Urinary bladder cancer and the petroleum industry: a quantitative review.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the pooled risk of petroleum industry for urinary bladder cancer.


METHODS
All observational studies that evaluated the association between urinary bladder risk and the petroleum industry were reviewed. We have only identified eight case-control studies. These studies were carried out between 1989 and 1995.


RESULTS
Of the eight localized studies six were exclusively for males. The other two studies included both males and females, but none reported separately the risk among men and women. There was an obvious risk of petroleum industry in the pooled risk (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.54). Also, Q test was not significant (P>0.1), denoting homogeneity across the pooled studies. Pooled analysis applying the random effect model was 1.50 (95% CI 1.29-1.75).


CONCLUSIONS
Although our pooled estimate shows that the petroleum industry is associated with the risk of urinary bladder cancer, the eight studies were based on retrospective data from case-control studies. Further prospective studies evaluating the association between petroleum industry and urinary bladder cancer risk are strongly needed.
Baena
Antonio Varo
AV
Section of Epidemiology, Province Delegation of Health, Andalucian Health Service, Cordoba, Spain.
Allam
Mohamed Farouk
MF
Díaz-Molina
Carmen
C
Del Castillo
Amparo Serrano
AS
Abdel-Rahman
Amira Gamal
AG
Navajas
Rafael Fernández-Crehuet
RF
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*
D010578:Petroleum