Renal cell cancer risk and occupational exposure to trichloroethylene: results of a consecutive case-control study in Arnsberg, Germany.
BACKGROUND
German studies of high exposure prevalence have been debated on the renal carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene (TRI).


METHODS
A consecutive hospital-based case-control study with 134 renal cell cancer (RCC) cases and 401 controls was conducted to reevaluate the risk of TRI in this region which were estimated in a previous study. Exposure was self-assessed to compare these studies. Additionally, the job history was analyzed, using expert-based exposure information.


RESULTS
The logistic regression results, adjusted for age, gender, and smoking, confirmed a TRI-related RCC risk in this region. Using the database CAREX for a comparison of industries with and without TRI exposure, a significant excess risk was estimated for the longest held job in TRI-exposing industries (odds ratio (OR) 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.20). Any exposure in "metal degreasing" was a RCC risk factor (OR 5.57, 95% CI 2.33-13.32). Self-reported narcotic symptoms, indicative of peak exposures, were associated with an excess risk (OR 3.71, 95% CI 1.80-7.54).


CONCLUSIONS
The study supports the human nephrocarcinogenicity of trichloroethylene.
Brüning
Thomas
T
Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie an der Universität Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany.
Pesch
Beate
B
Wiesenhütter
Bernd
B
Rabstein
Sylvia
S
Lammert
Marga
M
Baumüller
Axel
A
Bolt
Hermann M
HM
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects*
D012997:Solvents; D014241:Trichloroethylene