RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Exposures and cancer incidence near oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador
JF Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JO Occup Environ Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 517
OP 522
DO 10.1136/oem.58.8.517
VO 58
IS 8
A1 M San Sebastián
A1 B Armstrong
A1 J A Córdoba
A1 C Stephens
YR 2001
UL http://oem.bmj.com/content/58/8/517.abstract
AB 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. METHODS Water 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. RESULTS Water 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 (6v 1.6 expected) among the male population 3.6 times higher than the reference population (95% CI 1.31 to 7.81). CONCLUSIONS The observed excess of cancer might be associated with the pollution of the environment by toxic contaminants coming from the oil production.