Epidemiologic evidence for an association between gasoline and kidney cancer.

Abstract

A recent animal experiment suggests that gasoline exposure may be a cause of human kidney cancer. This is a literature review to see whether there is any epidemiologic support for these animal findings. Trends and geographic patterns in gasoline consumption and kidney cancer mortality are moderately supportive of a relationship, although this cannot be considered important evidence for a causal relationship. Most other ecological correlations are not supportive of a relationship. Eleven oil refinery populations and one population of petroleum products distribution workers have been studied. These studies taken as a group do not appear to support the notion of a relationship between gasoline exposure and kidney cancer. However, most were not designed or analyzed with this hypothesis in mind. An examination of these data which attempts to consider the ages of the populations studied provides some evidence of a small kidney cancer excess among older workers or among workers exposed for long periods. Because of the importance of gasoline and the potential for exposure by the public further study of exposed populations is needed.

Risk of esophageal, ovarian, testicular, kidney and bladder cancers and leukemia among finnish workers exposed to diesel or gasoline engine exhaust

“…However, only a small number of workers has been exposed to these carcinogens in Finland, and they mainly belonged to the reference category in our study. Even though excess kidney cancer has been reported in petroleum-related studies from the 1980s, 32,33 and later also among Finns exposed to petroleum-based hydrocarbons, 34,35 consistent epidemiologic evidence does not exist for a relation between kidney cancer and occupational exposure to engine exhausts. Evidence of association between testicular cancer and occupational exposures also remains weak.…”

A 39-year follow-up of the U.K. oil refinery and distribution center studies: results for kidney cancer and leukemia.

“…As discussed previously, concern has been expressed about increased mortality from such diseases as malignant diseases of the prostate, kidney, and brain; leukemia; and other lymphatic neoplasms (22,37,38,68). In both studies, the slightly increased mortality from malignant neoplasm of the prostate continues in the second follow-up period, with operators again having markedly increased mortality.…”

“…Although animal studies have shown some association between hydrocarbon exposure and kidney cancer (38,39), an extensive review of this problem in humans at a workshop in 1983 failed to come to any firm conclusion. Generally, any excesses are small (40)(41)(42) or show no association (21,43,44).…”

Occupational risk factors for renal-cell carcinoma in Denmark.

“…In general, follow-up studies of refinery workers and other petroleum-exposed workers have found little evidence to support an association with renal-cell carcinoma (12,13). A case-referent study from Minnesota found a suggestive increase in risk for gasoline station attendants and for individuals who had been exposed to petroleum, tar, and pitch products (14,15).…”