“THERE’S A LOT OF CANCER HERE…” ENVIRONMENTAL RISK PERCEPTION AND MORTALITY AMONG WOMEN WHO LIVE IN AN INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR IN MEXICO. A SEQUENTIAL MIXED STUDY

The objectives of this study were to characterize the environmental risks attributed to the Quetzalcoatl industrial corridor and to compare the records as opposed to the perceptions of increased mortality among community residents. A sequential mixed method design was used. Women in the community closest to the industrial corridor reported more respiratory disorders and more cases of cancer. They also referred to having been fearful during pregnancy because of a history in the community of premature births. From 2005 to 2007, the mortality rate for working-age women with cancer in the community closest to the corridor was significantly higher than the national rate (p < 0.05). An increase in the number of newborn deaths was observed in 1998 and 2000, with rate ratios of 5.8 (CI 3.1-6.9) and 2.9 (CI, 1.2-4.2), respectively. The integrated analysis of the qualitative and quantitative information enabled us to identify a correspondence between social perception of risk from industrial pollution and mortality registered in the study area. The experience of foul odors, the observation of increased cases of cancer and socio-cultural factors contribute to a perceived increased risk by women in the community closer to the industrial corridor. These results have implications for environmental policies in the industrial corridor, particularly with regard to risk mitigation and communication.