Skip to main content
Book cover

Cancer and Society pp 27–38Cite as

Pollution, Cancer Risk, and Vulnerable Populations

  • 449 Accesses

Abstract

More than half of cancer patients worldwide reside in low-resource countries, and a greater proportion of these patients die compared to those in developed countries. Vulnerability is the result of limited access to resources relative to health status. In addition to an increased risk of cancer and poorer survival among economically vulnerable populations, many environmental toxicants also disproportionately affect these communities (e.g., air pollution, lead, pesticides). In this chapter we will highlight the impact of pollution on the economically vulnerable as a potentially preventable cause of cancer and present two focus studies on populations in Ecuador and Rwanda.

Keywords

  • Environmental justice
  • Resource-limited countries
  • Pesticides
  • Crude oil
  • Toxic by-products
  • Air pollution
  • Cancer prevention and control
  • Vulnerable population

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-05855-5_3
  • Chapter length: 12 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-030-05855-5
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ferlay J, et al. GLOBOCAN 2012 v 1.0. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: IARC Cancer No. 11. International Agency for Research on Cancer (online). http://globocan.iarc.fr; 2013.

  2. Sloan FA, Gelgank H. Cancer control opportunities in low and middle-income countries. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kanavos P. The rising burden of cancer in the developing world. Ann Oncol. 2006;17(Suppl 8):viii15–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Flaskerud JH, Winslow BJ. Conceptualizing vulnerable populations health-related research. Nurs Res. 1998;47(2):69–78. PubMed PMID: 9536190.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith RA, Andrews KS, Brooks D, Fedewa SA, Manassaram-Baptiste D, Saslow D, Brawley OW, Wender RC. Cancer screening in the United States, 2017: a review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in cancer screening. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017;67(2):100–21. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21392. PubMed PMID: 28170086.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Waisel DB. Vulnerable populations in healthcare. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2013;26(2):186–192. Epub 2013/02/07. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACO.0b013e32835e8c17. PubMed PMID: 23385323.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Meneses K, Landier W, Dionne-Odom JN. Vulnerable population challenges in the transformation of cancer care. Semin Oncol Nurs 2016;32(2):144–153. Epub 2016/05/04. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2016.02.008. PubMed PMID: 27137471.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Atkinson A, Studwell C, Bejarano S, Castellon AMZ, Espinal JAP, Deharvengt S, LaRochelle EPM, Kennedy LS, Tsongalis GJ. Rural distribution of human papilloma virus in low- and middle-income countries. Exp Mol Pathol 2018;104(2):146–150. Epub 2018/03/20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexmp.2018.03.001. PubMed PMID: 29551573.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shastri A, Shastri SS. Cancer screening and prevention in low-resource settings. Nat Rev Cancer 2014;14(12):822–829. Epub 2014/10/31. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3859. PubMed PMID: 25355377.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kennedy LS, Bejarano SA, Onega TL, Stenquist DS, Chamberlin MD. Opportunistic breast cancer education and screening in rural Honduras. J Glob Oncol. 2016;2(4):174–180. Epub 2016/03/09. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2015.001107. PubMed PMID: 28717699; PMCID: PMC5497619.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Fecht D, Fischer P, Fortunato L, Hoek G, de Hoogh K, Marra M, Kruize H, Vienneau D, Beelen R, Hansell A. Associations between air pollution and socioeconomic characteristics, ethnicity and age profile of neighbourhoods in England and the Netherlands. Environ Pollut 2015;198:201–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.12.014. PubMed PMID: 25622242.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gordon SB, Bruce NG, Grigg J, Hibberd PL, Kurmi OP, Lam KB, Mortimer K, Asante KP, Balakrishnan K, Balmes J, Bar-Zeev N, Bates MN, Breysse PN, Buist S, Chen Z, Havens D, Jack D, Jindal S, Kan H, Mehta S, Moschovis P, Naeher L, Patel A, Perez-Padilla R, Pope D, Rylance J, Semple S, Martin WJ. Respiratory risks from household air pollution in low and middle income countries. Lancet Respir Med. 2014;2(10):823–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600(14)70168-7. PubMed PMID: 25193349; PMCID: PMC5068561.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Aelion CM, Davis HT, Lawson AB, Cai B, McDermott S. Associations between soil lead concentrations and populations by race/ethnicity and income-to-poverty ratio in urban and rural areas. Environ Geochem Health. 2013;35(1):1–12.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-012-9472-0. PubMed PMID: 22752852; PMCID: PMC4655433.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Freire C, Amaya E, Fernández MF, González-Galarzo MC, Ramos R, Molina-Molina JM, Arrebola JP, Olea N. Relationship between occupational social class and exposure to organochlorine pesticides during pregnancy. Chemosphere. 