Exposure to widespread drinking water chemicals, blood inflammation markers, and colorectal cancer

Cristina M Villanueva; Ana Espinosa; Esther Gracia-Lavedan; Jelle Vlaanderen; Roel Vermeulen; Antonio José Molina; Pilar Amiano; Inés Gómez-Acebo; Gemma Castaño-Vinyals; Paolo Vineis; Manolis Kogevinas

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873

Exposure to widespread drinking water chemicals, blood inflammation markers, and colorectal cancer

Cristina M Villanueva
, Ana Espinosa
, Esther Gracia-Lavedan
, Jelle Vlaanderen
, Roel Vermeulen
, Antonio José Molina
, Pilar Amiano
, Inés Gómez-Acebo
, Gemma Castaño-Vinyals
, Paolo Vineis
, Manolis Kogevinas

IRAS OH Epidemiology Chemical Agents

IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.
ISGlobal Institute de Salut Global Barcelona
The Research Group in Gene - Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS)/Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED)
BioDonostia Research Institute
c CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) , Spain.
Imperial College London, London, UK; Human Genetics Foundation, Turin, Italy.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrate are widespread chemicals in drinking water associated with colorectal cancer risk but mechanisms are not well understood.

OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between exposure to THMs and nitrate in drinking water and inflammation markers, and the link with colorectal cancer risk.

METHODS: A subset of 198 colorectal cancer cases and 205 controls from the multicase-control study MCC-Spain were included. Average concentration of THMs (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform) and nitrate in tap water at the residence was estimated from age 18 until 2 years before the interview ("long term") and for a recent period (3 years before diagnosis). Serum levels of EGF, eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-17E, IL-1rA, IL-8, IP-10, MDC, MPO, periostin, VEGF, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. We estimated the linear association between inflammation markers and exposure among controls, and the odds ratio of colorectal cancer associated with THM and nitrate exposure, and inflammation markers. A mediation analysis was conducted to identify inflammation markers in the pathway between THM/nitrate exposure and colorectal cancer.

RESULTS: Serum concentrations of EGF, IL-8, IL-17E and eotaxin increased with recent residential levels of brominated THMs, chloroforom and/or total THM. No associations were observed for nitrate and for long-term residential THM levels. All residential exposures except chloroform were positively associated with colorectal cancer. Serum concentrations of VEGF and periostin were positively associated with colorectal cancer, while EGF was inversely associated. One protein-exposure combination (periostin-recent ingested brominated THMs) slightly mediated the association with colorectal cancer risk.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest that estimated THM exposure is involved in inflammation processes. However, the study design was limited to stablish etiologically relevant associations between the protein levels and colorectal cancer risk. The lack of association between nitrate exposure and inflammation markers suggests other biological mechanisms are involved in the link with colorectal cancer.

Original language	English
Article number	106873
Pages (from-to)	1-10
Journal	Environment international
Volume	157
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873
Publication status	Published - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the ?Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023? Program (CEX2018-000806-S), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (grant agreement 308610), the Acci?n Transversal del C?ncer del Consejo de Ministros del 11/10/2007, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER (PI08/1770, PI08/0533, PI11/00226) FIS grants.

Funding Information:
We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (grant agreement 308610 ), the Acción Transversal del Cáncer del Consejo de Ministros del 11/10/2007 , and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER ( PI08/1770 , PI08/0533 , PI11/00226 ) FIS grants.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Colorectal cancer
Drinking water
Immune response
Inflammation
Nitrate
Trihalomethanes

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10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

1-s2.0-S0160412021004980-mainFinal published version, 2.17 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Villanueva, C. M., Espinosa, A., Gracia-Lavedan, E., Vlaanderen, J., Vermeulen, R., Molina, A. J., Amiano, P., Gómez-Acebo, I., Castaño-Vinyals, G., Vineis, P., & Kogevinas, M. (2021). Exposure to widespread drinking water chemicals, blood inflammation markers, and colorectal cancer. Environment international, 157, 1-10. Article 106873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873

