BaumannF.auteurautMaurizotP.auteurautMangeasMorganauteurautIRDAmbrosiJ. P.auteurautDouwesJ.auteurautRobineauB.auteurauttextjournalArticletext/pdfborn digitalaccessBACKGROUND: High incidences of malignant mesothelioma (MM) have been observed in New Caledonia. Previous work has shown an association between MM and soil containing serpentinite. OBJECTIVES: We studied the spatial and temporal variation of MM and its association with environmental factors. METHODS: We investigated the 109 MM cases recorded in the Cancer Registry of New Caledonia between 1984 and 2008 and performed spatial, temporal, and space-time cluster analyses. We conducted an ecological analysis involving 100 tribes over a large area including those with the highest incidence rates. Associations with environmental factors were assessed using logistic and Poisson regression analyses. RESULTS: The highest incidence was observed in the Houailou area with a world age-standardized rate of 128.7 per 100,000 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI), 70.41-137.84]. A significant spatial cluster grouped 18 tribes (31 observed cases vs. 8 expected cases; p = 0.001), but no significant temporal clusters were identified. The ecological analyses identified serpentinite on roads as the greatest environmental risk factor (odds ratio = 495.0; 95% CI, 46.2-4679.7; multivariate incidence rate ratio = 13.0; 95% CI, 10.2-16.6). The risk increased with serpentinite surface, proximity to serpentinite quarries and distance to the peridotite massif. The association with serpentines was stronger than with amphiboles. Living on a slope and close to dense vegetation appeared protective. The use of whitewash, previously suggested to be a risk factor, was not associated with MM incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of serpentinite on roads is a major environmental risk factor for mesothelioma in New Caledonia.specializedantigoriteasbestoscluster analysisecological studyenvironmentmesotheliomaNew Caledoniaserpentinite050 021 119569570020110091-6765http://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:01005353710.1289/ehp.1002862IRD BondyF B010053537 ; N FDO-020018834 ; N FDO-020018835http://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053537http://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2011/05/010053537.pdfAccès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD)IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes2011-05-312013-04-17fdi:010053537fre