Abstract

Background:

In an analysis of the years 1976–1998, a 50% excess in cancer incidence was observed among residents in twelve blockhouses in Helsinki, Finland on a former dump area containing industrial and household waste.

Objective:

To assess cancer risk over a 13-year period 1999–2011 among residents formerly living in houses built on a dump area.

Methods:

All 1879 persons who ever lived in the former dump area were identified and the number of cancer cases in this population was obtained from the Finnish Cancer Registry.

Results:

After 5 years of residence at the dump site, the standardized incidence ratio of cancer (all sites combined) was 1·32 (95% CI: 0·94–1·79) in men and 0·53 (95% CI: 0·33–0·82) for women, in comparison with the general Helsinki population (1999–2011). No significant excess cancer risks were found.

Conclusions:

Residing on a former dump area was not found to result in an increased risk of cancer.