Cancer clusters

From

Summary

TBD.

Studies and Reports

• Haidar S et al., Mortality among chemical workers at Texas City plant: 1940-2001., Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2009 Jan;82(2):145-51. Epub 2008 Mar 26.
  • Conclusion. "Brain tumor mortality was either due to chance in the early years or the cause of the brain tumors has been eliminated. Mortality due to liver cancer is higher than expected but only among men hired before 1950."
• Buffler P et al., A nested case-control study of brain tumors among employees at a petroleum exploration and extraction research facility, J Occup Environ Med. 2007 Jul;49(7):791-802.
  • Abstract. "Work-related exposures potentially associated with a cluster of brain tumors at a petroleum exploration and extraction research facility were evaluated in a nested case-control study. Fifteen cases were identified in the original cohort and 150 matched controls were selected. Odds ratios (ORs) for occupational exposure to petroleum, radiation, solvents, magnetic fields, and work activities were near or below 1.0. ORs near 1.5 were observed for: working with computers (OR = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30-9.35); work-related travel (OR = 1.48; 95% CI = 0.25-5.95), and travel immunizations (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 0.23-9.45). Higher ORs were observed for work in administrative and marketing buildings and for achieving a master's or higher degree (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 0.4-10.7). While some ORs above 1.5 were noted, no work-related chemical and physical exposures were significantly associated with the occurrence of brain tumors among employees at this facility."
• Tousey P et al., Determinants of the excessive rates of lung cancer in northeast Florida, South Med J. 92(5):493-501, May 1999.
  • Abstract. "Age-adjusted rates of lung cancer among whites, but not blacks, in Duval County Jacksonville), Florida, have been among the highest of any metropolitan area of the United States for three decades... Life-style factors, especially smoking, but not environmental factors, appear responsible for the high rates of lung cancer in northeast Florida."

Additional Resources

• Taylor J, Chemicals Cleared in Pennsylvania Cancer Cluster, Environment & Climate News, January 2008.
• Milloy S, Trash-Talking Landfill Safety, FoxNews.com, November 28, 2003.
• Milloy S, Nevada Cancer Scare Is Tree-Ring Circus, FoxNews.com, March 7, 2003.
• Milloy S, Environmental Clapp-Trap, FoxNews.com, February 2, 2001.