Pancreatic cancer mortality and organochlorine pesticide exposure in California, 1989-1996.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Occupational studies have suggested a possible link between organochlorine pesticides and the occurrence of pancreatic cancers. California maintains a death file and a pesticide reporting system that allows examination of this relationship for residents of high use areas.

METHODS:

We employed a mortality odds ratio design to compare deaths from pancreatic cancer (1989-1996) with a random sample of non-cancer deaths. Using pesticide data for three agricultural counties, we classified 102 ZIP codes in quartiles of pesticide usage for 1972-1989. Using logistic regression we estimated the effect of pesticide applications by ZIP code controlling for possible confounders.

RESULTS:

Among long-term residents, pancreatic cancer mortality was elevated for those living in ZIP codes with the highest use of four pesticides: 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-d), captafol, pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), and dieldrin. No dose-response relationship was observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study suggests increased pancreatic cancer mortality among long-term residents in areas of high application rates of 1,3-d (an EPA-classified probable human carcinogen), captafol, pentacholoronitrobenzene (PCNB), and dieldrin.

• Authors: Tim Clary, Beate Ritz
• Journal: American journal of industrial medicine (Am J Ind Med) Vol. 43 Issue 3 Pg. 306-13 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 0271-3586 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12594778 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
• Insecticides

Topics

• Age Factors
• Aged
• California (epidemiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Confidence Intervals
• Educational Status
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
• Insecticides (adverse effects)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Odds Ratio
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (chemically induced, mortality)
• Residence Characteristics
• Sex Factors
• White People (statistics & numerical data)