An important increase in the frequency of cancer has been observed throughout the industrialized world since the turn of the century attributable not only to an increase in the number of cases diagnosed and to a greater life expectancy, but also to the effects of a series of environmental and life style factors. Based on the categories of blood and hematopoietic cancers corresponding to references 200–208 of the IX Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), we have carried out a comparative study of the evolution of mortality due to these tumors in the Valencian Community. Four zones were selected: two clearly agricultural and two with a marked industrial activity. Mortality data were obtained from statistics published by the regional healthcare authorities, corresponding to age and sex groups and information was collected on the period 1976–1992. We calculated Mortality Rates per 100000 inhabitants, followed by their standardization by the direct method. The Mean Standardized Mortality Rates (MSMR) were also calculated and we determined the Period Percentage Increment (PPI) and the Annual Percentage Increment (API). Finally, the Standardized Mortality Rates (SMR) were subjected to linear regression analysis (Poisson regression) and a statistical significance test was applied to each of the above mentioned calculations. In all cases MSMR were higher among males than in females. Moreover, the MSMR corresponding to 1987–1992 were higher than in the 1976–1980, both in males and females, and in the total population. Blood and hematopoietic cancers mortality exhibited an increasing tendency throughout the study period and, the rising tendencies were statistically significant. We may conclude that the rising tendency cannot be attributed to any single cause and that measures should be investigated and adopted to control the consequences of this increased use of certain substances.
International Journal of Environmental Studies
Volume 57, 2000 - Issue 5
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