Risk of cancer from the use of tar bitumen in road works.

Knecht, U.; Woitowitz, H.‐J.

doi:10.1136/oem.46.1.24

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The models were validated against external data obtained from the United States, [14][15][16][17][18][19] Germany (measurements were only partially described in this publication), 20 and Italy (unpublished). These data were made available to us after the original statistical models were constructed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validity of empirical models of exposure in asphalt paving

Burstyn

2002

Occup Environ Med

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Aims: To investigate the validity of empirical models of exposure to bitumen fume and benzo(a)pyrene, developed for a historical cohort study of asphalt paving in Western Europe. Methods: Validity was evaluated using data from the USA, Italy, and Germany not used to develop the original models. Correlation between observed and predicted exposures was examined. Bias and precision were estimated. Results: Models were imprecise. Furthermore, predicted bitumen fume exposures tended to be lower (−70%) than concentrations found during paving in the USA. This apparent bias might be attributed to differences between Western European and USA paving practices. Evaluation of the validity of the benzo(a)pyrene exposure model revealed a similar to expected effect of re-paving and a larger than expected effect of tar use. Overall, benzo(a)pyrene models underestimated exposures by 51%. Conclusions: Possible bias as a result of underestimation of the impact of coal tar on benzo(a)pyrene exposure levels must be explored in sensitivity analysis of the exposure-response relation. Validation of the models, albeit limited, increased our confidence in their applicability to exposure assessment in the historical cohort study of cancer risk among asphalt workers. I ncreasingly in occupational and environmental epidemiology the quality of studies and their subsequent usefulness for risk assessors and regulators depends on the validity of their exposure assessment. This trend is in part a result of the recognition of the fact that most of the remaining unidentified health risks from occupational and environmental factors are likely to be low (relative risks of the order of 2-3) and can be easily missed because of misclassification of exposure.1 These weak associations, however, can have a profound public health impact if their causative agents are highly prevalent. 1Two examples illustrate the crucial role that exposure assessment plays in modern occupational epidemiology. Between 1976 and 1993, 20 studies of cancer risk among asphalt workers (mostly road pavers) have been conducted, many of which suggested that this occupation entailed an increased lung cancer risk.2 However, these studies suffered from failure to differentiate between coal tar and bitumen (or asphalt, as it is known in the USA) exposures. As a result, this substantial 17 year research effort has been proven to be of limited use in the evaluation of carcinogenicity of the main agent that asphalt workers are currently exposed to-bitumen, 3 4 hampering any preventive measures through setting scientifically based exposure limits and exposure controls.Another example is that of exposure to electromagnetic fields and occupational cancer. A study's ability to detect an association between electromagnetic fields and increased cancer risks to a large extent depends on assumptions made in exposure modelling, emphasising the importance of validating exposure models. [5][6][7] Consequently, analyses of sensitivity of risk estimates to assumptions made in exposure assessment are be...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validity of empirical models of exposure in asphalt paving

Burstyn

2002

Occup Environ Med

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“…Nevertheless, in past decades tarbitumen mixtures were used that also contained PAHs. In Germany, the use of tar-bitumen mixtures was noted even at the end of the 1970s (Knecht & Woitowitz, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Bladder Cancer and Occupational Exposures in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Geller

Urfer

Golka

2008

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A

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The relationship between exposure to carcinogenic substances and development of bladder cancer was assessed from a case-control study conducted in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The study consisted of 156 cases with bladder cancer and 336 controls with prostate cancer. The primary focus was the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), since most individuals were considered exposed mainly to substances in this group. Data were collected from male patients who had applied for cancer rehabilitation treatment. Nominally significant smoking-adjusted odds ratio (OR) estimates were obtained for frequent exposures to bitumen (OR = 2.92, 95% CI 1.32-6.48) and tar (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.04-4.21) and an ever exposure to paints (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.10-2.61). A frequent exposure to pitch showed a non-significant elevated risk (OR = 3.06, 95% CI 0.77-12.10).

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“…180 Jongeneelen et al" Jongeneelen 103 Jongeneelen et al 184 Jongeneelen 103 Jongeneelen 103 Jongeneelen 103 Angerer et al m (continued) Knechtef a/. 186 Knechtef al} 96 Knechtef a/. 186 Zhao etal.…”

Section: -Hydroxypyrene and Its Glucuronideunclassified

Biomonitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons — Human Exposure

Seidel¹

2005

The Carcinogenic Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

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Risk of cancer from the use of tar bitumen in road works.

Cited by 13 publications

References 14 publications

Validity of empirical models of exposure in asphalt paving

Validity of empirical models of exposure in asphalt paving

Bladder Cancer and Occupational Exposures in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Biomonitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons — Human Exposure

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