Cancer incidence in the AGRICAN cohort study (2005-2011).

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have been conducted among farmers, but very few of them have involved large prospective cohorts, and few have included a significant proportion of women and farm workers. Our aim was to compare cancer incidence in the cohort (overall, by sex, and by work on farm, occupational status and pesticide use) within the general population. METHODS: More than 180,000 participants in the AGRICAN cohort were matched to cancer registries to identify cancer cases diagnosed from enrolment (2005-2007) to 31st December 2011. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS: Over the period, 11,067 incident cancer cases were identified (7304 men and 3763 women). Overall cancer incidence did not differ between the cohort and the general population. Moreover, SIRs were significantly higher for prostate cancer (SIR=1.07, 95%CI 1.03-1.11) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR=1.09, 95%CI 1.01-1.18) among men, skin melanoma among women (SIR=1.23, 95%CI 1.05-1.43) and multiple myeloma (men: SIR=1.38, 95%CI 1.18-1.62; women: SIR=1.26, 95%CI 1.02-1.54). In contrast, SIRs were lower for upper aerodigestive tract and respiratory cancers. Increase in risk was greater in male farm workers for prostate and lip cancer, in female farm workers for skin melanoma, and in male farm owners for multiple myeloma. Moreover, incidence of multiple myeloma and skin melanoma was higher among male and female pesticide users respectively. CONCLUSION: We found a decreased incidence for tobacco-related cancers and an increased incidence of prostate cancers, skin melanoma and multiple myeloma. Specific subgroups had a higher cancer incidence related to occupational status and pesticide use

Exposure to Farm Animals and Risk of Lung Cancer in the AGRICAN Cohort.

Epidemiologic studies have found lower risks of lung cancer in farmers. However, little is known about the types of agricultural activities concerned. In the Agriculture and Cancer cohort, we assessed the relationship between animal farming and lung cancer by investigating the types of animals, tasks, and timing of exposure. Analyses included 170,834 participants from the Agriculture and Cancer (AGRICAN) cohort in France. Incident lung cancers were identified through linkage with cancer registries from enrollment (2005-2007) to 2011. A Cox model, adjusting for pack-years of cigarette smoking, was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Lung cancer risk was inversely related to duration of exposure to cattle (≥40 years: hazard ratio = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.41, 0.89; P for trend < 0.01) and to horse farming (≥20 years: hazard ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval: 0.35, 1.17; P for trend = 0.09), especially for adenocarcinomas, but not with poultry or pig farming. More pronounced decreased risks were reported among individuals who had cared for animals, undertaken milking, and who had been exposed to cattle in infancy. Our study provides strong evidence of an inverse association between lung cancer and cattle and horse farming. Further research is warranted to identify the etiologic protective agents and biological mechanisms

Phototransformation kinetics of cyanobacterial toxins and secondary metabolites in surface waters

Background Cyanobacteria and their toxins occur in high concentrations during the so-called bloom events in surface waters. To be able to assess the risks associated with cyanobacterial blooms, we need to understand the persistence and fate processes of these toxins and other bioactive metabolites. In this study, we investigated the photochemical fate of 54 cyanopeptides extracted from two strains of Microcystis aeruginosa (PCC7806 and UV006), Planktothrix rubescens, and Dolichospermum flos aquae. We determined half-lives during sunlight exposure in lake water and inspected the effect of pH on transformation kinetics for 27 microcystins, 8 anabaenopeptins, 14 cyanopeptolins, 2 cyclamides, and 3 aeruginosins. Results For cyanopeptides from D. flos aquae and P. rubescens, we observed the highest removal of 28 and 26%, respectively, after 3-h sunlight exposure. Most cyanopeptides produced by the two M. aeruginosa strains were rather persistent with only up to 3% removal. The more reactive cyanopeptides contained amino acids known to undergo phototransformation, including methionine and tyrosine moieties or their derivatives. Photochemical half-lives of 14 tyrosine-containing cyanopeptides decreased by one order of magnitude from nearly persistent conditions at pH 7 (half-life > 70 h) to shorter half-lives at pH 10 (< 10 h). Conclusions More work is needed to distinguish the contribution of different photochemical reaction pathways including the contributions to the pH effect. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first assessment of transformation kinetics of such a wide range of cyanopeptides. The abundant and persistent cyanopeptides that have not been studied in detail yet should be prioritized for the evaluation of their ecosystem and human health risks and for their abatement during drinking water treatment

