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Background: Current evidence suggests that childhood leukaemia can be associated with residential traffic exposure; nevertheless, more results are needed to support this conclusion., Objectives: To ascertain the possible effects of residential proximity to road traffic on childhood leukaemia, taking into account traffic density, road proximity and the type of leukaemia (acute lymphoid leukaemia or acute myeloid leukaemia)., Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study of childhood leukaemia in Spain, covering the period 1990-2011. It included 1061 incidence cases gathered from the Spanish National Childhood Cancer Registry and those Autonomous Regions with 100% coverage, and 6447 controls, individually matched by year of birth, sex and autonomous region of residence. Distances were computed from the respective participant's residential locations to the different types of roads and four different buffers. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), were calculated for four different categories of distance to roads., Results: Cases of childhood leukaemia had more than three-fold increased odds of living at <50 m of the busiest motorways compared to controls (OR = 2.90; 95%CI = 1.30-6.49). The estimates for acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) were slightly higher (OR = 2.95; 95%CI = 1.22-7.14), while estimates for cases with the same address at birth and at diagnosis were lower (OR = 2.40; 95%CI = 0.70-8.30)., Conclusions: Our study agrees with the literature and furnishes some evidence that living near a busy motorway could be a risk factor for childhood leukaemia., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is growing concern of how climate change could affect public health, due to the increase number of extreme climate events. Hence, the study of the role that climate events play on the distribution of waterborne diseases, like Hepatitis A, could be key for developing new prevention approaches., Objective: To investigate the association between climate factors and Hepatitis A in Spain between 2010 and 2014., Methods: Weekly Hepatitis A cases between 2010 and 2014 were obtained from the Spanish Epidemiology Surveillance Network. Climate variables (weekly cumulative rainfall, rainy days, storm days and snow days) were obtained from National Climatic Data Center (NOAA satellite and information Service of USA). Each municipality was assigned to the nearest weather station (N=73). A Mixed-Effects Poisson regression was performed to estimate Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR), including a time lag of 2, 3 and 4weeks (most probable incubation period for Hepatitis A)., Results: Rainfall higher than 90th percentile (extreme precipitation) was associated with increased number of Hepatitis A cases 2weeks (IRR=1.24 CI 95%=1.09-1.40) and 4weeks after the event (IRR=1.15 CI 95%=1.01-1.30). An extra rainy day increased the risk of Hepatitis A two weeks after (IRR=1.03 CI 95%=1.01-1.05). We found higher risk of Hepatitis A two weeks after each extra storm day (IRR=1.06 CI 95%=1.00-1.12), and lower risk with 3 and 4weeks' lag (IRR=0.93 CI 95%=0.88-0.99 for lag3; IRR=0.94 CI 95%=0.88-0.99 for lag 4)., Conclusions: There is an increased risk of Hepatitis A 2weeks after water-related climate events. Including meteorological information in surveillance systems might improve to develop early prevention strategies for waterborne diseases., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children but its etiology is not clearly understood. While a small fraction of cases might be attributable to genetic factors, the role of environmental pollution factors needs to be assessed., Objectives: To ascertain the effect of residential proximity to both industrial and urban areas on neuroblastoma risk, taking into account industrial groups and toxic substances released., Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study of neuroblastoma in Spain, including 398 incident cases gathered from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Tumors (period 1996-2011), and 2388 controls individually matched by year of birth, sex, and region of residence. Distances were computed from the respective subject's residences to the 1271 industries and the 30 urban areas with ≥75,000 inhabitants located in the study area. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for categories of distance (from 1km to 5km) to industrial and urban pollution sources were calculated, with adjustment for matching variables and socioeconomic confounders., Results: Excess risk (OR; 95%CI) of neuroblastoma was detected for the intersection between industrial and urban areas: (2.52; 1.20-5.30) for industrial distance of 1km, and (1.99; 1.17-3.37) for industrial distance of 2km. By industrial groups, excess risks were observed near 'Production of metals' (OR=2.05; 95%CI=1.16-3.64 at 1.5km), 'Surface treatment of metals' (OR=1.89; 95%CI=1.10-3.28 at 1km), 'Mines' (OR=5.82; 95%CI=1.04-32.43 at 1.5km), 'Explosives/pyrotechnics' (OR=4.04; 95%CI=1.31-12.42 at 4km), and 'Urban waste-water treatment plants' (OR=2.14; 95%CI=1.08-4.27 at 1.5km)., Conclusions: These findings support the need for more detailed exposure assessment of certain substances released by these industries., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)