Exposures and cancer incidence near oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador
M San Sebastiána, B Armstrongb, J A Córdobaa, C Stephensb
a Instituto de
Epidemiología y Salud Comunitaria "Manuel Amunárriz", Apdo
17-10-7410, Quito, Ecuador, b Environmental Epidemiology Unit,
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London,
UK
Correspondence to: Dr M San Sebastián admin{at}mmcoca.ecuanex.net.ec
Accepted 9 February
2001
OBJECTIVES
To
examine environmental exposure and incidence and mortality of cancer in
the village of San Carlos surrounded by oil fields in the Amazon basin
of Ecuador.
METHODSWater samples
of the local streams were analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons
(TPHs). A preliminary list of potential cancer cases from 1989 to 1998 was prepared. Cases were compared with expected numbers of cancer
morbidity and mortality registrations from a Quito reference population.
RESULTSWater analysis
showed severe exposure to TPHs by the residents. Ten patients with
cancer were diagnosed while resident in the village of San Carlos. An
overall excess for all types of cancer was found in the male population
(8 observed v 3.5 expected) with a risk 2.26 times higher than expected (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.97 to
4.46). There was an overall excess of deaths for all types of cancer (6 v 1.6 expected) among the male population 3.6 times higher than the reference population (95% CI 1.31 to 7.81).
CONCLUSIONSThe
observed excess of cancer might be associated with the pollution of the
environment by toxic contaminants coming from the oil production.
Keywords: cancer; oil; Amazon; Ecuador
© 2001 by Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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