ASSAY FOR SELECTING HIGH-RISK POPULATION FOR GASTRIC CANCER BY STUDYING ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (3) , 333-341
Abstract
Gastric cancer mortality incidence data registered in 2 areas of E Transylvania (Romania) were reported and related to 325,000 inhabitants from 1951-1972. The findings were compared to some geographical environmental factors derived from an area of 13,300 km2 with 905,700 inhabitants. A 2-3.5 times larger incidence of gastric cancer (75-140/100,000 per year) was found in some selected geographical areas of the intermontane depressions of Gheorgheni and Ciuc in comparison to the hilly area of Transylvanian Tableland. The difference might be explained by some unknown environmental gastric cancer risk factors. Of the natural factors, the presence of magmatic substrata shows a significant degree of correlation. The main pedological factor seems to be badly drained pseudoglyied podzolic and peaty soils of low pH and high content of organic matter. Soft drinking water may also be involved as a risk factor. High altitude, cold climate determining a restricted assortment of cultivated plants, the successive production of vegetal and animal food on the same soil for lifelong periods and several generations, especially in isolated rural areas, seem to represent gastric cancer risk factors. A survey of the high-risk population selected on the basis of the environmental factors, especially persons with gastric disorders considered as possible precursors of gastric cancer, may enable some progress in detecting early gastric malignancy in the future.