 |
| Cancer incidence, by sex |
In May 2014 the Ministry of Health of Cordoba Province, Argentina, published a study reporting the figures and distribution of cancer cases over a five year period (2004-2009). Although the study made no causal link between cancer and pesticide use, the data have been used by anti-pesticide/anti-GMO campaigners to indicate a relationship between the two. They said that the highest rate of cancer deaths occurred in the "pampa gringa", where most agrochemicals are used, and that the deaths from cancer in this area doubled the national average[1].
No relationship between pesticides and cancer deaths
The study conducted by the Ministry of Health of the Cordoba Province ("Report on Cancer in Cordoba 2004-2009") was prepared by the Provincial Tumor Registry and the Department of Statistics and Census. The study presents the figures and distribution of cancer in the Province by age, sex, cancer type and department, and does not establish any relationship between the data and farming or any other activity. However, anti-pesticide campaigners and media used the data from the study to indicate that the rate of cancer deaths in the "pampa gringa" doubles the national rate and that this correlates with the increased use of pesticides in that particular area.
 |
| Crude death rates |
Incidence vs. mortality rates[2]
According to the study, the incidence of cancer in the Cordoba Province was 179.7-204.0 (age-adjusted rates per 100,000 women and men, respectively) in 2009, a value comparable to the incidence at the national level (216) and lower than in Denmark (346), Ireland (317) and New Zealand (309) (WCRF.org, 2012). The study also presents the incidence by department, showing no correlation between incidence rates and farming (e.g. Rio Cuarto is a department with a very intensive agriculture and presented a low cancer incidence in 2004-2009 compared with other departments).
The maps included in the study also show that the departments with the highest incidences are not necessarily those with more deaths by cancer and vice versa. That is why groups that sought to associate the data with the use of pesticides forced the interpretation of the results, considering deaths rates instead of incidence rates (if the use of pesticides had been the cause of cancer in the rural zone, higher incidence rates would be expected there, reflecting the high exposure of people to these products. Instead, a higher number of deaths most likely reflects other aspects, such as the lack of access to adequate health services in rural areas for early diagnosis and treatment).
Crude vs. age adjusted death rates
In the media stories, campaigners considered crude instead of age-adjusted death rates (which are also available in the original study by the Ministry of Health). While the crude death rate is the total number of deaths per year per 100,000 people, age-adjusted rates consider the different age distributions, allowing comparisons between groups (a department having a higher percentage of elderly people may have a higher rate of death by cancer than a department with a younger population).
Interestingly, the study shows that the adjusted cancer death rate in Cordoba Province actually decreased over 2004-2009 (from 144.4 to 134.1) and between 2006 and 2009 was lower than the national rate. Considering the age-adjusted rates by department, the highest cancer death rate (177.6, just 25% higher than the national average rate for the same period) was registered in Sobremonte, a department with little agriculture, while Rio Primero and Rio Segundo, with large soybean areas, showed cancer death rates below the total Province rate.
According to the study, the incidence of cancer in the Cordoba Province was 179.7-204.0 (age-adjusted rates per 100,000 women and men, respectively) in 2009, a value comparable to the incidence at the national level (216) and lower than in Denmark (346), Ireland (317) and New Zealand (309) (WCRF.org, 2012). The study also presents the incidence by department, showing no correlation between incidence rates and farming (e.g. Rio Cuarto is a department with a very intensive agriculture and presented a low cancer incidence in 2004-2009 compared with other departments).
The maps included in the study also show that the departments with the highest incidences are not necessarily those with more deaths by cancer and vice versa. That is why groups that sought to associate the data with the use of pesticides forced the interpretation of the results, considering deaths rates instead of incidence rates (if the use of pesticides had been the cause of cancer in the rural zone, higher incidence rates would be expected there, reflecting the high exposure of people to these products. Instead, a higher number of deaths most likely reflects other aspects, such as the lack of access to adequate health services in rural areas for early diagnosis and treatment).
Crude vs. age adjusted death rates
In the media stories, campaigners considered crude instead of age-adjusted death rates (which are also available in the original study by the Ministry of Health). While the crude death rate is the total number of deaths per year per 100,000 people, age-adjusted rates consider the different age distributions, allowing comparisons between groups (a department having a higher percentage of elderly people may have a higher rate of death by cancer than a department with a younger population).
Interestingly, the study shows that the adjusted cancer death rate in Cordoba Province actually decreased over 2004-2009 (from 144.4 to 134.1) and between 2006 and 2009 was lower than the national rate. Considering the age-adjusted rates by department, the highest cancer death rate (177.6, just 25% higher than the national average rate for the same period) was registered in Sobremonte, a department with little agriculture, while Rio Primero and Rio Segundo, with large soybean areas, showed cancer death rates below the total Province rate.
[2] A cancer incidence rate is the number of new cancers in a specified population during a year, while a cancer mortality rate is the number of deaths, with cancer as the underlying cause of death, occurring in a specified population during a year (both rates are usually expressed as the number of cases or deaths per 100,000 population).
Statement from a Argentinian contact of the Pundit.
No comments:
Post a Comment