Increased risk of urothelial cancer in Stockholm during 1985-87 after exposure to benzene and exhausts

Int J Cancer. 1990 Jun 15;45(6):1012-7. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910450605.

Abstract

In a population-based case-referent study of urothelial cancer in Stockholm during 1985-87, information was obtained from 80% of 320 identified male cases and 79% of 363 selected male referents. Industrial exposures were assessed for each subject by an industrial hygienist on the basis of questionnaire data. Exposure to benzene (any annual dose) gave a relative risk (with 95% confidence interval) of 2.0 (1.0-3.8). The highest risk was seen for a high annual dose. Subjects exposed to both diesel and petrol exhausts (moderate/high annual dose) had a relative risk of 7.1 (0.9-58.8). However, adjusting for benzene changed the relative risk to 5.1 (0.6-43.6). It might be rewarding to consider whether benzene from petrol confounds the associations previously suggested between exhausts and urothelial cancer. Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) gave a relative risk of 3.3 (0.6-18.4).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzene / administration & dosage*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / chemically induced
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / epidemiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Humans
  • Industrial Waste / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Occupational Diseases / chemically induced
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Vehicle Emissions / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Vehicle Emissions
  • Benzene