Case Study of Cancer Incidence in Relation to Diverse Environmental Exposure to PCDD/Fs in the Silesia Province, Poland

A causal analysis was conducted in order to examine the relationship between residents’ inhalation exposure to PCDDs/PCBs and the incidence of cancer. A significant association was identified between chronic inhalation exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD and the overall incidence of malignant neoplasms in the study area. This association was stronger among men (p = 0.0020) than among women (p = 0.0027). A significantly higher overall incidence of malignant neoplasms was observed among the inhabitants of villages (CY, GN) exposed to higher levels of PCDD/F mixture in comparison with the reference village (p < 0.001). The present study observed the phenomenon in both male (p = 0.008) and female (p = 0.013). Moreover, a considerably elevated incidence of morbidity was observed in the male population of the CY village (p = 0.034) in comparison with the female population, where atmospheric air pollution with PCDD/Fs has been recorded at its most elevated levels. A higher frequency of cancers was also observed among the inhabitants of the villages GN and CY compared to the inhabitants of the reference village. The observed differences were consistent in cancers of the digestive system (p < 0.001), respiratory system and thoracic organs (p < 0.001), skin (p = 0.023), urinary system (p < 0.001), lymphatic and hematopoietic system (p = 0.032), as well as cancers occurring in women (p = 0.041).