Opium Use and Head and Neck Cancers: A Matched Case-Control Study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Head and Neck (H and N) cancers include malignant tumors of the nasal cavity, pharynx, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, larynx and salivary glands. Opium use might be related to these cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between Opium and its Derivatives (O and D) use and the incidence of H and N cancers. METHODS: In this case-control study conducted in Kerman, 140 patients with HandN cancers and 280 healthy controls (matched for age, gender, and place of residence) were included. Information about their use of O and D, cigarette smoking, alcohol and diet were collected using a structured questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression was used to investigate the relation between variables. RESULTS: The use of opioids was associated with an increased risk of H and N cancers (Adjusted OR: 8.13; CI: 4.08-16.2). A significant dose-response relation between O and D use was observed, with high use Adjusted OR=8.91; 95% CI: 4.03-19.65 and low use Adjusted OR=6.52; 95% CI: 3.18- 13.36. This dose-response association was stronger in patients with laryngeal cancer and opioids use, with high use Adjusted OR = 11.17; 95% CI=4.48-28.09 and low use Adjusted OR = 9.46; 95% CI= 3.97- 22.52. CONCLUSION: The results show that opium use can be considered as an important risk factor for H and N cancers. Also in Iran, opium seems to play a more important role than cigarette smoking.

Probabilistic risk assessment of exposure to fluoride in most consumed brands of tea in the Middle East.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fluoride concentration in seven most consumed brands of tea in the Middle East which was imported to Iran through Zabol County. In the present study, the health risk of exposure to fluoride was estimated using a probabilistic approach. Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis were applied to quantify uncertainties in risk estimation. The highest mean and 95th percentile of chronic daily intake (CDI) was observed for children group. Iranian tea and Kenya tea had maximum CDI and target hazard quotient (THQ) values among studied brands of tea which followed by Green tea, Taksetare tea, Ceylan tea, Red tea, and White tea. These result indicated that there were significant risks of exposure to fluoride in most of studied brands of tea for children (THQ>1). Sensitivity analysis showed that fluoride concentration and daily intake were the most influential variables in three exposed populations. In conclusion, the fluoride concentration in some studied brands of tea is high and it put children at risk risks of exposure to fluoride.