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Potential Exposure to Environmental Toxic Emissions and Increased Cancer Risk in Puerto Rico.

Nancy Raquel Cardona-Cordero1, Ana Patricia Ortiz1, Lenulisy Rosado-Estrada1

  • 1Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : a Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Toxic environmental pollutants are linked to increased cancer risk in Puerto Rico. Residents in areas with industrial toxic chemical emissions showed higher overall cancer rates, particularly males in highly contaminated zones.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Toxic environmental pollutants are recognized risk factors for various cancers.
  • An ecological study was designed to evaluate cancer risk in Puerto Rico following 15 years of exposure to such pollutants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between industrial toxic chemical emissions and cancer incidence in Puerto Rico.
  • To quantify cancer risk in municipalities with varying levels of toxic chemical exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cancer incidence data from Puerto Rico (2018-2022) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) (2006-2020).
  • Defined contaminated areas based on industrial facilities reporting on-site toxic chemical emissions.
  • Calculated age-standardized incidence relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) by cancer type, sex, and frequency of TRI emissions using SEER*Stat.

Main Results:

  • A total of 80,179 invasive cancer cases were diagnosed between 2018-2022.
  • Residents of contaminated municipalities had a 7% higher risk of all cancer types (RR: 1.07).
  • Males in highly contaminated areas faced a 12% increased cancer risk (RR: 1.12), compared to a 5% increase for females (RR: 1.05).

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest elevated cancer rates in Puerto Rican municipalities with TRI-reporting industrial facilities.
  • Highlights the need for environmental interventions and public health strategies to reduce toxic chemical exposure.
  • Contributes to understanding Puerto Rico's cancer burden and its link to industrial toxic emissions.