Nasal cancer in leather workers: an occupational disease.
Nasal cancer has a number of causative agents; exposures to most of the established nasal carcinogens occur in the workplace. An increased risk of nasal cancer has been ascertained in shoe-making and shoe-repairing, but the results for leather goods manufacture and leather tanning don't provide adequate evidence of carcinogenicity. Findings from two epidemiological studies carried out in Italy (a case/control study and a case/series report) add further information on this issue. The case/control study was performed in the provinces of Siena (Tuscany), Verona and Vicenza (Venetia) including 96 cases and 378 controls. A significant increased risk (Odds Ratio: 6.8; 90% C.I. = 1.9-25) of sinonasal cancer was found for the employ in the whole leather industry; Odds Ratio of 8.3 (C.I. = 1.9-36) and 5.0 (C.I. = 0.92-28) were associated with shoe-making and leather tanning. The case/series report is based on 110 patients accepted in some Italian hospitals during last three years (1990-1993): 26 cases had worked in the leather industry; adenocarcinoma is the most frequent type observed. Chromium salts and natural tannins are indicated as possible aetiological agents.
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G
Battista
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P
Comba
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D
Orsi
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K
Norpoth
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Maier
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013633:Tanning