ArticleEnvironmental research2026
Density of animal feeding operations, including concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), and cancer incidence: A county-level ecological study across three U.S. states.
Article in Environmental research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAnimal feeding operations (AFOs) including concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are significant sources of environmental pollution with potential public health implications. Despite growing concern of environmental health risk, few studies have assessed the associations between exposure to AFOs/CAFOs and cancer incidence across diverse geographic regions and populations.
objectiveThis study investigates county-level cancer incidence by state in relation to AFO/CAFO exposure in three US states.
methodsWe analyzed county-level incidence data for all- and site-specific cancers from 2000 to 2021 and AFO/CAFO density for three states (i.e., California, Iowa, and Texas). To address confounding, we applied propensity score matching to compare counties with high AFO/CAFO exposure to control counties. Stratified analyses were conducted by state and cancer type.
resultsHigher exposure to AFO/CAFOs was associated with increased cancer incidence in all three states, although the magnitude and statistical significance of the associations varied by state. Compared to control counties, exposed counties had significantly higher all-cancer incidence rate ratios (IRRs): 1.044 (95% CI 1.040, 1.047) in California, 1.079 (1.066, 1.091) in Iowa, and 1.078 (1.073, 1.084) in Texas. Stratified analyses by cancer type showed higher associations for specific cancers in each state (e.g., bladder cancer in California, colorectal cancer for Iowa, and lung and bronchus cancer in Texas).
conclusionOur findings suggest a link between higher AFO/CAFO exposure and increased cancer incidence across various US states. Future research using individual-level data, refined exposure assessment, and longitudinal approaches are needed to strengthen the evidence.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.