that lived in municipalities with the lowest petrochemical air pollution levels (after controlling for possible confounders). The linear trend was also statistically significant (p < .05). The results of this study shed important light on the relationship between the Taiwan petrochemical industry and the resulting risk to human health.     

The association between alcohol consumption and mortality: the Swedish women’s lifestyle and health study

Although light to moderate alcohol intake may reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, the effect on total mortality requires further study, particularly among young and middle-aged women. We studied the association between alcohol consumption and mortality from all causes, from cancer, and from CVD in the Swedish Women’s Lifestyle and Health Study, a cohort of 47,921 female residents of Sweden aged 30–49 years at baseline in 1991/1992 and followed up to 2006. We estimated the relative risk (RR) of mortality associated with alcohol intake using Cox regression adjusted for age, smoking, BMI, saturated fat intake, physical activity, and education. During 713,295 person-years of follow-up, 1,119 deaths occurred, including 158 deaths from CVD, 673 deaths from cancer, and 288 deaths from other causes. Compared with non-drinking, light to moderate drinking (0.1–19.9 g of alcohol per day) showed a statistically significant inverse association with total mortality (RR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.71–0.98). Analyses of cause-specific mortality revealed an RR for CVD mortality of 0.69 (95% CI = 0.46–1.01) and an RR for cancer mortality of 0.92 (95% CI = 0.75–1.15). These results suggest that in younger women, a possibly beneficial effect of light to moderate drinking on future risk of mortality is limited to a prevention of CVD mortality but not cancer mortality.     

地方性砷中毒病区癌症死亡情况初步调查

内蒙古土默特左旗黑河村,是天然高砷饮水引起的地方性砷中毒病区.我们通过回顾性队列分析,算出SMR,判明在1961～1991年间饮高砷水的居民中,30～60岁的全死因、全癌及肺癌的实际死亡数与预期死亡数有显著性差异.     

Daily intake of magnesium and calcium from drinking water in relation to myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: A decreased risk for cardiovascular disease has been related to the hardness of drinking water, particularly high levels of magnesium. However, the evidence is still uncertain, especially in relation to individual intake from water. METHODS: We used data from the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program, a population-based case-control study conducted during 1992-1994, to study the association between myocardial infarction and the daily intake of drinking water magnesium and calcium. Our analyses are based on 497 cases age 45-70 years, and 677 controls matched on age, sex, and hospital catchment area. Individual data on magnesium, calcium, and hardness of the domestic drinking water were assessed from waterwork registers or analyses of well water. RESULTS: After adjustment for the matching variables and smoking, hypertension, socioeconomic status, job strain, body mass index, diabetes, and physical inactivity, the odds ratio for myocardial infarction was 1.09 (95% confidence interval = 0.81-1.46) associated with a tap water hardness above the median (>4.4 German hardness degrees) and 0.88 (0.67-1.15) associated with a water magnesium intake above the median (>1.86 mg/d). There was no apparent sign of any exposure-response pattern related to water intake of magnesium or calcium. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support previous reports of a protective effect on myocardial infarction associated with consumption of drinking water with higher levels of hardness, magnesium, or calcium.     

Estimation of potential lifetime cancer risks for trihalomethanes from consuming chlorinated drinking water in Taiwan

Data on concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) in raw and chlorinated water collected from three water treatment plants in Taiwan and estimates of the lifetime cancer risk for THMs from drinking water, using age-adjusted factors and volatilization terms, are presented. Data on THM levels in drinking water were obtained from the annual reports of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of Taiwan. The methodology for estimation of lifetime cancer risks was taken from the USEPA. Chloroform was the major species of THMs, especially in the water plant of south Taiwan. Chloroform contributed the majority of the lifetime cancer risks (range: 87.5-92.5%) of total risks from the three water supply areas. All lifetime cancer risks for CHCl(3), CHBrCl(2), CHBr2Cl, and CHBr3 from consuming tap water in the three water supply areas were higher than 10(-6). The sum of lifetime cancer risks for CHCl(3), CHBrCl(3), CHBr2Cl, and CHBr3 was highest (total risk for total THMs<1.94x10(-4)) for tap water from south Taiwan.     

