Assessing the impact of waste co-incineration at the Anhovo cement plant (Slovenia) on the regional cancer burden Cover

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Assessing the impact of waste co-incineration at the Anhovo cement plant (Slovenia) on the regional cancer burden

Radiology and Oncology

Volume 59 (2025): Issue 3 (September 2025)

By: Vesna Zadnik, Mojca Birk, Teja Oblak, Maja Jurtela, Sonja Tomsic, Katarina Lokar, Ana Mihor, Nika Bric, Miran Mlakar, Amela Duratovic Konjevic and Tina Zagar

Open Access

|Sep 2025

Figures & Tables

Map of the settlements categorized into three zones constructed for point source analysis and the location of the study area in four municipalities in Western Slovenia. The radius r indicates the distance from the three chimneys of the Anhovo cement plant.

Age-standardised cancer incidence rates (Slovenian standard) with the average annual change (expressed as a percentage) in the Kanal municipality, Goriška statistical region and Slovenia in the 2001-2020 period for (A) all cancers and (B) all cancers excluding mesothelioma. Statistically significant (at the 5% level) average annual changes are marked with an asterisk.

Map of the smoothed standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) of all cancers combined (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) for the 2011–2020 period: (A) for model 4 (with two explanatory variables) with the SI-EDI deprivation index and PM10 concentration in the air by settlement in the municipalities of Brda (B), Kanal (K), Nova Gorica (N) and Tolmin (T); (B) for model 4 with the SI-EDI and PM10 by settlement in the Kanal municipality (K); (C) for model 4 with the SI-EDI and chromium (Cr) content in the soil by selected settlements in the municipality of Kanal (K); where Cr measurements were performed.
Codes for settlements: B1 = Barbana; B10 = Dobrovo; B11 = Dolnje Cerovo; B12 = Drnovk; B13 = Fojana; B14 = Golo Brdo; B15 = Gonjače; B16 = Gornje Cerovo; B17 = Gradno; B18 = Hlevnik; B19 = Hruševlje; B2 = Belo; B20 = Hum; B21 = Imenje; B22 = Kojsko; B23 = Kozana; B24 = Kozarno; B25 = Kožbana; B26 = Krasno; B27 = Medana; B28 = Neblo; B29 = Nozno; B3 = Biljana; B30 = Plešivo; B31 = Podsabotin; B32 = Pristavo; B33 = Senik; B34 = Slapnik; B35 = Slavče; B36 = Snežatno; B37 = Snežeče; B38 = Šlovrenc; B39 = Šmartno; B4 = Brdice pri Kožbani; B40 = Vedrijan; B41 = Vipolže; B42 = Višnjevik; B43 = Vrhovlje pri Kojskem; B44 = Vrhovlje pri Kožbani; B45 = Zali Breg; B5 = Brdice pri Neblem; B6 = Breg pri Golem Brdu; B7 = Brestje; B8 = Brezovk; B9 = Ceglo; K1 = Ajba; K10 = Kanal; K11 = Kanalski Vrh; K12 = Levpa; K13 = Lig; K14 = Morsko; K15 = Plave; K16 = Ročinj; K17 = Seniški Breg; K18 = Ukanje; K19 = Zapotok; K2 = Anhovo; K20 = Goljevica; K21 = Kamenca nad Ložicami; K22 = Zagomila; K23 = Zagora; K24 = Paljevo; K25 = Prilesje pri Plavah; K26 = Ravna; K27 = Jesen; K28 = Krstenica; K29 = Čolnica; K3 = Avče; K30 = Ložice; K31 = Močila; K32 = Robidni Breg; K33 = Gorenje Nekovo; K34 = Gorenje Polje; K35 = Dolenje Nekovo; K4 = Bodrež; K5 = Deskle; K6 = Doblar; K7 = Gorenja vas; K8 = Kal nad Kanalom; K9 = Kambreško; N1 = Ajševica; N11 = Dornberk; N12 = Draga; N13 = Gradišče nad Prvačino; N14 = Grgar; N15 = Grgarske Ravne; N16 = Kromberk; N17 = Lazna; N18 = Loke; N19 = Lokovec; N20 = Lokve; N25 = Nemci; N26 = Nova Gorica; N27 = Osek; N29 = Ozeljan; N3 = Banjšice; N30 = Potok pri Dornberku; N31 = Preserje; N32 = Pristava; N33 = Prvačina; N34 = Ravnica; N37 = Rožna Dolina; N38 = Saksid; N39 = Solkan; N4 = Bate; N40 = Spodnja Branica; N41 = Stara Gora; N42 = Steske; N43 = Šempas; N45 = Šmaver; N46 = Šmihel; N47 = Tabor; N48 = Trnovo; N49 = Vitovlje; N5 = Branik; N50 = Voglarji; N54 = Zalošče; N56 = Podgozd; N57 = Dragovica; N58 = Sveta Gora; N59 = Pedrovo; N6 = Brdo; N7 = Budihni; N9 = Čepovan; T1 = Bača pri Modreju; T10 = Drobočnik; T11 = Gabrje; T12 = Gorenja Trebuša; T13 = Gorenji Log; T14 = Gorski Vrh; T15 = Grahovo ob Bači; T16 = Grant; T17 = Grudnica; T18 = Hudajužna; T19 = Idrija pri Bači; T2 = Bača pri Podbrdu; T20 = Kal; T21 = Kamno; T22 = Kanalski Lom; T23 = Klavže; T24 = Kneške Ravne; T25 = Kneža; T26 = Koritnica; T27 = Kozaršče; T28 = Kozmerice; T29 = Kuk; T3 = Bukovski Vrh; T30 = Lisec; T31 = Ljubinj; T32 = Logaršče; T33 = Loje; T34 = Modrej; T35 = Modrejce; T36 = Most na Soči; T37 = Obloke; T38 = Pečine; T39 = Petrovo Brdo; T4 = Čadrg; T40 = Podbrdo; T41 = Podmelec; T42 = Polje; T43 = Poljubinj; T44 = Ponikve; T45 = Porezen; T46 = Postaja; T47 = Prapetno; T48 = Prapetno Brdo; T49 = Roče; T5 = Čiginj; T50 = Rut; T51 = Sela nad Podmelcem; T52 = Sela pri Volčah; T53 = Selce; T54 = Selišče; T55 = Slap ob Idrijci; T56 = Stopnik; T57 = Stržišče; T58 = Šentviška Gora; T59 = Temljine; T6 = Daber; T60 = Tolmin; T61 = Tolminske Ravne; T62 = Tolminski Lom; T63 = Trtnik; T64 = Volarje; T65 = Volčanski Ruti; T66 = Volče; T67 = Zadlaz-Čadrg; T68 = Zadlaz-Žabče; T69 = Zakraj; T7 = Dolenja Trebuša; T70 = Zatolmin; T71 = Znojile; T72 = Žabče; T8 = Dolgi Laz; T9 = Dolje — Map of the smoothed standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) of all cancers combined (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) for the 2011–2020 period: (A) for model 4 (with two explanatory variables) with the SI-EDI deprivation index and PM10 concentration in the air by settlement in the municipalities of Brda (B), Kanal (K), Nova Gorica (N) and Tolmin (T); (B) for model 4 with the SI-EDI and PM10 by settlement in the Kanal municipality (K); (C) for model 4 with the SI-EDI and chromium (Cr) content in the soil by selected settlements in the municipality of Kanal (K); where Cr measurements were performed. Codes for settlements: B1 = Barbana; B10 = Dobrovo; B11 = Dolnje Cerovo; B12 = Drnovk; B13 = Fojana; B14 = Golo Brdo; B15 = Gonjače; B16 = Gornje Cerovo; B17 = Gradno; B18 = Hlevnik; B19 = Hruševlje; B2 = Belo; B20 = Hum; B21 = Imenje; B22 = Kojsko; B23 = Kozana; B24 = Kozarno; B25 = Kožbana; B26 = Krasno; B27 = Medana; B28 = Neblo; B29 = Nozno; B3 = Biljana; B30 = Plešivo; B31 = Podsabotin; B32 = Pristavo; B33 = Senik; B34 = Slapnik; B35 = Slavče; B36 = Snežatno; B37 = Snežeče; B38 = Šlovrenc; B39 = Šmartno; B4 = Brdice pri Kožbani; B40 = Vedrijan; B41 = Vipolže; B42 = Višnjevik; B43 = Vrhovlje pri Kojskem; B44 = Vrhovlje pri Kožbani; B45 = Zali Breg; B5 = Brdice pri Neblem; B6 = Breg pri Golem Brdu; B7 = Brestje; B8 = Brezovk; B9 = Ceglo; K1 = Ajba; K10 = Kanal; K11 = Kanalski Vrh; K12 = Levpa; K13 = Lig; K14 = Morsko; K15 = Plave; K16 = Ročinj; K17 = Seniški Breg; K18 = Ukanje; K19 = Zapotok; K2 = Anhovo; K20 = Goljevica; K21 = Kamenca nad Ložicami; K22 = Zagomila; K23 = Zagora; K24 = Paljevo; K25 = Prilesje pri Plavah; K26 = Ravna; K27 = Jesen; K28 = Krstenica; K29 = Čolnica; K3 = Avče; K30 = Ložice; K31 = Močila; K32 = Robidni Breg; K33 = Gorenje Nekovo; K34 = Gorenje Polje; K35 = Dolenje Nekovo; K4 = Bodrež; K5 = Deskle; K6 = Doblar; K7 = Gorenja vas; K8 = Kal nad Kanalom; K9 = Kambreško; N1 = Ajševica; N11 = Dornberk; N12 = Draga; N13 = Gradišče nad Prvačino; N14 = Grgar; N15 = Grgarske Ravne; N16 = Kromberk; N17 = Lazna; N18 = Loke; N19 = Lokovec; N20 = Lokve; N25 = Nemci; N26 = Nova Gorica; N27 = Osek; N29 = Ozeljan; N3 = Banjšice; N30 = Potok pri Dornberku; N31 = Preserje; N32 = Pristava; N33 = Prvačina; N34 = Ravnica; N37 = Rožna Dolina; N38 = Saksid; N39 = Solkan; N4 = Bate; N40 = Spodnja Branica; N41 = Stara Gora; N42 = Steske; N43 = Šempas; N45 = Šmaver; N46 = Šmihel; N47 = Tabor; N48 = Trnovo; N49 = Vitovlje; N5 = Branik; N50 = Voglarji; N54 = Zalošče; N56 = Podgozd; N57 = Dragovica; N58 = Sveta Gora; N59 = Pedrovo; N6 = Brdo; N7 = Budihni; N9 = Čepovan; T1 = Bača pri Modreju; T10 = Drobočnik; T11 = Gabrje; T12 = Gorenja Trebuša; T13 = Gorenji Log; T14 = Gorski Vrh; T15 = Grahovo ob Bači; T16 = Grant; T17 = Grudnica; T18 = Hudajužna; T19 = Idrija pri Bači; T2 = Bača pri Podbrdu; T20 = Kal; T21 = Kamno; T22 = Kanalski Lom; T23 = Klavže; T24 = Kneške Ravne; T25 = Kneža; T26 = Koritnica; T27 = Kozaršče; T28 = Kozmerice; T29 = Kuk; T3 = Bukovski Vrh; T30 = Lisec; T31 = Ljubinj; T32 = Logaršče; T33 = Loje; T34 = Modrej; T35 = Modrejce; T36 = Most na Soči; T37 = Obloke; T38 = Pečine; T39 = Petrovo Brdo; T4 = Čadrg; T40 = Podbrdo; T41 = Podmelec; T42 = Polje; T43 = Poljubinj; T44 = Ponikve; T45 = Porezen; T46 = Postaja; T47 = Prapetno; T48 = Prapetno Brdo; T49 = Roče; T5 = Čiginj; T50 = Rut; T51 = Sela nad Podmelcem; T52 = Sela pri Volčah; T53 = Selce; T54 = Selišče; T55 = Slap ob Idrijci; T56 = Stopnik; T57 = Stržišče; T58 = Šentviška Gora; T59 = Temljine; T6 = Daber; T60 = Tolmin; T61 = Tolminske Ravne; T62 = Tolminski Lom; T63 = Trtnik; T64 = Volarje; T65 = Volčanski Ruti; T66 = Volče; T67 = Zadlaz-Čadrg; T68 = Zadlaz-Žabče; T69 = Zakraj; T7 = Dolenja Trebuša; T70 = Zatolmin; T71 = Znojile; T72 = Žabče; T8 = Dolgi Laz; T9 = Dolje

