Pleural mesothelioma in New Caledonia : associations with environmental risk factors Baumann, F. Maurizot, P. /Mangeas, Morgan Ambrosi, J. P. Douwes, J. Robineau, B. antigorite asbestos cluster analysis ecological study environment mesothelioma New Caledonia serpentinite BACKGROUND: 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. 2011 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053537 fdi:010053537 Baumann F., Maurizot P., Mangeas Morgan, Ambrosi J. P., Douwes J., Robineau B.. Pleural mesothelioma in New Caledonia : associations with environmental risk factors. 2011, 119 (5), 695-700 EN