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Associations between several sites of cancer and occupational exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene: results of a case-control study in Montreal.
Authors
- Gerin, M, Gerin M, Départment de médecine du travail et d'hygiène du milieu, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
- Siemiatycki, J, Siemiatycki J,
- Desy, M, Desy M,
- Krewski, D, Krewski D,
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1998
SOURCE: Am J Ind Med. 1998 Aug;34(2):144-56. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199808)34:2<144::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-x.
JOURNAL TITLE ABBREVIATION: Am J Ind Med
JOURNAL TITLE: American journal of industrial medicine
ISSN: 0271-3586 (Print) 0271-3586 (Linking)
VOLUME: 34
ISSUE: 2
PAGES: 144-56
PLACE OF PUBLICATION: United States
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: Except for the leukemogenic effects of benzene, there is inadequate or sparse evidence on the carcinogenicity of the most common monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The purpose of this study was to generate hypotheses on associations between exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene and various common types of cancer. METHODS: In the context of a population-based case-control study carried out in Montreal, 3,730 cancer patients (15 types of cancers, not including leukemia) and 533 population controls were interviewed, and their job histories were translated by a team of experts into occupational exposures, including benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene. In the present analysis, exposure to these substances was compared between each case series and a control group pooling selected cancer patients and population controls, using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Exposure levels were low for most exposed subjects, and there was a high correlation between exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene. For most sites of cancer there was no evidence of excess risk due to these substances. However, limited evidence of increased risk was found for the following associations: esophagus-toluene, colon-xylene, rectum-toluene, rectum-xylene and rectum-styrene. CONCLUSIONS: These latter observations warrant further investigation.
BACKGROUND: Except for the leukemogenic effects of benzene, there is inadequate or sparse evidence on the carcinogenicity of the most common monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The purpose of this study was to generate hypotheses on associations between exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene and various common types of cancer. METHODS: In the context of a population-based case-control study carried out in Montreal, 3,730 cancer patients (15 types of cancers, not including leukemia) and 533 population controls were interviewed, and their job histories were translated by a team of experts into occupational exposures, including benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene. In the present analysis, exposure to these substances was compared between each case series and a control group pooling selected cancer patients and population controls, using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Exposure levels were low for most exposed subjects, and there was a high correlation between exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene. For most sites of cancer there was no evidence of excess risk due to these substances. However, limited evidence of increased risk was found for the following associations: esophagus-toluene, colon-xylene, rectum-toluene, rectum-xylene and rectum-styrene. CONCLUSIONS: These latter observations warrant further investigation.
LANGUAGE: eng
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 1998 Aug
DATE COMPLETED: 19980924
DATE REVISED: 20190831
MESH DATE: 2000/06/20 09:00
EDAT: 1998/07/04 02:12
STATUS: MEDLINE
PUBLICATION STATUS: ppublish
OWNER: NLM
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Dr. Daniel Krewski is Chief Risk Scientist and co-founder of Risk Sciences International (RSI), a firm established in 2006 to bring evidence-based, multidisciplinary expertise to the challenge of understanding, managing, and communicating risk. As RSI’s inaugural CEO and long-time scientific...