5023.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - Board 3

Abstract #23002

Blue green algal exposure, drinking water and primary liver cancer

Lora E Fleming, MDPhD1, Carlos Rivero, BS2, John Burns, MS3, Kathleen Shea, MA4, Chris Williams, PhD3, Alan Rowan, MPH5, and Steven Wiersma, MD MPH5. (1) Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016069 (R-669), Miami, FL 33101, 305-243-5912, lfleming@med.miami.edu, (2) GEOCore GIS Facility, University of Miami Marine School, Miami, FL 33149, (3) Department of Environmental Sciences, St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL 32178, (4) NIEHS Marine and Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Miami School of Medicine, PO Box 016069 (R-669), Miami, FL 33101, (5) Environmental Epidemiology, Florida Dept of Health, Tallahassee, FL

The blue green algae (cyanobacteria) represent a diverse group of organisms that produce potent natural toxins. Although there has been little epidemiologic research on toxin effects in humans, a study by Yu et al (1995) found an increased association between primary liver cancer in humans and the use of surface drinking water sources. Surface drinking water supplies are particularly vulnerable to the growth of these organisms; in general, current US drinking water treatment practices do not monitor or treat for the blue green algal toxins.

This pilot study was an ecological study using a Geographic Information System (GIS) evaluation of the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and proximity to a surface water treatment plant at the time of cancer diagnosis. The study linked all primary liver cancers diagnosed in Florida from 1981-1998 with environmental databases on sampling, drinking water sources and treatment plants. A significantly increased risk for HCC with residence at diagnosis within the distribution area of a surface water treatment plant was found compared to persons living in unserved contiguous areas. However, this increased risk was not seen in comparison to persons living in randomly selected ground water treatment areas or compared to the Florida cumulative incidence rate for the study period, using various comparison and GIS methodologies. There are significant issues of latency, high population mobility, and the lack of individual exposure information. Nevertheless, the issue of human health effects associated with the consumption of surface waters possibly contaminated by blue green algal toxins merits further investigation.

Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the potential health effects of the blue green algal toxins on humans 2. Assess the risk of primary liver cancer among persons living around surface drinking water plants with blue green algae

Keywords: Cancer, Toxicants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA