Higher levels of disinfection byproducts in drinking water were linked to a higher risk of uterine cancer among a cohort of California women.The five most commonly found haloacetic acids in drinking water were tied to nonendometrioid tumors.These findings were consistent with those from the Iowa Women's Health Study, which linked disinfection byproducts in drinking water with an elevated risk of endometrial cancer among a group of postmenopausal women.
Higher levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) -- a disinfection byproduct of the drinking water treatment process -- were linked to a higher risk of uterine cancer among a cohort of California women.
Among those with addresses linked to a community water supply for 10 or more years, higher levels of total THMs were associated with a higher risk of uterine cancer (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.38, P for trend=0.06), specifically endometrioid tumors (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05-1.46, P for trend=0.01), reported Rena R. Jones, PhD, MS, of the National Cancer Institute, and colleagues.
Looking at individual THMs, the highest hazard ratios for uterine cancer overall and endometrioid tumors were observed with chloroform (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.37, P for trend=0.07 and HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07-1.50, P for trend=0.01, respectively), they noted in JAMA Network Open.
