Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
권호 표지

Pesticides and Cancer Incidence - The Kangwha Cohort Study -

농약사용과 암발생과의 관계

  • Sull, Jae-Woong (Department of Public Health, The Graduate School, Yonsei University) ;
  • Yi, Sang-Wook (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yonsei University) ;
  • Sohn, Tae-Yong (Department of Health Management, Yuhan College) ;
  • Jee, Sun-Ha (Graduate School of Health Science and Management, Yonsei University) ;
  • Nam, Chung-Mo (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yonsei University) ;
  • Ohrr, Hee-Chul (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yonsei University)
  • 설재웅 (연세대학교 대학원 보건학과) ;
  • 이상욱 (연세대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 손태용 (유한대학 의무행정과) ;
  • 지선하 (연세대학교 보건대학원) ;
  • 남정모 (연세대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실) ;
  • 오희철 (연세대학교 의과대학 예방의학교실)
  • Published : 2002.03.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objective : Few studies have examined the relationship between the risk of cancer and exposure to pesticides in Korea or in other East Asian that have until recently used chlorophenoxy herbicides. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the exposure to pesticides and cancer incidence. Methods : We conducted a prospective cohort study with a follow-up period of 13 years (1985-1998). The subjects included 2,687 male and 3,589 female Kangwha Island residents, Koreans aged fifty-five or more as of March 1985, who received a personal health interview and completed a health examination survey. A Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risks(RR). Results : At baseline, the mean age of the study participants in 1985 was 66.4 for males and 67.1 for females. During the 13 years follow-up, a total of 300 incidents of cancer in males and 140 in females developed. In males, the total cancer incidence in the highest group was RR, 1.4 (95%. CI=1.0-1.9), p for trend=0.041, for digestive organ cancer Incidence in the highest group, RR, 1.5 (95% CI=1.0-2.3), p for trend=0.057, for stomach cancer, incidence in the highest group, RR, 1.6 (95% CI=0.9-2.8), p for trend=0.094, for gallbladder cancer incidence in the highest group, RR, 9.1 (95% CI=1.1-77.0), p for trend=0.014 were elevated according to the higher frequency of pesticide use per year. In particular, the risk of gallbladder cancer was very high. Although not significant, the risk of liver cancer was higher than in the non-exposed group (in the highest group, RR, 2.0(95% CI=0.7-5.9)). In females, although not significant, breast cancer incidence in the highest exposure group was higher than in the non-exposed group (in the highest group, RR, 4.7 (95% CI=0.5-27.9)). Conclusions : This study demonstrates that Korean farmers who use pesticides, particularly males, have a significantly higher total cancer incidence, particularly from digestive organ cancers such as, stomach, gallbladder, and liver cancer. In particular, the risk of gallbladder cancer was very high.

