Cancer risk in the rubber industry: a review of the recent epidemiological evidence.

Abstract

Objectives-To examine the recent epidemiological evidence on cancer risk among workers in the rubber industry. Methods-Epidemiological studies published after the last detailed review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1982 were reviewed. 12 cohort studies in nine countries that examined distinct populations of workers in the rubber industry, seven industry based nested case-control studies, 48 community based case-control studies in 16 countries, and 23 studies based on administrative data that reported risks for employment in the rubber industry were identified. Results-Excess risks of bladder cancer, lung cancer, and leukaemia were found in most studies, with risks above 1.5 in about half of the studies. A moderate excess risk for laryngeal cancer was consistent across studies. Excess risks were found in a few studies for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, skin, prostate, kidney, brain, and thyroid, and for malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma, but overall results were not consistent for these neoplasms. Conclusions-Magnitude of the observed risks varied considerably between studies, but overall the findings indicate the presence of a widespread moderate increased cancer risk among rubber workers. The most consistent results were for bladder, laryngeal, and lung cancer and for leukaemia. Excess risks were also found for other neoplasms but an evaluation of the consistency of the findings is diYcult because of the possible selective reporting of results. Recent studies do not provide information associating specific exposures with cancer risk. The preventive measures taken in the rubber industry in recent years may decrease risks, but this has not been documented yet in epidemiological studies. (Occup Environ Med 1998;55:1-12)

Occupational exposures and head and neck cancers among Swedish construction workers

“…Occupational exposure to mists of strong inorganic acids is an established cause of laryngeal cancer (3). Other suspected risk factors for laryngeal cancer include work in the rubber industry (4,5) and exposure to cement dust (6,7) and asbestos (8)(9)(10)(11). There is little evidence of a relationship between occupational exposures and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx; some chemicals that have been linked to these cancers include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (12) and formaldehyde (13).…”

Levels of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) and effect modification of polymorphisms of glutathione-related genes in vulcanization workers in the southern Sweden rubber industries

“…It has been described that the workers have increased risk of developing several diseases, e.g., coronary heart and airways diseases, as well as cancer (Gustavsson et al 1986;Kogevinas et al 1998;Lewis 1999). One of the toxic compounds is carbon disulfide (CS 2 ), which has been described to affect many different organs, although major attention has been paid to the cardiovascular and nervous systems (Stetkiewicz and Wronska-Nofer 1998).…”

Characteristics of PAHs in Particulates in the Atmospheric Environment of Hat Yai City, Thailand, and Relationship with Rubber-wood Burning in Rubber Sheet Production

“…Factory workers exposed to PAHs may be at risk of developing cancer and other adverse health conditions (IARC, 1982;Kogevinas et al, 1998;Fracasso et al, 1999;Straif et al, 1999;Galka et al, 2004;Parent et al, 2005).…”