Occupational Risks of Bladder Cancer in France: A Multicentre Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVES -A hospital-based case-referent study was carried out in Lyon with the purpose of generating hypotheses about the role of occupational exposures to 320 compounds in bladder carcinogenesis. METHODS -Job histories were obtained by questionnaire for 116 cases and 232 reference patients with diseases other than cancer (one referent from the same hospital ward and one from another ward of the same hospital per case); the referents were matched for gender, hospital, age, and nationality. Systematic coding of exposures, with a blind analysis of job histories, was carried out by a team of experts in chemistry and occupational health. RESULTS -Significantly elevated odds ratios were observed for exposure to pyrolysis and combustion products [odds ratio (OR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0---4.0] when the general referents were used and for cutting fluids (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.4) when tobacco consumption was adjusted for. The latter was highest among the category consisting of blue-collar and unskilled workers, supervisors, and agricultural workers (OR 4.6 95% CI 2.0-10.6), while the odds ratio for the other category was 0.8 (95% CI 0.3-2.7). An elevated odds ratio for exposure to inks was observed for the women (OR 14.0,95% CI 1.8-106.5) on the basis of 14 exposed cases, but confounding factors could have been responsible for this result. Odds ratios for several other exposures (rubber: OR 5.7, nitrates: OR 8.2, coke dust: OR 3.5, meat additives: OR 3.8) were also elevated, but not significantly so when based on a small number of exposed cases. CONCLUSION -The observations of this investigation should be tested in future studies, in particular since exposures to agents such as cutting fluids or pyrolysis products are ubiquitous in industrial settings and may present an important public health hazard.

“…A dose-related association between the risk of urinary bladder cancer and tobacco use was found which is consistent with the results of most international studies (24)(25)(26)(27).…”

Section: Behavioral and Social Variablessupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The odds ratio was greater for persons exposed before the age of 20 years. Other authors have found an association between exposure to cutting fluids and bladder cancer risk (2,27), although it was not seen in one study (28).…”

Section: Cancer Of the Bladder And Occupational Exposures Cutting Flumentioning

confidence: 75%

Bladder cancer and occupational exposures.

Hours

Dananché²,

Févotte³

et al. 1994

“…Our series corresponds to cases that would have been exposed mainly in the 1970s, and the time frame could explain the lack of positive results. Other also recent studies carried out in other countries have not found elevated risks for occupations previously associated with bladder cancer (20).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…For other occupations, available data are nonconclusive (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22) and thus deserve further attention (23). One of the limitations of most community-based studies conducted so far is that the prevalence of exposure in the textile industry has been relatively low, and therefore no detailed analysis of occupations and processes within this industry has been possible.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bladder cancer in the textile industry

Serra

Bonfill²,

Sunyer³

et al. 2000

Objectives This study examined the occupations and industries at high risk for bladder cancer in an area where the textile industry is plentiful and the incidence of the disease is very high.Methods A case-referent study concerlling 218 incident bladder cancer cases diagnosed during 1993-1995 in the county of Vallks Occidental, Barcelona, was carricd out. A reference group (N=344) was selected from municipal lists matched to the cases by age, gender, and area of residence. All the subjects were personally interviewed, and a complete occupational history was abstracted together with other sociodemographic and life-style factors. All odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were adjusted for age, gender, and smoking.Results No overall excess risk was found for ever having worked in the textile industry (OR 1.13,95% CI 0.79-1.63) nor for specific sectors of this industry (ie cotton, wool, silk). An excess risk was observed for spinners and winders employed for more than 20 years (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.08-9.97) and for machine setters employed between 1960 and 1974 (OR 4.26,95% CI 1.09-16.7). C~rIclusi~IlsThe results of this study do not support the findings of some earlier studies for an increased bladder cancer risk in the textile industry. However, some elevated risks were observed among the workers with the highest exposures.

“…Other occupations and industries with mixed exposures, including exposures to pigments, have shown an increased risk for bladder cancer (4,18,22,(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer in the Norwegian printing industry

Kvam

Romundstad²,

Boffetta³

et al. 2005

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate cancer risk among Norwegian workers in the printing industry, particularly lung and bladder cancer.Methods Cancer incidence was investigated from 1953 through 1998 in a cohort of 10 549 male members of a trade union in the printing industry in Oslo and nearby areas. Rates from the region, were used to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIR) separately for the skilled and unskilled workers. Smoking data from a sample of the cohort were utilized for evaluating the risk estimates of smoking-related cancers. Specific exposure data were not available.Results Among the skilled workers, significantly elevated risks of cancer of the urinary bladder [standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 1.47, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.19-1.79], liver (SIR 1.92, 95% CI 1.15-2.99), pancreas (SIR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07-1.94) and colon (SIR 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.55) were observed, whereas an increased risk of lung cancer in this group was confined to those born before 1910. Among the unskilled workers, there were significantly increased risks of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, larynx, lung, and all sites. ConclusionsThe study showed that workers in the printing industry were at increased risk of several types of cancer. In particular the increased risk of bladder cancer among the skilled workers is suggestive of an occupational cause. However, no specific agent could be identified as an occupational carcinogen. The results did not support the hypothesis of a generally increased risk of lung cancer. The risk pattern for unskilled workers may reflect confounding by nonoccupational factors.