Agriculture Exposure and Time to Pregnancy Among Women Enrolled in the French Prospective Cohort AGRICAN

OBJECTIVES: In few retrospective studies, prolonged time-to-pregnancy (TTP) was observed for women exposed to pesticides especially in flower production. The present study investigated time-to-pregnancy in the AGRICAN cohort. METHODS: Analyses were performed on 616 women reporting a pregnancy (2005 to 2017), and data on agricultural activities performed before the last pregnancy was retrospectively collected. Fecundability odds ratios (fOR) were estimated using a discrete time analogue of Cox proportional hazard model adjusted on maternal and paternal age, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: A decrease in fecundability was non-significantly associated with farm work (adjusted fOR = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71 to 1.05). Decreases were also observed for nightwork (afOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.49 to 1.15) and exposure to vibrations (afOR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.43 to 1.09). CONCLUSION: Women working on a farm before conception appeared to experience a longer TTP. Negative associations were suggested for some agricultural activities and working conditions

Agricultural exposure and risk of soft tissue sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal sarcoma in the AGRIculture and CANcer (AGRICAN) cohort

BACKGROUND: Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors whose incidence is nearly 5 per 100 000 inhabitants in Europe. Their causes are poorly understood, although occupational exposures (especially farming and pesticides) are suspected. METHODS: The AGRICAN cohort is a prospective study of 181,842 individuals enrolled in 2005-2007 who completed an enrolment questionnaire with data on lifelong agricultural exposure. Associations between agricultural exposure and sarcoma overall, GIST (gastro-intestinal stromal tumors) and myomatous and fibrous sarcoma together, were analyzed with a Cox model. RESULTS: Until 2015, 188 incident cases of sarcoma were identified. Increased risks were observed (1) among cattle farmers working < 10 years (HR(<10years) =2.45, 95%CI 1.36-4.43) and breeding ≥ 50 livestock (HR(≥50 animals) =3.84, 95%CI 1.60-9.22), especially if involved in animal care and building disinfection, (2) in greenhouse production (HR=1.82, 95%CI 1.01-3.30), and (3) in field-grown vegetable production (HR=1.49, 95%CI 0.96-2.32). Concerning histological subtypes, GIST were positively associated with pesticide use in vineyards (HR=2.24, 95%CI 0.95-5.30). For myomatous and fibrous sarcoma, the only increase was seen in field-grown vegetable production (HR=2.37, 95%CI 1.16-4.85). CONCLUSION: In AGRICAN, the risk of sarcomas was increased in several farming activities with differences according to histological subtype

Lung cancer risk and occupational exposures in crop farming: results from the AGRIculture and CANcer (AGRICAN) cohort

International audienceOBJECTIVES:Farmers are considered at lower risk of lung cancer. However, specific tasks can expose them to hazardous air contaminants such as pesticides, diesel exhaust and mineral dust. This study aimed to assess the associations between various crops and related tasks and the risk of lung cancer, overall and by histological subtypes.METHODS:AGRIculture and CANcer is a prospective French cohort of individuals affiliated to the agricultural health insurance scheme. Incident lung cancers (n=897) were identified by cancer registries from enrolment (2005-2007) to 2013. Data on crop and livestock exposure during lifetime were obtained from the enrolment questionnaire. We used a Cox model with attained age as timescale, adjusted for gender, smoking history and exposure to cattle and horses. Effects of duration and surface were assessed and analyses stratified on gender and smoking status were performed.RESULTS:Winegrowers were at higher risk of adenocarcinoma (HR=1.27 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.72)). We also found an association between pea growing and small cell lung cancer: significant effect of duration (ptrend=0.04) and the suggestion of a surface-effect relationship (ptrend=0.06); increased risk (HR=2.38 (95% CI 1.07 to 5.28)) for pesticide users; and significant effect of duration (ptrend=0.01) for harvesters. The risk of squamous cell carcinoma was increased for sunflower growing (HR=1.59 (95% CI 0.97 to 2.62), fruit-tree pruning (HR=1.44 (95% CI 0.92 to 2.27)) and pesticide use on beets (HR=1.47 (95% CI 0.92 to 2.34)). Corn and/or wheat/barley growers were at lower risk of lung cancer.CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggest associations between lung cancer and several crop-related tasks, even if we cannot rule out some chance findings due to multiple comparisons

