| Title: | Clustering of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is associated with increased levels of the environmental toxins benzene and trichloroethylene in the state of Georgia |
| Author(s): | Clough L; Bayakly AR; Ward KC; Khan MK; Chen SC; Lechowicz MJ; Flowers CR; Allen PB; Switchenko JM; |
| Address: | "Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia. Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1097-0142 (Electronic) 0008-543X (Print) 0008-543X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma arising in the skin. Geographic clustering of CTCL has recently been reported, but its association with environmental factors is unknown. Benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE) are environmental toxins with carcinogenic properties. The authors investigated associations between geographic clustering of CTCL incidence in the state of Georgia with benzene and TCE exposure. METHODS: The statewide county-level incidence of CTCL within Georgia was obtained from the Georgia Cancer Registry for the years 1999 to 2015. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated by dividing observed cases by expected cases using national incidence rates by age, sex, and race. Clustering of CTCL was analyzed using spatial analyses. County-level concentrations of benzene and TCE between 1996 and 2014 were collected from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Air Toxics Assessment database. Linear regression analyses on CTCL incidence were performed comparing SIRs with levels of benzene and TCE by county. RESULTS: There was significant geographic clustering of CTCL in Georgia, particularly around Atlanta, which was correlated with an increased concentration of benzene and TCE exposure. Among the 4 most populous counties in Georgia, CTCL incidence was between 1.2 and 1.9 times higher than the state average, and benzene and TCE levels were between 2.9 and 8.8 times higher. CONCLUSIONS: The current results demonstrate nonrandom geographic clustering of CTCL incidence in Georgia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first analysis to identify a correlation between geographic clustering of CTCL and environmental toxic exposures" |
| Keywords: | "Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Benzene/*toxicity Cluster Analysis Databases, Factual Environmental Exposure/*adverse effects Female Georgia Humans Incidence Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/*chemically induced Male Middle Aged Registries Skin Neoplasm;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineClough, Lindsay Bayakly, A Rana Ward, Kevin C Khan, Mohammad K Chen, Suephy C Lechowicz, Mary Jo Flowers, Christopher R Allen, Pamela B Switchenko, Jeffrey M eng U01 CA220401/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ K24 CA208132/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ P30 CA138292/CA/NCI NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2020/01/17 Cancer. 2020 Apr 15; 126(8):1700-1707. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32665. Epub 2020 Jan 14" |
