[Research on the etiological factors of oesophageal cancer in the West of France (author's transl)].

There is strong epidemiological evidence that oesophageal cancer in the West of France is related to alcohol consumption. Various laboratory studies have been undertaken in connection with this finding. Samples of the spectrum of alcoholic drinks consumed in the region, notably apple cider and its distillates, were collected from retail outlets and from farms: several distillates produced under experimental conditions in the laboratory were also examined. These samples were analysed for the presence of selected nitrosamines; small amounts were found for the most part in beer, which is little consumed in Normandy and Brittany. Mutageniticy tests on the apple cider based drinks and on other commercially available alcoholic beverages (beer excepted), have shown a weak response, for the most part in farm distillates, that can be attributed neither to nitrosamines nor to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but to some other as yet unidentified compounds.