Cancer incidence in the vicinity of a waste incineration plant in the Nice area between 2005-2014

Abstract Introduction Few studies on cancer incidence have been conducted since the EU 2000/76/EC Waste incineration directive. Objective To measure cancer incidence among the population exposed to atmospheric emissions from the Ariane waste incineration plant near Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes (AM), compared to the unexposed AM population. Methods All primary invasive cancers and malignant haematological conditions diagnosed among AM residents from 01/01/2005 to 31/12/2014 recorded by the CRISAPPACA Cancer Observatory, public and private hospitals and the ONCOPACA-Corsica Network were included. The exposed area, based on an average dioxin deposition model, was that with a concentration ≥4.25ng/m2/year. Each case was geolocated and assigned to a predefined geographic unit (IRIS): 36 units in the exposed area, 462 in the unexposed area. The adjusted incidence rate, the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and the Comparative Morbidity Figure (CMF) were calculated for two periods: 2005-2009/2010-2014. Results We recorded 80,865 new cancers in the AM population (1,083,974 residents; 87,462 exposed). For the 2005-2009 period, among exposed women, excess SIR were recorded of acute myeloid leukaemia (SIR = 1.81 [1.03-2.93]), myelodysplastic syndromes (SIR = 2.58 [1.70-3.76]) and myeloma (SIR = 1.64 [1.09-2.37]); in exposed men, of soft tissue sarcomas (SIR = 1.65 [1.05-2, 48]), myeloma (SIR = 2.04 [1.39-2.90]) and lung cancer (SIR = 1.19 [1.03-1.36]). For the 2010-2014 period, there was no excess SIR among women, while among men an excess SIR of myeloma (SIR = 1.76 [1.21-2.47]) and lung cancer (SIR = 1.24 [1.08-1.41]) was observed. Conclusions The higher incidence of myeloma and lung cancer in both periods can be explained by their long latency and by other risk factors. The EU Directive appears to have resulted in limiting atmospheric emissions from the incinerator. Study funded by the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and with the support of the South-PACA Regional Health Agency. Key messages Few studies on cancer incidence have been conducted since the EU 2000/76/EC Waste incineration directive. The EU Directive appears to have resulted in limiting atmospheric emissions from the incinerator.