Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use
<i>Objective</i>: The increasing rate of thyroid cancer diagnoses in the U.S. reflects the increasing use of ultrasonography and of specialist medical care. North Dakota is a rural state with limited access to specialist care, yet its incidence of thyroid cancer is significantly greater...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-10-01
|
Series: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/3805 |
id |
doaj-3064d7a0391147aa9be36fdfcbd14014 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-3064d7a0391147aa9be36fdfcbd140142020-11-25T01:54:58ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012019-10-011620380510.3390/ijerph16203805ijerph16203805Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water UseGary G. Schwartz0Marilyn G. Klug1Department of Population Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037, USADepartment of Population Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037, USA<i>Objective</i>: The increasing rate of thyroid cancer diagnoses in the U.S. reflects the increasing use of ultrasonography and of specialist medical care. North Dakota is a rural state with limited access to specialist care, yet its incidence of thyroid cancer is significantly greater than that of the U.S. overall. We sought to identify factors responsible for the high incidence of thyroid cancer in North Dakota. <i>Methods</i>: We examined county-specific incidence rates for thyroid cancer in North Dakota in relation to demographic and geographic factors, including median household income, percent of land fertilized, cattle density per capita, and source of drinking water (city or well water), using structural equation modeling. We included county level data on residential radon levels and estimates of radioactive iodine in milk following nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s. <i>Results</i>: Thyroid cancer incidence rates were significantly associated with median income (<i>p</i> < 0.05); percent of land fertilized (<i>p</i> < 0.05); the use of city water (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and cattle density per capita (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <i>Conclusions</i>: The risk of thyroid cancer in North Dakota is positively associated with income and with factors related to land and water use. Our finding that thyroid cancer incidence rates are associated with the use of city water was unexpected and merits examination in other locations with a mix of city and well water use.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/3805thyroid cancerstructural equation modelsepidemiologyradiationwater |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Gary G. Schwartz Marilyn G. Klug |
spellingShingle |
Gary G. Schwartz Marilyn G. Klug Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health thyroid cancer structural equation models epidemiology radiation water |
author_facet |
Gary G. Schwartz Marilyn G. Klug |
author_sort |
Gary G. Schwartz |
title |
Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use |
title_short |
Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use |
title_full |
Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use |
title_fullStr |
Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use |
title_full_unstemmed |
Thyroid Cancer Incidence Rates in North Dakota are Associated with Land and Water Use |
title_sort |
thyroid cancer incidence rates in north dakota are associated with land and water use |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2019-10-01 |
description |
<i>Objective</i>: The increasing rate of thyroid cancer diagnoses in the U.S. reflects the increasing use of ultrasonography and of specialist medical care. North Dakota is a rural state with limited access to specialist care, yet its incidence of thyroid cancer is significantly greater than that of the U.S. overall. We sought to identify factors responsible for the high incidence of thyroid cancer in North Dakota. <i>Methods</i>: We examined county-specific incidence rates for thyroid cancer in North Dakota in relation to demographic and geographic factors, including median household income, percent of land fertilized, cattle density per capita, and source of drinking water (city or well water), using structural equation modeling. We included county level data on residential radon levels and estimates of radioactive iodine in milk following nuclear weapons testing in the 1950s. <i>Results</i>: Thyroid cancer incidence rates were significantly associated with median income (<i>p</i> < 0.05); percent of land fertilized (<i>p</i> < 0.05); the use of city water (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and cattle density per capita (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <i>Conclusions</i>: The risk of thyroid cancer in North Dakota is positively associated with income and with factors related to land and water use. Our finding that thyroid cancer incidence rates are associated with the use of city water was unexpected and merits examination in other locations with a mix of city and well water use. |
topic |
thyroid cancer structural equation models epidemiology radiation water |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/20/3805 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT garygschwartz thyroidcancerincidenceratesinnorthdakotaareassociatedwithlandandwateruse AT marilyngklug thyroidcancerincidenceratesinnorthdakotaareassociatedwithlandandwateruse |
_version_ |
1724985868548046848 |