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abstract = "BACKGROUND: Trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrate are widespread chemicals in drinking water associated with colorectal cancer risk but mechanisms are not well understood.OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between exposure to THMs and nitrate in drinking water and inflammation markers, and the link with colorectal cancer risk.METHODS: A subset of 198 colorectal cancer cases and 205 controls from the multicase-control study MCC-Spain were included. Average concentration of THMs (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform) and nitrate in tap water at the residence was estimated from age 18 until 2 years before the interview ({"}long term{"}) and for a recent period (3 years before diagnosis). Serum levels of EGF, eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-17E, IL-1rA, IL-8, IP-10, MDC, MPO, periostin, VEGF, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. We estimated the linear association between inflammation markers and exposure among controls, and the odds ratio of colorectal cancer associated with THM and nitrate exposure, and inflammation markers. A mediation analysis was conducted to identify inflammation markers in the pathway between THM/nitrate exposure and colorectal cancer.RESULTS: Serum concentrations of EGF, IL-8, IL-17E and eotaxin increased with recent residential levels of brominated THMs, chloroforom and/or total THM. No associations were observed for nitrate and for long-term residential THM levels. All residential exposures except chloroform were positively associated with colorectal cancer. Serum concentrations of VEGF and periostin were positively associated with colorectal cancer, while EGF was inversely associated. One protein-exposure combination (periostin-recent ingested brominated THMs) slightly mediated the association with colorectal cancer risk.DISCUSSION: Results suggest that estimated THM exposure is involved in inflammation processes. However, the study design was limited to stablish etiologically relevant associations between the protein levels and colorectal cancer risk. The lack of association between nitrate exposure and inflammation markers suggests other biological mechanisms are involved in the link with colorectal cancer.",

keywords = "Colorectal cancer, Drinking water, Immune response, Inflammation, Nitrate, Trihalomethanes",

author = "Villanueva, \{Cristina M\} and Ana Espinosa and Esther Gracia-Lavedan and Jelle Vlaanderen and Roel Vermeulen and Molina, \{Antonio Jos{\'e}\} and Pilar Amiano and In{\'e}s G{\'o}mez-Acebo and Gemma Casta{\~n}o-Vinyals and Paolo Vineis and Manolis Kogevinas",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the ?Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023? Program (CEX2018-000806-S), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (grant agreement 308610), the Acci?n Transversal del C?ncer del Consejo de Ministros del 11/10/2007, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER (PI08/1770, PI08/0533, PI11/00226) FIS grants. Funding Information: We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (grant agreement 308610 ), the Acci{\'o}n Transversal del C{\'a}ncer del Consejo de Ministros del 11/10/2007 , and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER ( PI08/1770 , PI08/0533 , PI11/00226 ) FIS grants. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",

year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873",

language = "English",

volume = "157",

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Villanueva, CM, Espinosa, A, Gracia-Lavedan, E, Vlaanderen, J , Vermeulen, R, Molina, AJ, Amiano, P, Gómez-Acebo, I, Castaño-Vinyals, G, Vineis, P & Kogevinas, M 2021, 'Exposure to widespread drinking water chemicals, blood inflammation markers, and colorectal cancer', Environment international, vol. 157, 106873, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exposure to widespread drinking water chemicals, blood inflammation markers, and colorectal cancer

