[A geographical and epidemiological analysis of cancer incidence in the city of Vercelli, Italy, 2002-2009]

The idea of conducting a geographical analysis of cancer incidence in Vercelli, a city with about 46,000 population in the Province of Vercelli (Piedmont, northern Italy), originated from the need to respond to concerns of the population and local administrators regarding the presence of a solid waste incinerator just a few kilometers from the city, and the ongoing intense agricultural activity in the area. The study also aimed to verify the excess risk identified in a similar study on mortality. We obtained census data and mortality data for the years 2002 to 2009, from the Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) and analysed these from both an epidemiological point of view, through standardised mortality rates, and spatial analysis through the use of Bayesian models. Both approaches highlighted an overall increased risk for cancers and increased risks for colorectal and lung cancer, in persons residing south of the capital. They also identified an increased cancer risk in the young adult population of both sexes, which deserves further investigation.