Impact of the space industry on cancer incidence in the population of Kazakhstan: A literature review

Abstract

Relevance: Resolving the impact of the space industry on cancer incidence comes down to assessing and preventing the environmental risks caused by the Earth’s surface contamination with space debris and rocket fuel combustion waste. Components of liquid rocket fuel, like unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and others, have proven general toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic properties. The research available in the world uses calculations of the individual inhalation and oral carcinogenic risk of the effect of UDMH and its derivative N-nitrosodimethylamine on public health. Cancer incidence is an indicator of the specific influence of carcinogenic and co-carcinogenic environmental factors on public health. The Ulytau region is particularly interesting since separating parts of launch vehicles usually fall there, and sub-route areas are located there. From 2020 to 2022, the Karaganda region, including districts and cities that later became part of the Ulytau region, ranked 5th in cancer incidence in Kazakhstan.

The study aimed to analyze published data on cancer incidence among the population of the Ulytau region living near the areas where the separated parts of launch vehicles fell and determine the direction of further research.

Methods: A literature search in the PubMed database and archives of Kazakhstani scientific editions revealed 35 literature sources that met the search criteria. The analysis included 29 scientific publications examining the health status of a population exposed to rocket and space activities, including reference materials. Data on morbidity and mortality from neoplasms in the population of several districts of the Karaganda region was analyzed.

Results: Research data analysis showed conflicting conclusions regarding the influence of rocket fuel components on the health of the population living in the zones of influence of the rocket and space activities. Some researchers found increased morbidity and mortality in the population, but others did not reveal statistically significant differences with control groups. An analysis of data on the mortality of the population living near the regular and emergency areas of fall of separating parts of launch vehicles in the Karaganda region showed an increased mortality rate for some nosologies.

Conclusion: No studies have compared the cancer incidence in the Ulytau region’s population living in areas adjacent to the fall areas of separating parts of launch vehicles with the control areas.