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Childhood cancers strongly linked to air pollution in early life
August 11, 2005Childhood cancers are strongly linked to pollution from engine exhausts, concludes research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The postal addresses of 22,500 children who had died of cancer in Britain between 1955 and 1980 were linked to emissions hotspots for specific chemicals. These were identified from published maps of atmospheric pollution levels. The chemicals included carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, 1,3-butadiene, benzene, dioxins, benzo(a)pyrene, and volatile organic compounds.
Emission sources, including hospitals, bus/train stations, heavy transport hubs, and oil installations, were located using maps and information downloaded from the internet.
The expected deaths from childhood cancer were plotted against the actual deaths, and the postcodes where they had been born, lived, and died were used to calculate distances from the particular hotspots and emissions sources.
The calculations revealed an excess risk of cancer for children living within 0.3 kilometres of a chemical emissions hotspot and within 1 km of an emissions source, such as a transport hub.
1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide, both of which are produced by vehicle exhausts, and particularly diesel engines, were among the primary culprits, the findings suggested.
When combined with close proximity to an emissions source, such as a bus or coach station, a child was at 12 times the risk of dying from cancer.
The author suggests that the exposure of a child in the womb and soon after birth to atmospheric pollutants is likely to be the critical period. And he goes on to say that accepted atmospheric safety levels for 1.3-butadiene in the workplace are probably unlikely to protect unborn children from developing cancer. More controls should be placed on the sources of emission, he says.
BMJ Specialty Journals
The expected deaths from childhood cancer were plotted against the actual deaths, and the postcodes where they had been born, lived, and died were used to calculate distances from the particular hotspots and emissions sources.
The calculations revealed an excess risk of cancer for children living within 0.3 kilometres of a chemical emissions hotspot and within 1 km of an emissions source, such as a transport hub.
1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide, both of which are produced by vehicle exhausts, and particularly diesel engines, were among the primary culprits, the findings suggested.
When combined with close proximity to an emissions source, such as a bus or coach station, a child was at 12 times the risk of dying from cancer.
The author suggests that the exposure of a child in the womb and soon after birth to atmospheric pollutants is likely to be the critical period. And he goes on to say that accepted atmospheric safety levels for 1.3-butadiene in the workplace are probably unlikely to protect unborn children from developing cancer. More controls should be placed on the sources of emission, he says.
BMJ Specialty Journals
Childhood Cancers Current Events and Childhood Cancers News RSSDiabetes linked to male infertility; excess sugars in the body have direct effect on sperm quality
Diabetes in men has a direct effect on fertility, a scientist told the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today.
Childhood leukemia survivors struggle with long-term comorbidities
Survival rates of childhood cancers, especially leukemia, have improved greatly in the past three decades, but survivors of this disease still seem to face many health and lifestyle challenges as young adults.
Plant pathogen yields substance to fight neuroblastoma
Drug treatment of neuroblastoma, a tumor of the nervous system in children, poses major problems. Therefore, scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have been searching for substances that are suitable as a basis for developing better drugs. Now they have found a candidate: HC-toxin, which is isolated from a fungal plant pathogen.
Report identifies research to bolster knowledge of health effects of wireless communication devices
The rapid increase in the use of wireless communication devices in recent years has been accompanied by a significant amount of research into potential health effects from high exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy emitted by these devices.
PET/CT Imaging Proves Golden for Detecting Cancer in Children
PET/CT imaging exhibits significantly higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy than conventional imaging when it comes to detecting malignant tumors in children.
Neuroblastoma expert reviews progress and challenges in fighting difficult pediatric cancer
Childhood cancers are fortunately rare, but among them, neuroblastoma is a special case, accounting for 7 percent of all childhood cancers, but 15 percent of childhood cancer deaths.
Childhood cancer survivors at increased risk of sarcoma
Survivors of childhood cancers have a ninefold increased risk of developing a secondary sarcoma—a cancer of connective or supportive tissue such as bone, fat, or muscle—compared with the general population.
Researchers find stem-cell therapy effective in targeting metastatic cancer
Patients with advanced cancer that has spread to many different sites often do not have many treatment options, since they would be unable to tolerate the doses of treatment they would need to kill the tumors.
Clinical study results using Aldagen's product to isolate cord blood stem cells presented at ASH
Aldagen, Inc. today announced the presentation of data from a clinical trial using its ALDESORT® product to isolate stem cells from cord blood. The trial is being conducted by Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, the Duke University physician who pioneered the use of umbilical cord blood as a treatment for fatal childhood cancers and genetic diseases in 1993. Dr. Kurtzberg presented positive interim results of the study at the 48th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Orlando, Florida.
Survivors of childhood leukemia, brain tumors more at risk for strokes later in life
Children who are successfully treated for brain tumors or leukemia are more likely to have strokes later in life, according to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center.
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