Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from chlorinated drinking water have been linked to an increased risk of cancer in the bladder, stomach, colon, and rectum. No studies showed the independent trends and prevalence of these cancers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nebiyou Tafesse, Massimiliano Porcelli, Sirak Robele Gari, Argaw Ambelu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2022-07-01
Series:Environmental Health Insights
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221112569
_version_ 1811312292192583680
author Nebiyou Tafesse
Massimiliano Porcelli
Sirak Robele Gari
Argaw Ambelu
author_facet Nebiyou Tafesse
Massimiliano Porcelli
Sirak Robele Gari
Argaw Ambelu
author_sort Nebiyou Tafesse
collection DOAJ
description Background: Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from chlorinated drinking water have been linked to an increased risk of cancer in the bladder, stomach, colon, and rectum. No studies showed the independent trends and prevalence of these cancers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends of disinfection byproducts-related cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Data were collected from the Addis Ababa Cancer Registry. Spatial data sets were produced and classified into households receiving chlorinated surface water and less chlorinated groundwater. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate whether there was a disinfection byproducts-related cancers (DBRCs) trend among communities receiving chlorinated water. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the incidence rate. Results: A total of 11, 438 cancer cases were registered between 2012 and 2016, and DBRCs accounted for approximately 17%. The majority of the total cancer cases were female; 7,706 (67%). The prevalence of DBRCs was found to be higher in communities supplied with chlorinated water. From 2012 to 2016, the trend of colon cancer increased (β = 10.3, P value = .034); however, esophageal cancer decreased (β = −6.5, P value = .018). Approximately 56% of colorectal cancer patients and 53% of stomach cancer patients are known to be using chlorinated surface water for drinking regularly. In addition, approximately 57.1% and 54% of kidney and bladder cancer patients, respectively, used chlorinated surface water. Conclusion: The prevalence of DBRCs in this study was found to be high. The colon cancer trend increased substantially from 2012 to 2016. The prevalence of DBRCs was higher in communities supplied with chlorinated surface water. Similarly, the prevalence of DBRCs was higher among males than females. Further study is required to validate the association between DBRCs and water chlorination.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T10:34:38Z
format Article
id doaj.art-51ab1032d8e84f11b0c4ccd7ee00babd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1178-6302
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T10:34:38Z
publishDate 2022-07-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Environmental Health Insights
spelling doaj.art-51ab1032d8e84f11b0c4ccd7ee00babd2022-12-22T02:50:05ZengSAGE PublishingEnvironmental Health Insights1178-63022022-07-011610.1177/11786302221112569Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, EthiopiaNebiyou Tafesse0Massimiliano Porcelli1Sirak Robele Gari2Argaw Ambelu3Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaQuality, Health, Safety & Work Environment Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait City, KuwaitEthiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaEthiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaBackground: Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from chlorinated drinking water have been linked to an increased risk of cancer in the bladder, stomach, colon, and rectum. No studies showed the independent trends and prevalence of these cancers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends of disinfection byproducts-related cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Data were collected from the Addis Ababa Cancer Registry. Spatial data sets were produced and classified into households receiving chlorinated surface water and less chlorinated groundwater. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate whether there was a disinfection byproducts-related cancers (DBRCs) trend among communities receiving chlorinated water. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the incidence rate. Results: A total of 11, 438 cancer cases were registered between 2012 and 2016, and DBRCs accounted for approximately 17%. The majority of the total cancer cases were female; 7,706 (67%). The prevalence of DBRCs was found to be higher in communities supplied with chlorinated water. From 2012 to 2016, the trend of colon cancer increased (β = 10.3, P value = .034); however, esophageal cancer decreased (β = −6.5, P value = .018). Approximately 56% of colorectal cancer patients and 53% of stomach cancer patients are known to be using chlorinated surface water for drinking regularly. In addition, approximately 57.1% and 54% of kidney and bladder cancer patients, respectively, used chlorinated surface water. Conclusion: The prevalence of DBRCs in this study was found to be high. The colon cancer trend increased substantially from 2012 to 2016. The prevalence of DBRCs was higher in communities supplied with chlorinated surface water. Similarly, the prevalence of DBRCs was higher among males than females. Further study is required to validate the association between DBRCs and water chlorination.https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221112569
spellingShingle Nebiyou Tafesse
Massimiliano Porcelli
Sirak Robele Gari
Argaw Ambelu
Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Environmental Health Insights
title Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
title_full Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
title_short Prevalence and Trends of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts-Related Cancers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
title_sort prevalence and trends of drinking water disinfection byproducts related cancers in addis ababa ethiopia
url https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302221112569
work_keys_str_mv AT nebiyoutafesse prevalenceandtrendsofdrinkingwaterdisinfectionbyproductsrelatedcancersinaddisababaethiopia
AT massimilianoporcelli prevalenceandtrendsofdrinkingwaterdisinfectionbyproductsrelatedcancersinaddisababaethiopia
AT sirakrobelegari prevalenceandtrendsofdrinkingwaterdisinfectionbyproductsrelatedcancersinaddisababaethiopia
AT argawambelu prevalenceandtrendsofdrinkingwaterdisinfectionbyproductsrelatedcancersinaddisababaethiopia