Renal cell cancer and exposure to gasoline: a review.

Abstract

A review of the epidemiology of renal cell cancer is presented. Risk factors for renal cell cancer such as cigarette smoking, obesity, diet, and use of analgesics and prescription diuretics are examined. Although uncommon, occupational risk factors are also reviewed. Studies examining gasoline exposure and renal cell cancer are evaluated, including investigations recently presented at a meeting on this topic. Overall, most studies find no link between gasoline exposure and renal cell cancer; moreover, the experimental evidence that initiated the health concern is no longer considered relevant to humans. Positive associations, however, reported in two recent studies prevent a firm conclusion of no risk for this exposure.

International renal‐cell cancer study. IV. Occupation

“…A case-control study in Finland showed a significant association with gasoline exposure and a doseresponse relationship with level but not with duration of exposure (Partanen et al, 1991). Other case-control and cohort studies of exposed workers, however, have found no association with gasoline (Yu et al, 1986;McLaughlin et a/., 1992;McLaughlin, 1993). We found a significant association with gasoline exposure, but no dose-response effect.…”

Cancer incidence in urban bus drivers and tramway employees: a retrospective cohort study.

“…10 Kidney cancer has been connected with exposure to gasoline fumes 28 although a firm conclusion on a such association was not drawn. 29 The excess rates of liver cancer for bus drivers and tramway employees dropped when the Copenhagen population was used as a reference instead of the Danish population. This may be due to greater alcohol consumption in the Copenhagen area.…”

Occupational risk factors for renal-cell carcinoma in Denmark.

“…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). To date, most epidemiologic studies examining gasoline exposure or gasoline-associated occupations have not found an association with renal-cell carcinoma (16). However, a recent study from Finland has reported a twofold risk for exposure to gasoline on the job (17).…”