We investigated whether there might be excess ovarian cancer mortality among women residing near
Spanish industries, according to different categories of industrial groups and toxic substances. An
ecologic study was designed to examine ovarian cancer mortality at a municipal level (period 1997
e2006). Population exposure to pollution was estimated by means of distance from town to facility.
Using Poisson regression models, we assessed the relative risk of dying from ovarian cancer in zones
around installations, and analyzed the effect of industrial groups and pollutant substances. Excess
ovarian cancer mortality was detected in the vicinity of all sectors combined, and, principally, near re-
fineries, fertilizers plants, glass production, paper production, food/beverage sector, waste treatment
plants, pharmaceutical industry and ceramic. Insofar as substances were concerned, statistically significant
associations were observed for installations releasing metals and polycyclic aromatic chemicals.
These results support that residing near industries could be a risk factor for ovarian cancer mortality