Keywords

References

  1. National Statistical Office in republic of Korea, Annual Report on the Cause of Death Stastistics. 1997(Korean)
  2. Figa-Talamanca I, Mearelli I, Valente P, Bacherini S. Cancer Mortality in a Cohort of Rural Licensed Pesticide Users in the Province of Rome. Int J Epidemiol 1993; 579-583
  3. Blair A, Thomas TL. Leukemia among Nebraska farmers: a death certificate study. Am J Epidemiol 1979; 110: 264-273 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112811
  4. Blair A, White DW. Death certificate study of leukemia among farmers from Wisconsin. J Natl Cancer Inst 1981; 66: 1027-1030 https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/66.6.1027
  5. Burmeister LF. Cancer mortlaity in Iowa farmers, 1971-78. J Natl Cancer Inst 1981; 66: 461-464
  6. Delzell E, Grufferman S. Mortality amo-ng farmers in Iceland. Int J Epidemiol 1989; 18: 146-151 https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/18.1.146
  7. Rafnsson V, Gunnarsdottir H. Mortality among farmers in Iceland. Int J Epide-mio1 1989; 18: 146-151 https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/18.1.146
  8. Burmeister LF, Everett GD, VanLier SF, Isacson P. Selected cancer mortality and farm practices in Iowa. Am J Epidemiol 1983; 118: 72-77 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113618
  9. Hoar SK, Blair A, Holmes FF et al. Agricultrual herbicide use and risk of lymphoma and soft-tissue sarcoma. JAMA 1986; 256: 1141-1147 https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.256.9.1141
  10. Saftlas AF, Blair A, Cantor KP, Hanra-han L, Anderson H A. Cancer and other causes of death among Wisconsin far-mers. Am J Ind Med 1987; 11: 119-129 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700110202
  11. Stubbs HA, Harris J, Spear RC. A pro-portionate mortality analysis of Califor-nia agricultural workers, 1978-79. Am J Ind Med 1984; 6: 305-320 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700060408
  12. Wigle DT, Semenciw RM, Wilkins K et al. Mortality study of Canadian male farm operators: non-Hodgkins lymphoma mortaliy and agricultural practices in Saskatchewan. J Natl Cancer Inst 1990; 82: 572-582
  13. Cantor KP, Blair A. Farming and mor-tality from multiple myeloma: a casecon-trol study with the use of death certifi-cates. J Natl Cancer Inst 1984; 72: 251-255
  14. Steineck G, Wikund K. Multiple myelo-ma in Swedish agricultural workers. Int J Epidemiol 1986; 15: 321-225 https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/15.3.321
  15. Wiklund K, Holm L-E. Trends in cancer risks among Swedish agricultural wor-kers. J Natl Cancer Inst 1986; 76: 657-664
  16. Mussicco M, Sant M, Molinari S et al. A case-control study of brain gliomas and occupational exposure to chemical car-cinogens: the risk to farmers. Am J Epidemiol 1988; 128: 78-85 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114961
  17. Dich J, Zahm SH, Hanberg A, Adami HO. Pesticides and cancer. Cancer Cau-ses Control 1997; 8: 420-443 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018413522959
  18. Song DB. The impact to the human and environment from pesticide use. Health Law in Korea 1986; 3(9): 52-59(Korean)
  19. Kogevinas M, Saracci R, Winkelmann R et al. Cancer incidence and mortality in women occupationally exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides, chlorophenols, and dioxins. Cancer Causes Control 1993; 4: 547-553 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00052430
  20. 농약공업협회. 농약연보. 1970
  21. 농약공업협회. 농약연보. 1975
  22. 농약공업협회. 농약연보 . 1980
  23. 농약공업협회. 농약연보. 1985
  24. Oh HC, Nam J, Lee SH. A Cohort study on the relationship between pesticide use and mortality, and cancer mortality. Korean J Prev Med 1991; 24(3): 390-399( Korean)
  25. Kim IS, Ohrr H, Jee SJ, Kim H, Lee Y. Smoking and Total Mortality: Kangwha Cohort Study, 6-year Follow-up. Yonsei Med J 1993; 34(3): 212-222 https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1993.34.3.212
  26. 강화군청，제26회 통계연보. 강화.1986
  27. Kim IS, Suh I, Oh HC, Kim BS, Lee Y. Incidence and survival of cancer in Kangwha County(1983-1987). Yonsei Med J 1989; 30(3): 256-268 https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1989.30.3.256
  28. Yi SW, Ohrr H, Lee KH et al. The Prevalence of Cancer in Kangwha Cou-nty. Korean J Prev Med 1999; 32(3): 333-342(Korean)
  29. Kim SY, Ohrr H, Kang HG, Kim SI, Yi SW. Cancer Incidence in Kangwha Cou-nty(1986-1992). Korean J Prey Med 1999; 32(4): 482-490(Korean)
  30. Ohrr H, Kim IS, Kim HO et al. Kangwha County, Korea. In Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Raymond L, Young J. ed. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Vol-ume VII. Lyon. IARC Scientific Publi-cations No. 143, 1997:406-409
  31. Fingurhut MA, Halperin WE, Marlow DA et al. Cancer mortality in workers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. N Engl J Med 1991; 324: 212-218 https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199101243240402
  32. Manz A, Berger J, Dwyer JH et al. Cancer mortality among workers in chemical plant contaminated with dioxin. Lancet 1991; 338:959-964 https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(91)91835-I
  33. Zober A, Messerer P, Huber P. Thirty-four-year mortality follow-up of BASF employees exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD after the 1953 accident. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1990; 62: 139-157 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383591
  34. Flesch-Janys D, Berger J, Gum P et al. Exposure to Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans(PCDD/F) and Mortality in a cohort of Workers from a Herbicide-producing Plant in Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany. Am J Epidemiol 1995; 142(11): 1165-1175 https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a117575
