The Possible Association between Antenatal air Pollution Exposure and the Risk for Childhood Cancer

Aims

To evaluate the possible association between antenatal exposure to air pollution and childhood cancer.

Introduction

Over the last decade, the possibility that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may be associated with adverse birth outcomes such as congenital malformations has been discussed. However, only few studies investigated the possible effect of air pollution on the incidence of childhood cancer.

Methods

The historical cohort was comprised of 216,730 infants. Air pollution data was obtained from national air monitoring stations database on: SO₂, PM₁₀, NO_x and O₃. Using Geographic Information System and the Kriging procedure, exposure to different air pollutants during each pregnancy trimester and for the entire pregnancy, were assessed for each woman according to her residential location.

The cohort database was linked with the National Cancer Registry by using the infants` personal identification number. Multivariate Poisson model was computed to assess the risk for childhood cancer. The model included air pollution exposures by tertiles (low /middle/ high) and maternal and infants` characteristics.

Result: 485 cases of cancer were observed in the cohort, with incidence rate of 1.65 per 10,000 person-years. Risks, although not statistically significant for childhood cancer were found in exposures to higher concentration of SO₂ OR=1.20[95%CI 0.92-1.57] and higher concentration of NO_X OR=1.21[95%CI 0.26-5.71]. Following exposures to PM₁₀ and O_2, no increased risk for childhood cancer was observed.

Conclusion:

Further studies are warranted, that will include a more accurate exposure assessment and a larger sample size. This information is necessary in order to reinforce the need for action to reduce exposures to environmental pollutants.