AU - Villanueva, Cristina M

AU - Espinosa, Ana

AU - Gracia-Lavedan, Esther

AU - Vlaanderen, Jelle

AU - Vermeulen, Roel

AU - Molina, Antonio José

AU - Amiano, Pilar

AU - Gómez-Acebo, Inés

AU - Castaño-Vinyals, Gemma

AU - Vineis, Paolo

AU - Kogevinas, Manolis

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the ?Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023? Program (CEX2018-000806-S), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (grant agreement 308610), the Acci?n Transversal del C?ncer del Consejo de Ministros del 11/10/2007, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER (PI08/1770, PI08/0533, PI11/00226) FIS grants. Funding Information: We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program ( CEX2018-000806-S ), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. This work was funded by the 7th Framework Programme EXPOSOMICS Project (grant agreement 308610 ), the Acción Transversal del Cáncer del Consejo de Ministros del 11/10/2007 , and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER ( PI08/1770 , PI08/0533 , PI11/00226 ) FIS grants. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: Trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrate are widespread chemicals in drinking water associated with colorectal cancer risk but mechanisms are not well understood.OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between exposure to THMs and nitrate in drinking water and inflammation markers, and the link with colorectal cancer risk.METHODS: A subset of 198 colorectal cancer cases and 205 controls from the multicase-control study MCC-Spain were included. Average concentration of THMs (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform) and nitrate in tap water at the residence was estimated from age 18 until 2 years before the interview ("long term") and for a recent period (3 years before diagnosis). Serum levels of EGF, eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-17E, IL-1rA, IL-8, IP-10, MDC, MPO, periostin, VEGF, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. We estimated the linear association between inflammation markers and exposure among controls, and the odds ratio of colorectal cancer associated with THM and nitrate exposure, and inflammation markers. A mediation analysis was conducted to identify inflammation markers in the pathway between THM/nitrate exposure and colorectal cancer.RESULTS: Serum concentrations of EGF, IL-8, IL-17E and eotaxin increased with recent residential levels of brominated THMs, chloroforom and/or total THM. No associations were observed for nitrate and for long-term residential THM levels. All residential exposures except chloroform were positively associated with colorectal cancer. Serum concentrations of VEGF and periostin were positively associated with colorectal cancer, while EGF was inversely associated. One protein-exposure combination (periostin-recent ingested brominated THMs) slightly mediated the association with colorectal cancer risk.DISCUSSION: Results suggest that estimated THM exposure is involved in inflammation processes. However, the study design was limited to stablish etiologically relevant associations between the protein levels and colorectal cancer risk. The lack of association between nitrate exposure and inflammation markers suggests other biological mechanisms are involved in the link with colorectal cancer.

AB - BACKGROUND: Trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrate are widespread chemicals in drinking water associated with colorectal cancer risk but mechanisms are not well understood.OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between exposure to THMs and nitrate in drinking water and inflammation markers, and the link with colorectal cancer risk.METHODS: A subset of 198 colorectal cancer cases and 205 controls from the multicase-control study MCC-Spain were included. Average concentration of THMs (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform) and nitrate in tap water at the residence was estimated from age 18 until 2 years before the interview ("long term") and for a recent period (3 years before diagnosis). Serum levels of EGF, eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-17E, IL-1rA, IL-8, IP-10, MDC, MPO, periostin, VEGF, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. We estimated the linear association between inflammation markers and exposure among controls, and the odds ratio of colorectal cancer associated with THM and nitrate exposure, and inflammation markers. A mediation analysis was conducted to identify inflammation markers in the pathway between THM/nitrate exposure and colorectal cancer.RESULTS: Serum concentrations of EGF, IL-8, IL-17E and eotaxin increased with recent residential levels of brominated THMs, chloroforom and/or total THM. No associations were observed for nitrate and for long-term residential THM levels. All residential exposures except chloroform were positively associated with colorectal cancer. Serum concentrations of VEGF and periostin were positively associated with colorectal cancer, while EGF was inversely associated. One protein-exposure combination (periostin-recent ingested brominated THMs) slightly mediated the association with colorectal cancer risk.DISCUSSION: Results suggest that estimated THM exposure is involved in inflammation processes. However, the study design was limited to stablish etiologically relevant associations between the protein levels and colorectal cancer risk. The lack of association between nitrate exposure and inflammation markers suggests other biological mechanisms are involved in the link with colorectal cancer.

KW - Colorectal cancer

KW - Drinking water

KW - Immune response

KW - Inflammation

KW - Nitrate

KW - Trihalomethanes

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85115022995

U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873

DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106873

M3 - Article

C2 - 34543938

SN - 0160-4120

VL - 157

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - Environment international

JF - Environment international

M1 - 106873

ER -

Exposure to widespread drinking water chemicals, blood inflammation markers, and colorectal cancer

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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