Kidney Cancer Among Leather Workers

A cohort mortality study of leather tanners in Tuscany, Italy

“…Some epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk for bladder cancer among workers preparing hides for tanning and finishing [Cole et al, 1972]; this observation has been replicated among tanners in Sweden [Malker et al, 1984] and in Great Britain [Cartwright and BoYko, 1984] but a subsequent UK investigation did not confirm it [Acheson and Pippard, 1984]. In a Swedish cohort of chrome and vegetable tanners an increased bladder cancer mortality was shown for 20 or more years of latency [Mikoczy et al, 1994].…”

“…Regarding smoking as a confounder among finishers, the use of local rates for comparison, the absence of an increase for smoking-related diseases (circulatory and respiratory system) and similar smoking habits in Tuscan tanners (58.6% smokers) and a comparable group of clerks in the area (63.1% smokers) [Seniori Costantini et al, 1987] suggest an occupational origin of the observed increase [Pesatori et al, 1987]. Some epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk for bladder cancer among workers preparing hides for tanning and finishing [Cole et al, 1972]; this observation has been replicated among tanners in Sweden [Malker et al, 1984] and in Great Britain [Cartwright and BoYko, 1984] but a subsequent UK investigation did not confirm it [Acheson and Pippard, 1984]. In a Swedish cohort of chrome and vegetable tanners an increased bladder cancer mortality was shown for 20 or more years of latency [Mikoczy et al, 1994].…”

“…However, some investigations do not confirm the increase in lung cancer [Cartwright and Boyko, 1984;Pippard et al, 1985a] and bladder cancer risk [Acheson and Pippard, 1984]. An increased mortality was observed among tanners for cancer of the stomach [Garabrant and Wegman, 1984;Edling et al, 1986], intestine and rectum [Puntoni et al, 1984;Pippard et al, 1985a;Montanaro et al, 1997], pancreas [Edling et al, 1986;Seniori Costantini et al, 1989;Mikoczy et al, 1994Mikoczy et al, , 1996Montanaro et al, 1997], all leukemias [Stern et al, 1987;Seniori Costantini et al, 1989], and specifically for chronic lymphatic leukemia and multiple myeloma [Mikoczy et al, 1994].…”

“…Epidemiological studies of tanners using different designs have shown an increased risk for cancer of the lung [Garabrant and Wegman, 1984;Puntoni et al, 1984;Menegozzo et al, 1987a,b;Seniori Costantini et al, 1989;Bonassi et al, 1990;Mikoczy et al, 1994Mikoczy et al, , 1996Montanaro et al, 1997;Stern, 2003], bladder [Cartwright and Boyko, 1984;Malker et al, 1984;Puntoni et al, 1984;Montanaro et al, 1997], urinary organs, and kidney [Malker et al, 1984;Puntoni et al, 1984;Stern et al, 1987;Jensen et al, 1988;Seniori Costantini et al, 1989]. However, some investigations do not confirm the increase in lung cancer [Cartwright and Boyko, 1984;Pippard et al, 1985a] and bladder cancer risk [Acheson and Pippard, 1984]. An increased mortality was observed among tanners for cancer of the stomach [Garabrant and Wegman, 1984;Edling et al, 1986], intestine and rectum [Puntoni et al, 1984;Pippard et al, 1985a;Montanaro et al, 1997], pancreas [Edling et al, 1986;Seniori Costantini et al, 1989;Mikoczy et al, 1994Mikoczy et al, , 1996Montanaro et al, 1997], all leukemias [Stern et al, 1987;Seniori Costantini et al, 1989], and specifically for chronic lymphatic leukemia and multiple myeloma [Mikoczy et al, 1994].…”

Mortality of chrome leather tannery workers and chemical exposures in tanneries.

“…Dubrow & Wegman (12) and Cole & Goldman (8) found statistically significant increased risks for bladder cancer and cirrhosis of the liver among "leather workers," who included tanners, as well as among employees involved in the cutting, assembling and buffing of leather. Increased risk of kidney cancer has been reported among "leather workers" (2,6,26), as has risks from lung cancer (17,22) and nasal cancer (10,30).…”