Occupational exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and respiratory and urinary tract cancers: a quantitative review to 2005.
BACKGROUND
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been reported in several industries, including those of the aluminum production, coal gasification, coke production, iron and steel foundries, coal tar and related products, carbon black and carbon electrodes production.


METHODS
This paper reviews the results from cohort studies conducted on workers exposed to PAHs in these industries, with a focus on cancers of the respiratory and urinary tract.


RESULTS
An excess risk from lung/respiratory cancers was found in most industries, the pooled relative risk (RR) being 2.58 (95% CI 2.28-2.92) for coal gasification, 1.58 (95% CI 1.47-1.69) for coke production, 1.40 (95% CI 1.31-1.49) for iron and steel foundries, 1.51 (95% CI 1.28-1.78) for roofers and 1.30 (95% CI 1.06-1.59) for carbon black production. The evidence for cancers of the bladder and of the urinary system is less consistent, with a significant increased risk only for workers in aluminum production (pooled RR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.12-1.49), coal gasification (pooled RR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.36-4.21), and iron and steel foundries (pooled RR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.57).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased risks from lung and bladder cancers were found in PAH-related occupations. These were modest in most industries, apart from those for coal gasification, and whether they are due at least partially to some bias or confounding remains open to discussion.
Bosetti
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Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy. bosetti@marionegri.it
Boffetta
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La Vecchia
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D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects; D003031:Coal / Q000009:adverse effects; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000009:adverse effects; D003077:Coke / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006108:Graphite / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000009:adverse effects; D008669:Metallurgy; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013232:Steel / Q000009:adverse effects; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003031:Coal; D003077:Coke; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013232:Steel; D006108:Graphite; D003033:Coal Tar; D000535:Aluminum; D007501:Iron