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Environmental Quality and Cancer Incidence Evaluated

Cancer; ePub 2017 May 8; Jagai, Messer, et al

The Environmental Quality Index (EQI) played a significant role in all-site cancer incidence rates, according to a recent study. Additionally, the observed associations differed by rural/urban status and environmental domain.

Investigators evaluated the relationship between the EQI and county-level annual age-adjusted cancer incidence rates from SEER state cancer profiles. They looked at all-site cancer and the top 3 site-specific cancers for men and women. Among the results:

  • All-site county-level cancer incidence was nearly 40 times higher where EQI was poorest.
  • It was more than 30 times higher in males and females.
  • Rural/urban stratified models demonstrated positive links comparing the highest with the lowest quintiles for most strata.
  • The links were particularly pronounced in prostate and breast cancer.

Citation:

Jagai J, Messer L, Rappazzo K, Gray C, Grabich S, Lobdell D. County-level cumulative environmental quality associated with cancer incidence. [Published online ahead of print May 8, 2017]. Cancer. doi:10.1002/cncr.30709.