Standardised incidence ratio (SIR) (interpreted as relative risk) with 95% confidence intervals by distance from the three chimneys of the Anhovo cement plant for the analysed cancer types in the 2011–2020 period.

Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by PM10 concentration category and by categories of Chromium (Cr) content in soil for the analysed cancer types for the 2011–2020 period in the municipality of Kanal at two spatial levels (by settlements and by 1 km × 1 km grid)_

	Settlements				1 km × 1 km grid
	Category	Incidence	Population	SIR [95% CI]	cidence	Population	SIR [95% CI]
Lung cancer	PM₁₀ concentration in the air
	3 (highest)	12	1,010	1.49 [0.77–2.60]	12	880	1.68 [0.87–2.94]
	2 (middle)	16	2,267	0.89 [0.51–1.44]	15	2,362	0.78 [0.44–1.29]
	1 (lowest)	15	2,205	0.89 [0.50–1.46]	19	2,535	0.97 [0.58–1.51]
	Chromium (Cr) content in soil
	3 (highest)	0	100	/	1	57	2.49 [0.06–13.87]
	2 (middle)	15	1,716	1.04 [0.58–1.72]	16	1,778	1.10 [0.63–1.78]
	1 (lowest)	13	1,626	1.01 [0.54–1.73]	11	1,710	0.85 [0.42–1.51]
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma	PM₁₀ concentration in the air
	3 (highest)	3	1,010	2.62 [0.54–7.64]	4	880	4.18 [1.14–10.71]
	2 (middle)	3	2,267	1.21 [0.25–3.52]	2	2,362	0.82 [0.10–2.96]
	1 (lowest)	0	2,205	/	0	2,535	/
	Chromium (Cr) content in soil
	3 (highest)	1	100	/	0	57	/
	2 (middle)	1	1,716	/	2	1,778	/
	1 (lowest)	0	1,626	/	0	1,710	/
Sarcoma	PM₁₀ concentration in the air
	3 (highest)	2	1,010	1.32 [0.16–4.78]	1	880	0.80 [0.02–4.48]
	2 (middle)	2	2,267	0.59 [0.07–2.13]	2	2,362	0.59 [0.07–2.14]
	1 (lowest)	4	2,205	1.20 [0.35–3.31]	5	2,535	1.48 [0.48–3.45]
	Chromium (Cr) content in soil
	3 (highest)	0	100	/	0	57	/
	2 (middle)	2	1,716	0.63 [0.08–2.28]	2	1,778	0.62 [0.07–2.24]
	1 (lowest)	4	1,626	1.50 [0.41–3.85]	4	1,710	1.49 [0.41–3.82]

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2025-0050 | Journal eISSN: 1581-3207 | Journal ISSN: 1318-2099

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Language: English

Page range: 412 - 424

Submitted on: Apr 3, 2025

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Accepted on: Jun 11, 2025

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Published on: Sep 5, 2025

Published by: Association of Radiology and Oncology

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

cancer incidence,

environmental exposure,

small area geographical analysis

Related subjects:

Clinical medicine,

Internal medicine,

Haematology, oncology,

© 2025 Vesna Zadnik, Mojca Birk, Teja Oblak, Maja Jurtela, Sonja Tomsic, Katarina Lokar, Ana Mihor, Nika Bric, Miran Mlakar, Amela Duratovic Konjevic, Tina Zagar, published by Association of Radiology and Oncology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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