Environmental Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds, Race, and Socioeconomic Markers Correlate with Areas of High Colorectal Cancer Incidence.

Abstract

Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from nearby industrial plants have shown positive associations with increased colorectal cancer (CRC) rates. The objective of this study is to analyze the distribution of CRC in the context of socioeconomic status and its correlation with community environmental data. A retrospective study analyzed CRC patients from 2021 to 2023. The census tracts of the patients' residential addresses were obtained, and CRC rates were calculated for each census tract. Socioeconomic data was gathered on these communities. Environmental VOC measurements were obtained from the National Scale Air Toxics Assessment. All datapoints were compared to statewide levels. Three census tracts in the county had higher CRC cases comparatively. These areas exhibited higher incidence rates and localized clusters of CRC cases, higher distribution of Black or African Americans, lower household incomes, lower home values, and lower educational attainment. VOC measurements in these census tracts had higher levels compared to county and state averages: specifically, 10.68% higher than county and 48.07% higher than state benzene levels (0.52 µg/m3 clusters vs 0.47µg/m3 county vs 0.35 µg/m3 state), 10.84% and 129.15% higher toluene (1.65 µg/m3 vs 1.49 vs 0.72 µg/m3), and 15.64% and 141.87% higher butadiene (0.048 µg/m3 vs 0.041 µg/m3 vs 0.020 µg/m3). This study illustrates a positive correlation between higher ambient exposure to VOCs with increased CRC incidence. These findings underscore the potential interplay of environmental factors, socioeconomic determinants, and environmental injustice when considering strategies to address health disparities and CRC incidence.