大亚湾核电站周围居民恶性肿瘤死亡分析(1993～1997年)

目的调查广东大亚湾核电站运行初期周围居民恶性肿瘤死亡资料,为核电正常运行或核电事故健康影响评价提供基础资料.方法通过回顾性调查方法,将核电站20km半径范围内1993年以前至少居住3年以上(含3年)并有常住户口的居民列为调查对象.恶性肿瘤死亡资料收集分人口学调查和死因确认两步骤.结果1993～1997年调查总人数116328人,累积观察587114人年,期间死亡3027人,恶性肿瘤死亡520例,调整死亡率为79.77×10-5,白血病死亡19例,调整死亡率为2.94×10-5.恶性肿瘤顺位前10位分别为肝癌、肺癌、胃癌、鼻咽癌、食道癌、白血病、肠癌、喉癌、骨癌及脑癌.结论调查地区恶性肿瘤死亡率和白血病死亡率与广东省其他地区或全国调查结果基本一致.     

2015年天津市户籍居民恶性肿瘤死亡及去死因期望寿命分析

目的 探讨天津市户籍居民恶性肿瘤死亡及去死因期望寿命情况。方法 收集2015年天津市户籍居民全死因登记资料,按照全球疾病负担中恶性肿瘤分类标准进行分类,计算各类恶性肿瘤死亡率及去除之后对期望寿命的影响。结果 2015年天津市户籍居民因恶性肿瘤死亡17 641例,粗死亡率为171.79/10万,标化率为86.32/10万。其中男性死亡10 165例,粗死亡率为197.39/10万,标化率为95.41/10万,女性死亡7 476例,粗死亡率为146.04/10万,标化率为76.65/10万。男性恶性肿瘤死亡排前5位的是肺癌、肝癌、胃癌、结直肠肛门癌和胰腺癌;女性恶性肿瘤死亡排前5位的是肺癌、乳腺癌、肝癌、结直肠肛门癌和胃癌。去除恶性肿瘤后男性和女性期望寿命分别增长3.53岁和2.88岁,其中去除肺癌之后分别增长1.25岁和0.97岁,远超过其他恶性肿瘤。结论 肺癌是造成天津市户籍居民死亡及期望寿命减少的主要疾病,亟需采取有效的预防措施加以遏制。     

Incidence of transitional cell carcinoma and arsenic in drinking water: a follow-up study of 8,102 residents in an arseniasis-endemic area in northeastern Taiwan

A significant association between ingested arsenic and bladder cancer has been reported in an arseniasis-endemic area in southwestern Taiwan, where many households share only a few wells in their villages. In another arseniasis-endemic area in northeastern Taiwan, each household has its own well for obtaining drinking water. In 1991-1994, the authors examined risk of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in relation to ingested arsenic in a cohort of 8,102 residents in northeastern Taiwan. Estimation of each study subject's individual exposure to inorganic arsenic was based on the arsenic concentration in his or her own well water, which was determined by hydride generation combined with atomic absorption spectrometry. Information on duration of consumption of the well water was obtained through standardized questionnaire interviews. The occurrence of urinary tract cancers was ascertained by follow-up interview and by data linkage with community hospital records, the national death certification profile, and the cancer registry profile. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. There was a significantly increased incidence of urinary cancers for the study cohort compared with the general population in Taiwan (standardized incidence ratio = 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22, 3.24). A significant dose-response relation between risk of cancers of the urinary organs, especially TCC, and indices of arsenic exposure was observed after adjustment for age, sex, and cigarette smoking. The multivariate-adjusted relative risks of developing TCC were 1.9, 8.2, and 15.3 for arsenic concentrations of 10.1-50.0, 50.1-100, and >100 microg/liter, respectively, compared with the referent level of < or =10.0 microg/liter.     

Case-control study of colon cancer and drinking water trihalomethanes in Wisconsin

A case-control study was conducted to test the hypothesis that chronic ingestion of trihalomethanes (THMs), occurring as chlorination byproducts in drinking water, carries a risk of colon cancer. Lifetime residential and water source histories and information on water-drinking habits, diet, sociodemographics, medical and occupation histories, lifestyle and other factors were obtained by questionnaire from a statewide sample of newly-diagnosed colon cancer cases (N = 347), controls with cancer of other sites (N = 639) and general population controls (N = 611). Since no data on past THM levels exists, it was necessary to devise a scheme to generate THM estimates for all Wisconsin water sources. For this, a statistical model based on quantitative THM measures and routinely-recorded data taken at 81 municipal water facilities was used in conjunction with individual residential histories to estimate lifetime and period-specific THM exposure for each case and control. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios adjusted for age, sex and urban living, for colon cancer and THM exposure. The study results indicate that THM in Wisconsin drinking water does not pose a significant colon cancer risk. Odds ratios for exposure to the middle and highest category of lifetime cumulative THM were 1.05 (95% Cl = 0.66-1.68) and 0.93(95%Cl = 0.55-1.57) respectively, relative to the cancer control group, and 1.10 (95%Cl = 0.68-1.78) and 0.73 (95% Cl = 0.44-1.21) respectively, relative to the general population controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

