Dataset Information

Childhood cancer and nuclear power plants in Switzerland: a census-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies on childhood cancer and nuclear power plants (NPPs) produced conflicting results. We used a cohort approach to examine whether residence near NPPs was associated with leukaemia or any childhood cancer in Switzerland.

Methods

We computed person-years at risk for children aged 0-15 years born in Switzerland from 1985 to 2009, based on the Swiss censuses 1990 and 2000 and identified cancer cases from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We geo-coded place of residence at birth and calculated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing the risk of cancer in children born <5?km, 5-10?km and 10-15?km from the nearest NPP with children born >15?km away, using Poisson regression models.

Results

We included 2925 children diagnosed with cancer during 21?117?524 person-years of follow-up; 953 (32.6%) had leukaemia. Eight and 12 children diagnosed with leukaemia at ages 0-4 and 0-15 years, and 18 and 31 children diagnosed with any cancer were born <5?km from a NPP. Compared with children born >15?km away, the IRRs (95% CI) for leukaemia in 0-4 and 0-15 year olds were 1.20 (0.60-2.41) and 1.05 (0.60-1.86), respectively. For any cancer, corresponding IRRs were 0.97 (0.61-1.54) and 0.89 (0.63-1.27). There was no evidence of a dose-response relationship with distance (P?>?0.30). Results were similar for residence at diagnosis and at birth, and when adjusted for potential confounders. Results from sensitivity analyses were consistent with main results.

Conclusions

This nationwide cohort study found little evidence of an association between residence near NPPs and the risk of leukaemia or any childhood cancer.

SUBMITTER: Spycher BD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3204210 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Childhood cancer and nuclear power plants in Switzerland: a census-based cohort study.

Spycher Ben D BD Feller Martin M Zwahlen Marcel M Röösli Martin M von der Weid Nicolas X NX Hengartner Heinz H Egger Matthias M Kuehni Claudia E CE

International journal of epidemiology 20110712 5

<h4>Background</h4>Previous studies on childhood cancer and nuclear power plants (NPPs) produced conflicting results. We used a cohort approach to examine whether residence near NPPs was associated with leukaemia or any childhood cancer in Switzerland.<h4>Methods</h4>We computed person-years at risk for children aged 0-15 years born in Switzerland from 1985 to 2009, based on the Swiss censuses 1990 and 2000 and identified cancer cases from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We geo-coded place ...[more]

PMID: 21750009

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Gestational age and birth weight are strong predictors of infant morbidity and mortality. Understanding spatial variation can inform policies to reduce health inequalities. We examined small-area variation in gestational age and birth weight in Switzerland. METHODS:All singleton live births recorded in the Swiss Live Birth Register 2011 to 2014 were eligible. We deterministically linked the Live Birth Register with census and survey data to create data sets including neonatal and pregnancy-related variables, parental characteristics and geographical variables. We produced maps of 705 areas and fitted linear mixed-effect models to assess to what extent spatial variation was explained by these variables. RESULTS:We analysed all 315?177 eligible live births. Area-level averages of gestational age varied between 272 and 279 days, and between 3138 and 3467?g for birth weight. The fully adjusted models explained 31% and 87% of spatial variation of gestational age and birth weight, respectively. Language region accounted for most of the explained variation (23% in gestational age and 62% in birth weight), with shorter gestational age (-0.6 days and -0.9 days) and lower birth weight (-1.1% and -1.8%) in French-speaking and Italian-speaking areas, respectively, compared with German-speaking areas. Other variables explaining variation were, for gestational age, the level of urbanisation (10%) and parental nationality (3%). For birth weight, they were gestational age (27%), parental nationality (27%), civil status (10%) and altitude (10%). In a random sample of 81?968 live births with data on parental education, levels of education were only weakly associated with gestational age (-0.9 days for compulsory vs tertiary maternal education) or birth weight (-0.7% for compulsory vs tertiary maternal education). CONCLUSIONS:In Switzerland, small area variation in birth weight is largely explained, and variation in gestational age partially explained, by geocultural, sociodemographic and pregnancy factors.

Project description:IntroductionChildhood cancer and its treatment may lead to various health complications. Related impairment in quality of life, excess in deaths and accumulated healthcare costs are relevant. Genetic variations are suggested to contribute to the wide inter-individual variability of complications but have been used only rarely to risk-stratify treatment and follow-up care. This study aims to identify germline genetic variants associated with acute and late complications of childhood cancer.Methods and analysisThe Genetic Risks for Childhood Cancer Complications Switzerland (GECCOS) study is a nationwide cohort study. Eligible are patients and survivors who were diagnosed with childhood cancers or Langerhans cell histiocytosis before age 21 years, were registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry (SCCR) since 1976 and have consented to the Paediatric Biobank for Research in Haematology and Oncology, Geneva, host of the national Germline DNA Biobank Switzerland for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders (BISKIDS).GECCOS uses demographic and clinical data from the SCCR and the associated Swiss Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Clinical outcome data consists of organ function testing, health conditions diagnosed by physicians, second primary neoplasms and self-reported information from participants. Germline genetic samples and sequencing data are collected in BISKIDS. We will perform association analyses using primarily whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic variants associated with specified health conditions. We will use clustering and machine-learning techniques and assess multiple health conditions in different models.DiscussionGECCOS will improve knowledge of germline genetic variants associated with childhood cancer-associated health conditions and help to further individualise cancer treatment and follow-up care, potentially resulting in improved efficacy and reduced side effects.Ethics and disseminationThe Geneva Cantonal Commission for Research Ethics has approved the GECCOS study.Research findings will be disseminated through national and international conferences, publications in peer-reviewed journals and in lay language online.Trial registration numberNCT04702321.

Project description:Agricultural workers may be exposed to potential carcinogens including pesticides, sensitizing agents and solar radiation. Previous studies indicate increased risks of hematopoietic cancers and decreased risks at other sites, possibly due to differences in lifestyle or risk behaviours. We present findings from CanCHEC (Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort), the largest national population-based cohort of agricultural workers.Statistics Canada created the cohort using deterministic and probabilistic linkage of the 1991 Canadian Long Form Census to National Cancer Registry records for 1992-2010. Self-reported occupations were coded using the Standard Occupational Classification (1991) system. Analyses were restricted to employed persons aged 25-74 years at baseline (N = 2,051,315), with follow-up until December 31, 2010. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were modeled using Cox proportional hazards for all workers in agricultural occupations (n = 70,570; 70.8% male), stratified by sex, and adjusted for age at cohort entry, province of residence, and highest level of education.A total of 9515 incident cancer cases (7295 in males) occurred in agricultural workers. Among men, increased risks were observed for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.00-1.21), prostate (HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06-1.16), melanoma (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.02-1.31), and lip cancer (HR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.70-2.70). Decreased risks in males were observed for lung, larynx, and liver cancers. Among female agricultural workers there was an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07-1.72). Increased risks of melanoma (HR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.17-2.73), leukemia (HR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.24-3.25) and multiple myeloma (HR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.16-4.37) were observed in a subset of female crop farmers.Exposure to pesticides may have contributed to increased risks of hematopoietic cancers, while increased risks of lip cancer and melanoma may be attributed to sun exposure. The array of decreased risks suggests reduced smoking and alcohol consumption in this occupational group compared to the general population.

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Dataset Information

Childhood cancer and nuclear power plants in Switzerland: a census-based cohort study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Childhood cancer and nuclear power plants in Switzerland: a census-based cohort study.

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