Residential traffic exposure and lymphohematopoietic malignancies among children in the city of São Paulo, Brazil: An ecological study.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread evidence that air pollution is carcinogenic, there is little evidence from low-middle income countries, especially related to childhood malignancies. We examined the role of traffic related pollution on lymphohematopoietic malignancies among under-14 s in Sao Paulo. METHODS: All incident cases between 2002 and 2011 were collected from a population-based registry. Exposures were assigned on residential address at diagnosis via traffic density database (for the year 2008) and a satellite derived NO2 land use regression model (averaged between 1997 and 2011). Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated via Poisson Regression adjusted by age, gender and socioeconomic status (SES), with additional stratification by SES. RESULTS: A positive association between traffic and NO2 with some lymphohematopoietic malignancies was observed with the degree of effect differing by SES. For example, lymphoid leukemia IRRs in the lower SES group were 1.21 (95 % CI: 1.06, 1.39) for traffic density and 1.38 (95 % CI: 1.13, 1.68) for NO2. In the higher group they were 1.06 (95 % CI: 1.00, 1.14) and 1.37 (95 % CI: 1.16, 1.62). CONCLUSION: NO2 and traffic density were associated with Hodgkin lymphoma and lymphoid leukemia among children in São Paulo. Differing IRRs by gender and SES group indicate differences in underlying risk and/or exposure profiles.

Incidence and mortality for respiratory cancer and traffic-related air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Multiple lines of evidence have associated exposure to ambient air pollution with an increased risk of respiratory malignancies. However, there is a dearth of evidence from low-middle income countries, including those within South America, where the social inequalities are more marked. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the association between exposures to traffic related air pollution and respiratory cancer incidence and mortality within São Paulo, Brazil. Further, we aim to investigate the role of socioeconomic status (SES) upon these outcomes. METHODS: Cancer incidence between 2002 and 2011 was derived from the population-based cancer registry. Mortality data (between 2002 and 2013) was derived from the Municipal Health Department. A traffic density database and an annual nitrogen dioxide (NO2) land use regression model were used as markers of exposure. Age-adjusted Binomial Negative Regression models were developed, stratifying by SES and gender. RESULTS: We observed an increased rate of respiratory cancer incidence and mortality in association with increased traffic density and NO2 concentrations, which was higher among those regions with the lowest SES. For cancer mortality and traffic exposure, those in the most deprived region, had an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 2.19 (95% CI: 1.70, 2.82) when comparing the highest exposure centile (top 90%) to the lowest (lowest 25%). By contrast, in the least deprived area, the IRR for the same exposure contrast was.1.07 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.20). For NO2 in the most deprived regions, the IRR for cancer mortality in the highest exposed group was 1.44 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.88) while in the least deprived area, the IRR for the highest exposed group was 1.11 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Traffic density and NO2 were associated with an increased rate of respiratory cancer incidence and mortality in São Paulo. Residents from poor regions may suffer more from the impact of traffic air pollution.