环境污染对居民细胞遗传物质损伤的调查研究

流行病学资料调查表明，大同市南郊区北村乡近年来恶性肿瘤死亡呈明显的上升趋势，为了探讨癌高发的原因，本文对该地区大气、地面水及居民饮水、蔬菜和人群血清的污染情况进行相关因素的分析调查。结果表明，大气中的苯并（a）芘（Bap）、悬浮颗粒物（TSP）及饮食中硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐均高于非污染区，地面水污染严重。同时该地区居民外周血淋巴细胞微核、畸变核及人群血清铜含量、铜／锌比值均明显高于对照区，差异均非常显著（P＜0．01），并与该地区大气中Bap和TSP、饮食中的硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐成正相关。结果还表明，该地区居民外周血淋巴细胞的非程序DNA合成（UDS）试验的cpm值明显低于对照组，差异非常显著（P＜0.001），并与大气、水源的污染因素成负相关。认为大同市北村乡地区近年来大气、水源的严重污染可能是该地区居民细胞遗传物质损伤及癌发病率增高的重要因素。     

广东省揭阳市居民食管癌发病危险因素的 病例对照研究

目的：筛选广东省揭阳市食管癌的危险因素。方法：1999年在揭阳市人民医院接受治疗的214例食管癌和贲门癌病人纳入病例组,均经过病理学诊断,214名健康人为对照组,按病例组的性别,年龄和居住地（镇）的构成情况从人群中随机抽取。研究对象均在揭阳市居住20年以上,用统一的调查进行问卷调查。用非条件logistic回归进行多因素分析。结果：主要的危险因素是饮烫茶(OR:1．39－3．74）,吃饭快（OR：1．54－4．10）,吃硬饭（OR：1．32－4．27）,猪油（OR：3．57－42．03）和肉类（OR：1．36－5．05）;保护性因素是饮用自来水20年以上（OR：0．13－0．51）,未发现吸烟史、食管癌家族史与食管癌有关联。结论：本研究筛选出的因素普遍暴露于揭阳市民民中,多数因素与其它地区的同类研究一致,但猪油和肉类是本研究中提出的影响因素,有待于实验研究证实。     

The association of drinking water source and chlorination by-products with cancer incidence among postmenopausal women in Iowa: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the association of drinking water source and chlorination by-product exposure with cancer incidence. METHODS: A cohort of 28,237 Iowa women reported their drinking water source. Exposure to chlorination by-products was determined from statewide water quality data. RESULTS: In comparison with women who used municipal ground-water sources, women with municipal surface water sources were at an increased risk of colon cancer and all cancers combined. A clear dose-response relation was observed between four categories of increasing chloroform levels in finished drinking water and the risk of colon cancer and all cancers combined. The relative risks were 1.00, 1.06, 1.39, and 1.68 for colon cancer and 1.00, 1.04, 1.24, and 1.25 for total cancers. No consistent association with either water source or chloroform concentration was observed for other cancer sites. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that exposure to chlorination by-products in drinking water is associated with increased risk of colon cancer.     

Arsenic in drinking water and bladder cancer mortality in the United States: an analysis based on 133 U.S. counties and 30 years of observation

This study analyzes the relationship between arsenic exposure through drinking water and bladder cancer mortality. The county-specific white male bladder cancer mortality data (1950-1979) and county-specific groundwater arsenic concentration data were obtained for 133 U.S. counties known to be exclusively dependent on groundwater for their public drinking water supply. No arsenic-related increase in bladder cancer mortality was found over the exposure range of 3 to 60 microg/L using stratified analysis and regression analyses (both unweighted and weighted by county population and using both mean and median arsenic concentrations). These results, which provide a direct estimate of arsenic-related cancer risk for U.S. residents, exclude the National Research Council's 2001 risk estimate that was based on Southwest Taiwan data and required adjusting for differences between the body mass and water consumption rates of U.S. and Taiwanese residents.