Colon Cancer Mortality and Total Hardness Levels in Taiwan's Drinking Water |
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Authors: | C-Y Yang C-F Hung |
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Institution: | (1) School of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical College, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st RD, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan , TW |
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Abstract: | The possible association between the risk of colon cancer and hardness levels in drinking water from municipal supplies
was investigated in a matched case-control study in Taiwan. All eligible colon cancer deaths (1,714 cases) of Taiwan residents
from 1989 through 1993 were compared with deaths from other causes (1,714 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 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 colon cancer mortality. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were 1.22 (1.04–1.43) and 1.46 (1.22–1.75),
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 colon cancer with decreasing levels of hardness in drinking water. This is an important finding
for the Taiwan water industry and human health.
Received: 8 July 1997/Accepted: 29 November 1997 |
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