  35. Kociba RJ, Keyes DG, Beyer JE et al. Results of a two-year chronic toxicity and oncogenicity study of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlor-odibenzo-p-dioxin in rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1978;46:279 https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-008X(78)90075-3
  36. International Agency for Research on Cancer. DDT and Associated Compou-nds(Review). Occupational Exposures in Insecticide Application, and Some Pesticides. Lyon, France: IARC, 1991;IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Humans, Vol. 53: 179-249
  37. Wiklund K, Dich J. Cancer risks among female farmers in Sweden. Cancer Causes Control 1994; 5: 449-457 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01694759
  38. Moon JG, Chung JH, Chung YH, A study on Poisoning of Rural Inhabitants and Their Knowledge and Attitude toward Pesticides. Medical Research in medical research institute Chosun university 82-1: 15-30(Korean)
  39. Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Raymond L, Young J. Cancer incidence in five continents, volume VII, Lyon, In-ternational Agency for Research on Cancer, 1997,822-863
  40. Blair A, Zahm SH. Herbicides and Cancer: A Review and Discussion of Methodologic Issues. Recent Results Cancer Res 1990; 120: 132-145
  41. Tajima K, Tominaga S. Dietary habits and gastro-intestinal cancers: A com-parative case-control study of stomach and large intestinal cancers in Nagoya, Japan. Jpn J Cancer Res (Gann) 1985; 76: 705-716
  42. Jedrychowski W, Boeing H, Wahrendorf J et al. Vodka consumption, tobacco smoking and risk of gastric cancer in Poland. Int J Epidemiol 1993; 22: 606-613 https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/22.4.606
  43. You WC, Blot WJ, Chang YS et al. Diet and high risk of stomach cancer in Shandong, China. Cancer Res 1988; 48:3518-3523
  44. Moses M, Johnson ES, Anger WK et al. Environmental equity and pesticide exposure. Toxicol lnd Health 1993; 9:914-959
  45. Maroni M, Fait A. Health effects in man from long term exposure to pesticides. Toxicology 1993; 78: 1-180 https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-483X(93)90227-J
  46. Blair A, Hoar Zahm S. Methodologic issues exposure assessment for case control studies of cancer and herbicides. Am J lnd Med 1990; 18: 285-293 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700180308
  47. McDuffie HH. Women at work: agriculture and pesticides. J Occup Environ Med 1994; 36: 1240-1246 https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199411000-00012
  48. Alavanja MC, Akland G, Baird D et al. Cancer and non-cancer risk to women in agricultural health study. J Occup Environ Med 1994; 36: 1247-1250 https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199411000-00013
  49. Bertazzi PA, Zocchetti C, Pesatori AC et al. Ten-year mortality study of the popu-lation involved in the Seveso incident in 1976. Am J Epidemiol 1989; 129: 1187-1200
  50. Pesatori AC, Consonni D, Tironi A et al. Cancer morbidity in the Seveso AREA, 1976-1986. Chemosphere 1992; 25: 209-212 https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(92)90515-S
  51. Mancuso TF, Brennan MJ. Epidemio-logical considerations of cancer of the gallbladder, bile ducts and salivary glands in the rubber industry. J Occup Med 1970; 12: 333-341
  52. Krain LS. Gallbaldder and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma: Analysis of 1,808 cases. Geriatrics 1972; 27: 111-117
  53. Bond GG, Mclaren EA, Sabel FL et al. Liver and biliary tract cancer among chemical workers. Am J Ind Med 1990;18: 19-24 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700180103
  54. Guberan E, Usel M, Raymond L, Tissot R, Sweetnam PM. Disability, mortality, and incidence of cancer among Geneva painters and electricians: A historical prospective study. Br J Ind Med 1989; 46: 16-23
  55. Brown DP. Mortality of workers emplo-yed at organochlorine pesticide manufac-turing plants-An update. Scan J Work Environ Health 1992; 18: 155-161 https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.1593
  56. Wong O, Whorton MD, Foliart DE, Ragland D. An industry-wide epidemio-logic study of vinyl chloride workers, 1942-1982.AmJ Ind Med 1991; 20: 317-334 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700200305
  57. Ditraglia D, Brown DP, Namekata T, Iverson N. Mortality study of workers employed at organochlorine pesticide manufacturing plants. Scand J Work Environ Health 1981;7(SuppL 4): 140-146
  58. Safe S, Harris M, Biegel L, Zacharewski T. Mechanism of action of TCDD as an antiestrgen in transformed human breast cancer and rodent cell lines. In: MA Gallo, RJ Scheuplein, DA van der Heijden eds. Biological Basis for Risk Assessment of Dioxins and Related Compounds. 35 Banbury Report, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1991
  59. Falck F, Ricci A, Wolff NS, Godbold J, Deckers P. Pesticides and polychlori-nated biphenyls residues in human breast lipids and their relation to breast cancer. Arch Environ Health 1992; 47: 143-146
  60. Wolff MS, Toniolo PG, Lee EW, Rivera M, Dubin N. Blood levels of organochlo-rine residues and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993; 85: 648-652 https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/85.8.648
  61. Dosemeci M, Hoover RN, Blair A et al. 1994. Farming and prostate cancer among African-Americans in the southeastern United States. J Natl Cancer Inst 86: 1718-1719 https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/86.22.1718