• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.335-345
• /
• 2013

Objectives: As the suspicion was raised that 'Agent Orange' was reclaimed 30 years ago at Camp Carol, located in Waegwan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the government conducted an investigation of the influence of environmental and health effects around Camp Carol through a public-private joint investigation team. As part of the investigation of population health effects, this study was carried out in order to observe changes and regional differences in diseases, particularly cancer, by year. Methods: We authors conducted an analysis of secondary health data, such as cancer registration data, mortality data, and health insurance data. We drew an age standardized incidence ratio (SIR), death rate (SDR), mortality ratio (SMR), and health care utilization rate using these data. Results: For gastric cancer in women, and other cancers in men, a significant increase in incidence was observed compared to the control area. For biliary tract cancer, gallbladder cancer, and thyroid cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men, a significant decrease in incidence was observed compared to the control area. In the national statistical analysis of data, such as health insurance data and mortality data, we did not observe a significant increase at the Waegwan region compared to other regions. Conclusions: We must consider the limitations of this study. Because thirty years have passed from the time of the estimated landfill of 'Agent Orange', recent national statistical data may not reflect the past real situation. Therefore, the monitoring of secondary data for health effects at the municipal level should be carried out continuously.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.3035-3039
• /
• 2014

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world and both incidence and mortality rates are continuing to rise in Pakistan. However, epidemiological studies to identify common lung cancer determinants in the Pakistani population have been limited. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 400 cases and 800 controls were enrolled from different hospitals of all provinces of Pakistan. Information about socio-demographic, occupational, lifestyle and dietary variables was extracted by questionnaire from all subjects. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. and dose-response associations were also assessed for suitable factors. Results: Strong associations were observed for smoking (OR=9.4, 95%CI=6.9-12.8), pesticide exposure (OR=5.1, 95%CI=3.1-8.3), exposure to diesel exhaust (OR=3.1, 95%CI=2.1-4.5), red meat consumption (OR=2.9, 95%CI=1.8-4.7) and chicken consumption (OR=2.8, 95%CI=1.7-49). Other associated factors observed were welding fumes (OR=2.5, 95%CI=1.0-6.5), sedentary living (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.6-2.6), family history (OR=2.0, 95%CI=0.8-4.9), wood dust (OR=1.9, 95%CI=1.2-3.1), tea consumption (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.2-2.6), coffee consumption (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.1-2.8), alcoholism (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.1-2.5) and asbestos exposure(OR=1.5, 95%CI=0.5-4.4). Consumption of vegetables (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.2-0.4), juices (OR=0.3, 95%CI=0.3-0.4), fruits (OR=0.7, 95%CI=0.5-0.9) and milk (OR=0.6, 95%CI=0.5-0.8) showed reduction in risk of lung cancer. Strongest dose-response relationships were observed for smoking ($X^2=333.8$, $p{\leq}0.0000001$), pesticide exposure ($X^2=50.9$, $p{\leq}0.0000001$) and exposure to diesel exhaust ($X^2=51.8$, $p{\leq}0.0000001$). Conclusions: Smoking, pesticide exposure, diesel exhaust and meat consumption are main lung cancer determinants in Pakistan. Consuming vegetables, fruits, milk and juices can reduce the risk of lung cancer risk, as in other countries.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2020

Background: Hong Kong's construction industry currently faces a manpower crisis. Blue-collar workers are a disadvantaged group and suffer higher levels of chronic diseases, for example, cancer, than the wider population. Cancer risk factors are likely to cluster together. We documented prevalence of cancer-associated lifestyle risk behaviors and their correlates among Hong Kong construction workers. Methods: Data were collected from workers at 37 railway-related construction worksites throughout Hong Kong during May 2014. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unbalanced nutrition intake, and physical inactivity were included in the analysis. Latent class analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify the patterns of risk behaviors related to cancer, as well as their impact factors among construction workers in Hong Kong. Results: Overall, 1,443 workers participated. Latent class analysis identified four different behavioral classes in the sample. Fully adjusted multiple logistic regression identified age, gender, years of Hong Kong residency, ethnicity, educational level, and living status differentiated behavioral classes. Conclusion: High levels of lifestyle-related cancer-risk behaviors were found in most of the Hong Kong construction workers studied. The present study contributes to understanding how cancer-related lifestyle risk behaviors cluster among construction workers and relative impact factors of risk behaviors. It is essential to tailor health behavior interventions focused on multiple risk behaviors among different groups for further enlarging the effects on cancer prevention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.18
• /
• pp.7879-7884
• /
• 2014

