Title: | Cancer risk disparities between hispanic and non-hispanic white populations: the role of exposure to indoor air pollution |
Author(s): | Hun DE; Siegel JA; Morandi MT; Stock TH; Corsi RL; |
Address: | "University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1552-9924 (Electronic) 0091-6765 (Print) 0091-6765 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States; however, minimal information is available on their cancer risks from exposures to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and how these risks compare to risks to non-Hispanic whites. METHODS: We estimated the personal exposure and cancer risk of Hispanic and white adults who participated in the Relationships of Indoor, Outdoor, and Personal Air (RIOPA) study. We evaluated 12 of the sampled volatile organic compounds and carbonyls and identified the HAPs of most concern and their possible sources. Furthermore, we examined sociodemographic factors and building characteristics. RESULTS: Cumulative cancer risks (CCRs) estimated for Hispanics (median = 519 x 10(-6), 90th percentile = 3,968 x 10(-6)) and for whites (median = 443 x 10(-6), 90th percentile = 751 x 10(-6)) were much greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benchmark of 10(-6). Cumulative risks were dominated by formaldehyde and p-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) and, to a lesser extent, by acetaldehyde, chloroform, and benzene. Exposure to all of these compounds except benzene was primarily due to indoor residential sources. Hispanics had statistically higher CCRs than did whites (p = 0.05) because of differences in exposure to p-DCB, chloroform, and benzene. Formaldehyde was the largest contributor to CCR for 69% of Hispanics and 88% of whites. Cancer risks for pollutants emitted indoors increased in houses with lower ventilation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics appear to be disproportionately affected by certain HAPs from indoor and outdoor sources. Policies that aim to reduce risk from exposure to HAPs for the entire population and population subgroups should consider indoor air pollution" |
Keywords: | "Adult Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects Benzene/toxicity Chlorobenzenes/toxicity Chloroform/toxicity Formaldehyde/toxicity Hazardous Substances/*toxicity *Health Status Disparities *Hispanic or Latino Humans Neoplasms/*ethnology Risk Assessment Risk;" |
Notes: | "MedlineHun, Diana E Siegel, Jeffrey A Morandi, Maria T Stock, Thomas H Corsi, Richard L eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2010/01/06 Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Dec; 117(12):1925-31. doi: 10.1289/ehp.0900925. Epub 2009 Aug 4" |