2011;83(6):831–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.02.076. PubMed PMID: 21435678.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Luzardo OP, Boada LD, Carranza C, Ruiz-Suárez N, Henríquez-Hernández LA, Valerón PF, Zumbado M, Camacho M, Arellano JLP. Socioeconomic development as a determinant of the levels of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in the inhabitants of Western and Central African countries. Sci Total Environ. 2014;497–498:97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.07.124. PubMed PMID: 25127444.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Maxwell NI. Understanding environmental health : how we live in the world. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett; 2009. ix, p. 378.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shakeel MK, George PS, Jose J, Jose J, Mathew A. Pesticides and breast cancer risk: a comparison between developed and developing countries. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2010;11(1):173–80. Epub 2010/07/03. PubMed PMID: 20593953.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jørs E, Neupane D, London L. Pesticide poisonings in low- and middle-income countries. Environ Health Insights. 2018;12:1178630217750876. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178630217750876. PubMed PMID: PMC5757432.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Dinham B, Malik S. Pesticides and human rights. Int J Occup Environ Health 2003;9(1):40–52. Epub 2003/05/17. https://doi.org/10.1179/107735203800328867 PubMed PMID: 12749630.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Protect Yourself from Pesticides – Guide for Pesticide Handlers (EPA 735-B-93-003). In: Occupational Safety Branch, editor. Washington, D.C.: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (7506C); 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ntow WJ, Gijzen HJ, Kelderman P, Drechsel P. Farmer perceptions and pesticide use practices in vegetable production in Ghana. Pest Manag Sci. 2006;62(4):356–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.1178. PubMed PMID: 16532443.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Danquah AO, Ekor AK, Stella AB. Insecticide use pattern on tomatoes produced at Yonso community in the Sekyere West district of Ashanti region, Ghana. Ghana J Agric Sci. 2009;42(1–2):55–63.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Quansah R, Bend JR, Abdul-Rahaman A, Armah FA, Luginaah I, Essumang DK, Iddi S, Chevrier J, Cobbina SJ, Nketiah-Amponsah E, Adu-Kumi S, Darko G, Afful S. Associations between pesticide use and respiratory symptoms: a cross-sectional study in Southern Ghana. Environ Res 2016;150:245–254. Epub 2016/06/20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.013. PubMed PMID: 27318967.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ejigu D, Mekonnen Y. Pesticide use on agricultural fields and health problems in various activities. East Afr Med J. 2005;82(8):427–32. PubMed PMID: 16261921.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Negatu B, Kromhout H, Mekonnen Y, Vermeulen R. Use of Chemical Pesticides in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional comparative study on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of farmers and farm workers in three farming systems. Ann Occup Hyg. 2016;60(5):551–66. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mew004. PubMed PMID: 26847604.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gesesew HA, Woldemichael K, Massa D, Mwanri L. Farmers knowledge, attitudes, practices and health problems associated with pesticide use in rural irrigation villages, Southwest Ethiopia. PloS one. 2016;11(9):e0162527. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162527. PubMed PMID: 27622668; PMCID: PMC5021266.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Mekonnen Y, Agonafir T. Pesticide sprayers' knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use on agricultural farms of Ethiopia. Occup Med (Oxford, England). 2002;52(6):311–5. Epub 2002/10/04. PubMed PMID: 12361992.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ngowi AV, Maeda DN, Wesseling C, Partanen TJ, Sanga MP, Mbise G. Pesticide-handling practices in agriculture in Tanzania: observational data from 27 coffee and cotton farms. Int J Occup Environ Health 2001;7(4):326–332. Epub 2002/01/11. https://doi.org/10.1179/107735201800339218. PubMed PMID: 11783862.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Bassil KL, Vakil C, Sanborn M, Cole DC, Kaur JS, Kerr KJ. Cancer health effects of pesticides: systematic review. Can Fam Physician. 2007;53(10):1704–11. Epub 2007/10/16. PubMed PMID: 17934034; PMCID: PMC2231435.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Clapp RW, Jacobs MM, Loechler EL. Environmental and occupational causes of cancer: new evidence 2005–2007. Rev Environ Health. 2008;23(1):1–37. Epub 2008/06/19. PubMed PMID: 18557596; PMCID: PMC2791455.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Parron T, Requena M, Hernandez AF, Alarcon R. Environmental exposure to pesticides and cancer risk in multiple human organ systems. Toxicol Lett 2014;230(2):157–165. Epub 2013/11/26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2013.11.009. PubMed PMID: 24269242.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Leffers J, Smith CM, Huffling K, McDermott-Levy R, Sattler B, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. Environmental health in nursing. Available from: Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments https://envirn.org/e-textbook/.

