Title: Investigation of associations between chemical element contents in native lichens and childhood leukaemia

Authors: Maria do Carmo Freitas, Maria Martinho

Addresses: Instituto Tecnologico e Nuclear (ITN), Reactor, E.N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavem, Portugal. ' United Nations Statistics Division, Two UN Plaza, New York City, NY 10017, USA

Abstract: After a study in which the harmful atmospheric chemical elements (As, Hg, Ni, Pb) were investigated as leukaemia inducers, we have extended this work to 22 chemical elements using data from a lichen survey held in 1993 in Continental Portugal and childhood leukaemia death counts in 275 counties for the period 1991–1998. Kriging models were used to estimate lichen biomonitoring measurements at the county level. Bayesian spatial hierarchical models were used to explore the association between these and childhood leukaemia death counts. A significant positive association between the risk of childhood leukaemia and the levels of chlorine was found. Industries related to the emission of carcinogenic chlorine compounds and/or carcinogenic compounds, which easily react with atmospheric chlorine, were pointed out as potentially inducing this association.

Keywords: childhood leukaemia; air pollution; pollutants; chemical elements; lichens; Bayesian models; spatial regression; air quality; children; Portugal; biomonitoring; carcinogenic chlorine compounds; carcinogenic compounds; atmospheric chlorine.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2011.039861

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2011 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.125 - 133

Published online: 22 Apr 2011 *

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