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Ecological study on the risks of esophageal cancer in Ci‐Xian, China: The importance of nutritional status and the use of well water
Author(s) -
Yokokawa Yoshiharu,
Ohta Setsuko,
Hou Jun,
Zhang XinLan,
Li ShaoSen,
Ping YuMin,
Nakajima Tamie
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19991126)83:5<620::aid-ijc9>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , esophageal cancer , environmental health , cancer , physics , optics
Our purpose was to determine the environmental risks in the development of esophageal cancer in Ci‐Xian, which has one of the highest incidences of esophageal cancer in China. The subjects included 404, 352 and 400 inhabitants living in high‐, medium‐, and low‐incidence areas of esophageal cancer, as well as 301 esophageal cancer patients. A food intake‐frequency survey using a 7‐day weighted inventory questionnaire was conducted on these individuals. Questions on occupation, working conditions, income per year, family disease history, medical complaints, and demographic features were also included in the questionnaire. The levels of nitrogen compounds in selected samples of well water were also measured in each of the 3 areas. Clear‐cut differences in food intake were seen among inhabitants living in the 3 different areas, suggesting that regional differences in nutritional styles do exist. In both males and females, the intake of potatoes, fruit, vegetables, and meat were significantly lower in inhabitants living in the high‐incidence area than in the other inhabitants, much the same as that of cancer patients. A low intake of carotene, and vitamins A and C was also seen in populations living in the high‐incidence area of esophageal cancer. The well water polluted with nitrogen compounds was significantly related to the high incidence of esophageal cancer. In contrast, tobacco, alcohol consumption, and the intake of pickled vegetables and moldy foods did not relate to the different incidence rates. Our results suggest that low intake of fruit, vegetables, potatoes and meat, and the quality of well water may be important factors in the development of esophageal cancer in Ci‐Xian. Int. J. Cancer, 83:620–624, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.