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

Basisdocument PAK

Dit rapport vormt de Engelse editie van 758474007. Bij dit rapport behoort een Addendum getiteld: Integrated Criteria Documents PAH Effects of 10 selected Compound's (Republication of Addendum to report no 758474007, march 1989)<br>Dit rapport bevat een systematisch overzicht en een kritische evaluatie van de belangrijkste gegevens over de prioritaire stofgroep PAK ten behoeve van het effectgericht milieubeleid.DGM/SR/Cornet J

Criteria document PAH

Bij dit rapport behoort een Appendix onder hetzelfde nummer getiteld: Integrated criteria document Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH): Effects of 10 selected compounds. <br> <A HREF="http://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/758474007A.pdf" target="append">Ga naar Bijlage (pdf 7810 kb)</a><br><br>Engelse versie van dit rapport is verschenen onder nummer 758474011<br>Dit rapport bevat een systematisch overzicht en een kritische evaluatie van de belangrijkste gegevens over de prioritaire stofgroep PAK ten behoeve van het effectgericht milieubeleid.DGM/SR /Cornet J