Relations between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and magnesium and other alkaline earth elements in soils in China

Comparison of maps shows a striking geographical relation between high mortality rates from nasopharyngeal cancer in China and low contents of magnesium, calcium and strontium in the soil. We suggest that deficiencies of these elements in the soil could be indirect markers of aetiological factors, e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical hypotheses 1997, Vol.48 (1), p.21-25
Main Authors: Bølviken, B., Flaten, T.P., Zheng, Chunjiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Calcium
China - epidemiology
Geography
Incidence
Magnesium
Medical sciences
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - epidemiology
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - etiology
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - mortality
Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous)
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Soil
Strontium
Tropical medicine
Tumors
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Summary:Comparison of maps shows a striking geographical relation between high mortality rates from nasopharyngeal cancer in China and low contents of magnesium, calcium and strontium in the soil. We suggest that deficiencies of these elements in the soil could be indirect markers of aetiological factors, e.g. inhalable carcinogens of local natural origin. A search for such factors could be fruitful in further studies of environmental factors in the aetiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/S0306-9877(97)90019-0