Mortality patterns among workers exposed to acrylamide: 1994 follow up.

Abstract

Objective-To update the mortality experience of a cohort of 8508 workers with potential exposure to acrylamide at three plants in the United States from 1984-94. Methods-Analyses of standardised mortality ratios (SMR) with national and local rates and relative risk (RR) regression modelling were performed to assess site specific cancer risks by demographic and work history factors, and exposure indicators for acrylamide and muriatic acid. Results-For the 1925-94 study period, excess and deficit overall mortality risks were found for cancer sites of interest: brain and other central nervous system (CNS) (SMR 0.65, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.36 to 1.09), thyroid gland (SMR 2.11, 95% CI 0.44 to 6.17), testis and other male genital organs (SMR 0.28, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.59), and cancer of the respiratory system (SMR 1.10, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.22); however, none was significant or associated with exposure to acrylamide. A previously reported excess mortality risk of cancer of the respiratory system at one plant remained increased among workers with potential exposure to muriatic acid (RR 1.50, 95% CI 0.86 to 2.59), but was only slightly increased among workers exposed or unexposed to acrylamide. In an exploratory exposure-response analysis of rectal, oesophageal, pancreatic, and kidney cancer, we found increased SMRs for some categories of exposure to acrylamide, but little evidence of an exposureresponse relation. A significant 2.26-fold risk (95% CI 1.03 to 4.29) was found for pancreatic cancer among workers with cumulative exposure to acrylamide >0.30 mg/m 3 .years; however, no consistent exposure-response relations were detected with the exposure measures considered when RR regression models were adjusted for time since first exposure to acrylamide. Conclusion-The contribution of 1115 additional deaths and nearly 60 000 personyears over the 11 year follow up period corroborate the original cohort study findings of little evidence for a causal relation between exposure to acrylamide and mortality from any cancer sites, including those of initial interest. This is the most definitive study of the human carcinogenic potential of exposure to acrylamide conducted to date. (Occup Environ Med 1999;56:181-190)

Evaluation of Some Renal Function Parameters in Rats Treated with Acrylamide

“…In a study which was performed with 371 workers exposed to acrylamide by means of organic dyes, it was determined that the rate of death occurred as a result of especially digestion and respiration system cancers was more than expected [42]. In another study carried out with 8500 workers exposed to acrylamide due to their jobs, it was suggested that there was an increase in thyroid cancer and pancreas cancer depending on the exposure dosage [43].…”

Dietary acrylamide and cancer of the large bowel, kidney, and bladder: Absence of an association in a population-based study in Sweden

“…In a small cohort of 371 workers exposed to acrylamide through organic dyes, cancer mortality was higher than expected, mainly because of deaths from cancer of the digestive tract and respiratory system (Sobel et al, 1986). More recently, Marsh et al (1999) in a cohort of 8500 workers with potential occupational exposure found little evidence for an excess risk of cancer mortality overall. While an excess of thyroid cancer and a doseexposure relation with pancreatic cancer were suggested, the wide CIs precluded definitive assessments.…”

A Prospective Study of Dietary Acrylamide Intake and the Risk of Endometrial, Ovarian, and Breast Cancer

“…Animal studies have shown positive dose-response relationships between acrylamide given in drinking water and cancer in multiple organs in both mice and rats (9)(10)(11)(12), among which were several hormone-sensitive organs, such as the mammary glands and the uterus. However, studies on humans with occupational acrylamide exposure have been negative thus far, apart from an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, but this was based on a small number of cases (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). Dietary acrylamide intake and its relation with various types of cancer have been studied in a few case-control studies (19)(20)(21) and only two prospective cohort studies on breast and colorectal cancer (22,23).…”