Cancer mortality and occupational exposure to aromatic amines and inhalable aerosols in rubber tire manufacturing in Poland.
OBJECTIVE
Most data on carcinogenic risk in the rubber industry are based on data from Western countries. This study assessed cancer risks in a retrospective cohort in a Polish tire manufacturing plant, relying on quantified exposure to inhalable aerosols and aromatic amines instead of job titles or external comparisons.


METHODS
Cumulative exposure for all exposures was assigned to cohort members based on estimates from a company-specific JEM. Cancer risks associated with cumulative exposure adjusted for co-exposures, gender and year of birth were calculated.


RESULTS
Exposure levels were higher for women than for men. Aromatic amine exposure was significantly associated with increased urinary bladder cancer risk (RR=7.32-8.27), depending on exposure level, and prostate cancer at low levels only (RR=5.86). In women, increased risks were found for all cancers (RR=2.50) and of the digestive organs and peritoneum (RR=4.54) at low level only, while an exposure-response association with breast cancer risk was found. Inhalable aerosol exposure was associated with cancers of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts in a dose-dependent manner, while dose-dependent reduced risks were found for respiratory cancers (most notably the larynx) and cancer of the colon.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased risks for specific cancer sites in this rubber plant were similar to Western Europe and the US. However, several cancer risks were gender-specific which could relate to higher exposure levels in women or to differences in exposures to chemicals not assessed in this study.
de Vocht
Frank
F
School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. frank.devocht@manchester.ac.uk
Sobala
Wojciech
W
Wilczynska
Urszula
U
Kromhout
Hans
H
Szeszenia-Dabrowska
Neonila
N
Peplonska
Beata
B
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012408:Rubber / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000588:Amines; D012408:Rubber