Expositions aux produits phytopharmaceutiques en population générale et professionnelle - Focus sur les produits de biocontrôle - Étude rétrospective des observations enregistrées par les Centres antipoison et de toxicovigilance français du 1er janvier 2018 au 31 décembre 2018: Rapport d’étude

Dans le périmètre du GT « toxicovigilance des intrants du végétal, produits biocides et médicaments vétérinaires », aucun bilan complet des effets des produits phytopharmaceutiques (PPP) tant en population générale que professionnelle n’a été réalisé jusqu’à présent ; de la même façon, aucune étude sur les expositions à des PPP de biocontrôle n’a été menée alors que leur utilisation, notamment en population générale, croit rapidement. Par ailleurs, le décret n° 2016-1595 du 24 novembre 2016 relatif à la phytopharmacovigilance requiert à l’article R. 253-46-5 que « les organismes désignés participant à la phytopharmacovigilance…transmettent au moins une fois par an à l'Agence les informations mentionnées à l'article R. 253-46-64 dont ils disposent dans leur domaine de compétence, après en avoir vérifié la fiabilité et la pertinence, à l'exception des données à caractère personnel »

Piqûres accidentelles par des vaccins vétérinaires - Étude des facteurs de risque de complications à partir des cas enregistrés par les Centres antipoison de mai 2016 à septembre 2018: Rapport d’étude de toxicovigilance

La piqûre accidentelle avec une seringue de vaccins vétérinaires peut être responsable de complications et de gêne fonctionnelle persistante chez l’Homme] [1–3]. Les personnes exposées sont essentiellement des agriculteurs ou des vétérinaires. Il existe principalement deux grandes catégories de vaccins vétérinaires : les vaccins contenant des adjuvants huileux (AH), correspondant à des huiles minérales (HM), animales ou végétales comme adjuvant et ceux n’en contenant pas. La présence d’adjuvants huileux dans le vaccin vétérinaire semble favoriser la survenue de complications en cas d’exposition accidentelle humaine par injection. En France, une interrogation du Système d’Information commun des Centres antipoison (SICAP) a montré qu’environ 80 cas d’accidents avec piqûre par des vaccins vétérinaires étaient signalés chaque année au réseau des Centres antipoison et de Toxicovigilance (CAPTV). Une étude prospective des cas humains d’injection de vaccins vétérinaires collectés par le CAPTV d’Angers de 2007 à 2012 a porté sur 171 cas d’exposition. Le vaccin vétérinaire contenait une huile minérale (HM) comme adjuvant dans un peu moins de 2/3 des cas (62%). Les complications étaient plus fréquentes en cas d’accident avec un vaccin contenant une HM, qu’en cas d’accident avec un vaccin sans HM : respectivement 48% versus 14% de complications. Une gêne fonctionnelle à un mois a été observée dans 34,9% des accidents avec un vaccin avec HM contre 5,2% des accidents avec un vaccin sans HM. Enfin, dans cette série, une intervention chirurgicale a été pratiquée dans 33,0% des accidents avec un vaccin avec HM, contre seulement 1,7% des accidents avec un vaccin sans HM. Suite à cette étude, le CAPTV d’Angers avait rédigé une conduite à tenir pouvant guider la prise en charge des injections accidentelles de vaccins vétérinaires. Cette étude étant monocentrique, l’Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Anses) a décidé de mettre en place une nouvelle étude prospective, nationale, afin d’analyser plus précisément les facteurs de risque de complications et de séquelles en cas de piqûres accidentelles par un vaccin vétérinaire, et de réviser, le cas échéant, la conduite à tenir pour leur prise en charge

Étude des cas graves accidentels liés à des produits phytopharmaceutiques - Etude rétrospective des observations enregistrées par les Centres antipoison et de toxicovigilance français (2013-2017): Rapport d’étude de toxicovigilance

L’Anses a passé en 2018 une convention de recherche et développement (CRD) avec le centre antipoison de Nancy (CAP), gestionnaire de la BNPC (Base Nationale des Produits et Compositions)pour rechercher dans le système d’information des centres antipoison (SICAP), sur la période du 01/01/2013 au 31/12/2017, l’ensemble des dossiers de cas graves survenus dans des circonstances accidentelles ou volontaires, liés à des expositions à des produits phytopharmaceutiques (PPP).Une liste de ces cas graves a été établie et transmise à l’Anses