To investigate the association between intake of freshwater fish and their fatty acids and the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women, we conducted a case-control study with 669 cases and 682 population-based controls in Jiangsu Province of China. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit detailed information. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Total freshwater fish intake was linked to decrease in the adjusted OR for breast cancer, but without dose-dependence. Analyses by freshwater fish species showed that consumption of black carp and silver carp was inversely related to breast cancer risk, with adjusted-ORs for the highest intake category of black carp (${\geq}500g/month$) of 0.54 (95%CI=0.33-0.92; $P_{trend}$ <0.002) and for silver carp (${\geq}1000g/month$) of 0.19 (95%CI=0.11-0.33; $P_{trend}$ <0.001). In contrast, consumption of crucian carp was positively related to breast cancer risk, with an adjusted OR for the highest intake category (${\geq}1000g/month$) of 6.09 (95%CI=3.04-12.2; $P_{trend}$ <0.001). Moderate intakes of SFA, PUFA, n3-PUFA and n6-PUFA from freshwater fish may decrease the risk of breast cancer among premenopausal women. The findings of this study suggest that intake of freshwater fish and their fatty acids may modify risk of breast cancer, and that different species of freshwater fish could have a different actions on breast cancer risk. Future epidemiologic studies are needed to know the effects of freshwater fish intake on breast cancer risk and the cause of these effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.11
• /
• pp.6613-6618
• /
• 2013

To evaluate the relationship between alcohol drinking, XRCC1 codon 194 and 399 polymorphisms and risk of colorectal cancer, we conducted a case-control study with 315 colorectal cancer cases (105 colon, 210 rectal) and 439 population-based controls in Jiangsu Province of China. The XRCC1 codon 194 and 399 genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction and restrictrion fragment length polymorphism methods (PCR-RFLP). A structured questionnaire was used to elicit detailed information. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with an unconditional logistic model. In this study no significant differences were observed among the studied groups with regard to the genotype distribution of the XRCC1 codons 194 and 399 and the risk of colorectal cancer did not appear to be significantly influenced by genotype alone, whereas alcohol consumption showed a positive association (P for trend <0.01). When combined effects of XRCC1 polymorphisms and alcohol consumption were analyzed, we found that the 194Trp or 399Gln alleles further increased the colorectal cancer risk due to high alcohol intake. These findings support the conclusion that colorectal cancer susceptibility may be altered by gene-environment interactions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5421-5425
• /
• 2015

To evaluate the relationship between the growth hormone 1 (GH1) T1663A polymorphism, recreational physical activity and body mass index (BMI) with reference to breast cancer, we conducted a case-control study with 669 cases of breast cancer and 682 population-based controls in Jiangsu Province, China. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit detailed information. All subjects completed an in-person interview. GH1 genotypes were identified using PCR-RFLP methods. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with an unconditional logistic model. The distribution of GH1 genotypes was not significantly different between controls and cases ($x^2$=2.576, P=0.276). Results of stratified analysis by the participation status of the recreational physical activity showed that the persons with GH1 A allele were at a decreased risk of breast cancer (adjusted-OR=0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.87) only among inactive individuals. Stratified analysis by BMI showed that the genotype A/A was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer only among individuals of the BMI <25 (adjusted-OR=0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.98). The findings of this study suggest that recreational physical activity and BMI may modify any association between the GH1 T1663A polymorphism and breast cancer risk.

• 월간산업보건
• /
• s.265
• /
• pp.44-51
• /
• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2003.05a
• /
• pp.23-24
• /
• 2003

Oxidative stress is the hallmark of various inflammatory lung diseases/disorders such as asthma, adult respiratory distress syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, lung transplantation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer and various occupational diseases. (omitted)

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 1998.10b
• /
• pp.187-188
• /
• 1998

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.2403-2407
• /
• 2015

Background: Very few analytical studies are available on any association between stressful life events (SLE) and colorectal cancer (CRC), at least in Iran. The aim of this case control study was to determine the association between stressful life events (SLE) and colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in four hospital colonoscopy units in Tabriz city of Iran including 414 participants aged 40-75 years: 207 cases with CRC confirmed by pathology and colonoscopy findings and 207 controls free of neoplastic conditions were selected (from the same hospitals at the same period for the cases and after matching for age and sex). Stressful life events were assessed using a 43-item Holmes and Rahe Life Events Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios for SLE and risk of CRC. Results: The stressful life event mean score in the case group was 141.3, in contrast to 63.8 in the control group (p<0.011). After adjusting for confounders, death of dear ones increased the risk of CRC (OR: 2.49; 95%CI: 1.41-5.13). Other types of stressful life events (family and husband disputes, serious occupational problems, unemployment of > 6 months, and Serious financial problems) were also associated with CRC, but without statistical significance. Conclusions: According to our findings, it seems that SLE may increase the risk of CRC.