Incidence of cancer in the area around Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in 1988–2003: a population-based ecological study

BACKGROUND: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a major source of complaints about aircraft noise, safety risks and concerns about long term adverse health effects, including cancer. We investigated whether residents of the area around Schiphol are at higher risk of developing cancer than the general Dutch population. METHODS: In a population-based study using the regional cancer registry, we estimated the cancer incidence during 1988–2003 in residents of the area surrounding Schiphol. We defined a study area based on aircraft noise contours and 4-digit postal code areas, since historical data on ambient air pollution were not available and recent emission data did not differ from the background urban air quality. RESULTS: In residents of the study area 13 207 cancer cases were diagnosed, which was close to the expected number, using national incidence rates as a reference (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 1.02). We found a statistically significantly increased incidence of hematological malignancies (SIR 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.19), mainly due to high rates for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.33) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (SIR 1.34, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.83). The incidence of cancer of the respiratory system was statistically significantly decreased (SIR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90, 0.99), due to the low rate in males (SIR 0.89). In the core zone of the study area, cancer incidence was slightly higher than in the remaining ring zone (rate ratio of the core zone compared to the ring zone 1.05, 95% CI 1.01, 1.10). This was caused by the higher incidence of cancer of the respiratory system, prostate and the female genital organs in the core zone in comparison to the ring zone. CONCLUSION: The overall cancer incidence in the Schiphol area was similar to the national incidence. The moderately increased risk of hematological malignancies could not be explained by higher levels of ambient air pollution in the Schiphol area. This observation warrants further research, for example in a study with focus on substances in urban ambient air pollution, as similar findings were observed in Greater Amsterdam

Airpollution caused by Schiphol-Airport

In dit onderzoek wordt de luchtverontreiniging ten gevolge van emissies op Schiphol, met name van het vliegverkeer berekend met behulp van een verspreidingsmodel. De emissies voor een aantal stoffen werden eerst geschat met behulp van actuele informatie over het vliegverkeer. Een toetsing van deze emissies vond plaats met behulp van concentratiemetingen op verscheidene locaties op en rond Schiphol. Voor zwaveldioxide en polycyclische aromatische koolwaterstoffen bleek een bijstelling van de emissies naar lagere waarden noodzakelijk. Met behulp van de aldus bijgestelde emissies werd de concentratieverhoging van de regionale concentraties in de omgeving van Schiphol berekend. De bijdrage van Schiphol aan de regionale concentraties is op 3 km afstand van het centrum van Schiphol voor alle beschouwde componenten kleiner dan 10%. Een belangrijke bijdrage aan de regionale concentraties wordt eveneens geleverd door de emissies van het verkeer op de snelwegen A4 en A9. Verder blijkt dat deze regionale concentraties verhoogd zijn ten opzichte van het landelijk gemiddelde niveau, maar lager dan de geschatte waarden in stedelijke omgeving. Naast de hier gerapporteerde concentratiemetingen werd een beperkt aantal luchtstofmonsters onderzocht op mutageniteit met behulp van de AMES-test. In deze monsters werd geen van normaal afwijkende verhoging van de microbiele mutageniteit gevonden.Abstract not availableDGM/

Luchtverontreiniging door de Luchthaven Schiphol

Abstract niet beschikbaarPrompted by public concern, this study investigated the influence of emissions at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on air quality at the airport and in the surrounding areas. Emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were first estimated using current air traffic data and emission factors. Expected concentrations were calculated using a dispersion model. Concentrations were also measured at various airport terrain locations, as a result of which emission estimates for SO2 and PAHs had to be revised downwards. The results of these measurements and model calculations indicate that Schiphol Airport's relative contribution to regional concentration levels is less than 10% for the pollutants considered. The contribution from highway traffic in the Schiphol area is of a similar order of magnitude. The resulting regional concentration levels are higher than national average values, but do not exceed those of urban areas. Additional investigation of some aerosol samples using the Ames test revealed no increased mutagenicity. The results of this air pollution study coincide with those of a parallel public health survey in the Schiphol region which found cancer mortality similar to that expected in urban areas.DGM/

[Evaluation of the smogsituation in the summerperiod of 1992.]

Abstract niet beschikbaarSince June 20, 1991 a new smog regulation exists in the Netherlands which is called: Smog Procedures 1991. This procedure constitutionalises the implementations of measures, actions, smog-alertsystems and recommendations during periods of high levels of air pollution (summer and water smog). In this report an overview is given of the smog situation in the Netherlands in the summer of 1992. A number of periods of elevated air pollution (summer smog) have been registered during the months of April up to September 1992. Summer smog consists of a mixture of a large number of substances. It is identified on the basis of the atmospheric ozone concentration, since ozone has the greatest impact on public health. The ozone concentrations, which are measured by the National Air Quality Monitoring Network (LML), are compared with the Dutch draft ozone standard and the EC-quideline ozone.DGM/L

Nutritional deficiency in Dutch primary care: data from general practice research and registration networks

OBJECTIVE: To explore incidence and prevalence rates of nutritional deficiency in adults in general practice. METHODS: Six Dutch general practice research and registration networks supplied incidence and prevalence rates of nutritional deficiency by the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) or 'E-list' labels ('loss of appetite, feeding problem adult, iron, pernicious/folate deficiency anaemia, vitamin deficiencies and other nutritional disorders, weight loss'). In case of disease-related nutritional deficiency, we asked whether this was labelled separately ('co-registered') or included in the registration of the underlying disease. RESULTS: 'Iron deficiency anaemia' had highest incidence (0.3-8.5/1000 person years), and prevalence rates (2.8-8.9/1000 person years). Nutritional deficiency was mostly documented in the elderly. In two networks 'co-registration' was additional, two only documented the underlying disease and two did not specify 'co-registration'. No clear difference was found between networks considering the difference in 'co-registration'. CONCLUSION: Nutritional deficiency is little documented in general practice, and generally is not registered separately from the underlying disease

A Practical Approach to the Treatment of Low-Risk Childhood Fever

Fever is a common symptom of childhood infections that in itself does not require treatment. The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises home-based antipyretic treatment for low-risk feverish children only if the child appears distressed. The recommended antipyretics are ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen). They are equally recommended for the distressed, feverish child; therefore, healthcare professionals, parents and caregivers need to decide which of these agents to administer if the child is distressed. This narrative literature review examines recent data on ibuprofen and paracetamol in feverish children to determine any clinically relevant differences between these agents. The data suggest that these agents have similar safety profiles in this setting and in the absence of underlying health issues, ibuprofen seems to be more effective than paracetamol at reducing NICE’s treatment criterion, ‘distress’ (as assessed by discomfort levels, symptom relief, and general behavior)