  33. World Health Organization & United Nations Environment Programme. Public health impact of pesticides used in agriculture. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Matysiak M, Kruszewski M, Jodlowska-Jedrych B, Kapka-Skrzypczak L. Effect of prenatal exposure to pesticides on Children’s health. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 2016;35(4):375–86. https://doi.org/10.1615/JEnvironPatholToxicolOncol.2016016379. PubMed PMID: 27992317.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ferreira JD, Couto AC, Pombo-de-Oliveira MS, Koifman S, Brazilian Collaborative Study Group of Infant Acute L. In utero pesticide exposure and leukemia in Brazilian children < 2 years of age. Environ Health Perspect. 2013;121(2):269–275. Epub 2012/10/25. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103942. PubMed PMID: 23092909; PMCID: PMC3569673.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Chen M, Chang C-H, Tao L, Lu C. Residential exposure to pesticide during childhood and childhood cancers: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2015;136(4):719–29. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-0006. PubMed PMID: 26371195.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Greenop KR, Peters S, Bailey HD, Fritschi L, Attia J, Scott RJ, Glass DC, de Klerk NH, Alvaro F, Armstrong BK, Milne E. Exposure to pesticides and the risk of childhood brain tumors. Cancer Causes Control. 2013;24(7):1269–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0205-1. PubMed PMID: 23558445.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Garcia C. A slippery decision: Chevron oil pollution in Ecuador published September 8, 2016 by Deutsche Welle (dw.com) Permalink: https://p.dw.com/p/1GS5b.

  39. San Sebastián M, Armstrong B, Córdoba JA, Stephens C. Exposures and cancer incidence near oil fields in the Amazon basin of Ecuador. Occup Env iron Med. 2001;58(8):517–22.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Chevron’s Chernobyl in the Amazon amazonwatch.org ©2000–2018.

  41. Expert opinion of Harlee S. Strauss, Phd regarding Human health-related aspects of the environmental contamination from Texpet’s E&P activities in the former Napo concession area Oriente region, Ecuador. In the Matter of an Arbitration under the Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. Chevron Corporation and Texaco Petroleum Company vs. the Republic of Ecuador, PCA Case No. 2009–23 www.cancilleria.gob.ec February 18, 2013 Prepared for Winston & Strawn, LLP 1700 K Street N.W. Washington DC 20006–3817 and The Louis Berger Group, Inc. 412 Mount Kemble Avenue Morristown, NJ 07962–1946 Prepared by H. Strauss Associates, Inc. 30 Union Avenue Boston, MA02130.

  42. Han X, Naeher LP. A review of traffic-related air pollution exposure assessment studies in the developing world. Environ Int. 2006;32(1):106–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Henninger S. Urban Climate and Air Pollution in Kigali, Rwanda. The seventh international Conference on Urbanization, July 2009, Yokohama, Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  44. WHO (2006). Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide – Global update 2005 – Summary of risk assessment, Geneva, 22 p.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Mehrotra A, Oluwole A, Gordon SB. The burden of COPD in Africa: a literature review and prospective survey of the availability of spirometry for COPD diagnosis in Africa. Trop Med Int Health. 2009;14(8):840–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. The Global Burden of Cancer 2013, Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration, JAMA Oncol, 2015;1(4):505–27.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Farmer P, Kim JY, Kleinman A, Basilico M. Reimagining global health: an introduction. 2013. University of California Press. Global Health Priorities for the Early Twenty-First Century, chapter 11, p. 323–329.

    Google Scholar 

  48. WHO Public Health and the Environment Geneva 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  49. www.who.int/quanitifying_ehimpacts/national/countryprofile/rwanda.pdf.

  50. worldlifeexpectancy.com.

  51. The New Times, Dec 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Fletcher E. WHO Communications and Web interface of the Global Platform on Air Pollution and Health. 3rd Meeting of the Global Platform on Air Quality and Health, Madrid, 7–9 March 2017-Meeting Report. p. 51–5.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Epidemiology Research Program, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Megan E. Romano

  2. Department of Environmental Studies, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Olivia J. Diorio

  3. Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Department of Medicine and Hematology-Oncology, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Mary D. Chamberlin

Authors
  1. Megan E. Romano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olivia J. Diorio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mary D. Chamberlin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary D. Chamberlin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    MD Eric H. Bernicker

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Romano, M.E., Diorio, O.J., Chamberlin, M.D. (2019). Pollution, Cancer Risk, and Vulnerable Populations. In: Bernicker, E. (eds) Cancer and Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05855-5_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05855-5_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-05854-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-05855-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)