TY - JOUR
T1 - Transportation noise and risk for colorectal cancer
T2 - a nationwide study covering Denmark
AU - Sørensen, Mette
AU - Poulsen, Aslak Harbo
AU - Thacher, Jesse
AU - Hvidtfeldt, Ulla Arthur
AU - Ketzel, Matthias
AU - Geels, Camilla
AU - Jensen, Steen Solvang
AU - Valencia, Victor H.
AU - Raaschou-Nielsen, Ole
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Purpose: Few studies have suggested that traffic noise is a risk factor for cancer, but evidence is inconclusive. We aimed to investigate whether road traffic and railway noise are associated with risk of colorectal cancer. Methods: We obtained address history for all 3.5 million people above 40 years of age and living in Denmark for the period 1990–2017 and estimated road traffic and railway noise (Lden) at the most and least exposed facades of all addresses as well as air pollution (PM2.5). During follow-up (2000–2017), 35,881 persons developed colon cancer and 19,755 developed rectal cancer. Information on individual and area-level demographic and socioeconomic variables was collected from Danish registries. We analyzed data using Cox proportional hazards models, including traffic noise as time-varying 10-year average exposure. Results: Exposure to road traffic noise at the most exposed façade was associated with an incidence rate ratio and 95% confidence interval for proximal colon cancer of 1.018 (0.999–1.038) per 10 dB higher noise. We observed no associations for road traffic noise at the least exposed façade or for railway noise in relation to proximal colon cancer. Also, we found no association between road traffic or railway noise and risk for distal colon cancer or rectal cancer. Conclusion: Traffic noise did not seem associated with higher risk for colorectal cancer, although the suggestion of a slightly higher risk of proximal colon cancer following exposure to road traffic noise warrants further research.
AB - Purpose: Few studies have suggested that traffic noise is a risk factor for cancer, but evidence is inconclusive. We aimed to investigate whether road traffic and railway noise are associated with risk of colorectal cancer. Methods: We obtained address history for all 3.5 million people above 40 years of age and living in Denmark for the period 1990–2017 and estimated road traffic and railway noise (Lden) at the most and least exposed facades of all addresses as well as air pollution (PM2.5). During follow-up (2000–2017), 35,881 persons developed colon cancer and 19,755 developed rectal cancer. Information on individual and area-level demographic and socioeconomic variables was collected from Danish registries. We analyzed data using Cox proportional hazards models, including traffic noise as time-varying 10-year average exposure. Results: Exposure to road traffic noise at the most exposed façade was associated with an incidence rate ratio and 95% confidence interval for proximal colon cancer of 1.018 (0.999–1.038) per 10 dB higher noise. We observed no associations for road traffic noise at the least exposed façade or for railway noise in relation to proximal colon cancer. Also, we found no association between road traffic or railway noise and risk for distal colon cancer or rectal cancer. Conclusion: Traffic noise did not seem associated with higher risk for colorectal cancer, although the suggestion of a slightly higher risk of proximal colon cancer following exposure to road traffic noise warrants further research.
KW - Cohort study
KW - Colorectal cancer
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Traffic noise
KW - Cohort study
KW - Colorectal cancer
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Traffic noise
U2 - 10.1007/s10552-021-01492-4
DO - 10.1007/s10552-021-01492-4
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85113959907
SN - 0957-5243
VL - 32
SP - 1447
EP - 1455
JO - Cancer Causes and Control
JF - Cancer Causes and Control
IS - 12
ER -