Nasal Cancer in the Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Industry

Abstract

The incidence of nasal cancer (all histological types considered together) was significantly higher in male boot and shoe operatives in Northamptonshire than in males of all occupational classes in the Cancer Register areas selected for comparison and in males working in other occupations in Northamptonshire. The excess incidence has recently given rise to the occurrence of between 1 and 2 new cases per annum in the Northamptonshire boot and shoe industry.The cases within the Northamptonshire industry occurred almost entirely in the relatively small number of workers who are exposed to the dust of the materials used in the manufacture of footwear.Possibly there are two carcinogenic factors in the industry-one related to the production of nasal adenocarcinoma, and the other to squamous and possibly other types of carcinoma in the nasal cavity and sinuses. This requires further study. Our best estimate of the latent period for the adenocarcinoma cases was 54.6 years, which is substantially longer than for the patients with squamous, transitional, and anaplastic tumours (41-7 years). We have no evidence to answer the question whether the facts are still present in the industrial environment, though undoubtedly the standards of hygiene in the industry has improved substantially since these men were first exposed.There is probably an increased risk of nasal adenocarcinoma in the footwear repairing industry, but this requires further study. Our evidence suggests that snuff taking should be considered as a possible contributory factor in both industrial and non-industrial nasal cancer.A survey of the footwear manufacturing and repairing industry is recommended regarding cancer of the respiratory tract. Further attempts should be made to minimize the, inhalation of dust. The case for the prescription of nasal cancer in the footwear industry should be considered.

Nasal cancer in the Northamptonshire boot and shoe industry: is it declining?

“…The high standard of ascertainment of this register, which was established in 1951, has been remarked on elsewhere (Acheson et at., 1970). In addition a systematic search of the death benefit records of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives was carried out and 3 early cases (two from 1950 and one from 1952) were identified.…”

“…High-speed grinding machines are used in the finishing rooms of the factories to trim and scour the heels and soles of shoes made in this way and many of the men who developed tumours in the finishing rooms used these machines. There has been a decline in the number of shoes made by this method in recent years but men who repair leather shoes, who use similar machines, are also at risk (Acheson et al, 1970(Acheson et al, , 1981Cecchi et al, 1980). Leather dust was also created in the preparation and press rooms where hides are sorted and cut for soles and heels.…”

“…Scrutiny of the occupational histories of cases of nasal cancer reported from the footwear manufacturing industry in other parts of England (Acheson et al, 1970(Acheson et al, , 1981 and from Italy (Cecchi et al, 1980) show that, where sufficient detail is available to classify the work, the affected men and women had also usually carried out jobs which involved either sorting, cutting, trimming or scouring leather used for heels and soles.…”

“…THE RISK OF NASAL CANCER has been shown to be increased in boot and shoe operatives in Northamptonshire (Acheson et al, 1970), in other parts of England and Wales (Acheson et al, 1981) and in Italy (Cecchi et al, 1980). This paper reports the incidence and secular trend of nasal cancer in Northamptonshire during the years 1950-79 and provides new information on the occurrence of the disease within the footwear industry.…”

Walter Hubert Lecture, Towards a strategy for the detection of industrial carcinogens

“…Thus, when the regional survey of nasal cancer was carried out it disclosed not only a concentration of cases in Buckinghamshire associated with the furniture industry but a cluster in Northamptonshire where no furniture is made. Subsequently, it was shown that the Northamptonshire cluster was due to exposure (usually in men) to leather dust from soles and heels in the preparation and finishing departments of footwear factories (Acheson et al, 1970;Acheson, 1976).…”