Child cancer 'exhaust fume risk'

"Child cancer 'exhaust fume risk'", BBC News, August 10, 2005,
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4138684.stm

Children who live close to major transport hubs are more at risk of
dying of cancer, a study says.

University of Birmingham researchers found those living within 500
metres of a bus station were six times more likely to die of cancer.

The study also said railways and hospitals increased the risk. For all
the sites, exhaust fume pollution was identified as the primary cause.

But experts said the findings should be treated with caution.

Researchers analysed details about the deaths of 22,500 children
between 1955 and 1980 from cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and
brain and spinal cancers, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community
Health reported.

They found carbon monoxide and 1,3-butadience, both of which are
produced by vehicle exhausts and particularly diesel engines, were the
major cause of the increased risk.

But other chemicals, including nitrogen oxides and dioxins, were also
cited in the report.

They calculated there could be a 12-fold increase in risk for children
living near bus stations and emission hotspots.

Living in close proximity to hospitals increased the risk by 2.5 times,
mainly because of the increased transport around the sites and the use
of incinerators.

Railways and oil industry were also highlighted as increasing the risk.

Deaths

About 1,500 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed each year in
the UK, accounting for about 300 deaths annually.

Report author Professor George Knox said the exposure of a child in the
womb and soon after birth to the pollutants were likely to be the
critical period.

And he added more controls should be introduced.

"The dominant approach to control has been to specify maximum ambient
air concentrations in work situations, but this is clearly not
sufficient in the context of foetus/child exposure.

"Control and monitoring measures must be directed towards the sources."

But Ruth Yates, statistical information manager at Cancer Research UK,
warned the research should be put into context.

"The results of this study should be interpreted with considerable
caution and people should not be alarmed by its claims.

"Before we can be certain of any link between childhood cancer and
exposure to pollution, research needs to include much more detailed
information on people's levels of exposure than this study provides."