Occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene and the risk of bladder cancer: a meta-analysis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blair, Austin ; Charbotel B ; Guha N ; Hansen J ; Loomis D ; Lynge E ; Ruder, Avima M. ; Straif K ; Vlaanderen JJ
• Description:
  Objectives: The risk of bladder cancer in persons occupationally exposed to tetrachloroethylene was summarised using a meta-analysis. Methods: Studies were identified from a Pubmed literature search including the terms "drycleaner, dry-cleaning, occupation, tetrachloroethylene, bladder cancer, bladder carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma" in various combinations. We included studies that reported a risk estimate specifically for tetrachloroethylene or employment as a "dry cleaner" based on historical information indicating that a large percentage of drycleaners were exposed to tetrachloroethylene but not to other occupational bladder carcinogens. We excluded studies that reported results for "dry-cleaners and laundry workers" (the latter group has not been exposed to tetrachloroethylene), PMR analyses (risk estimates are potentially biassed), and overlapping publications. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA. Results: Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis (8 case-control studies, 4 cohort studies) resulting in a meta-RR of 1.24 (95% CI, 1.12-1.37). The meta-RR was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07-1.34) for case-control studies (all adjusted for smoking) and 1.44 (95% CI, 1.13-1.84) among the cohort studies (none adjusted for smoking). When we restricted the analysis to the studies reporting a risk estimate specifically for exposure to tetrachloroethylene the meta-RR was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.05-1.33; 3 studies) and for dry cleaners it was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.17-1.83; 9 studies). A jack knife analysis omitting individual studies demonstrated that there was no overreliance of the overall meta-RR on a single study. There was no evidence of publication bias. One of the included studies assessed exposure-response data and reported an increase in odds ratios with increasing cumulative exposure among men. Conclusions: Occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene is associated with a moderate, significantly increased risk of bladder cancer. Excesses occurred in cohort and case-control studies. The excesses in case-control studies could not be explained by tobacco use. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Chlorine Compounds Ethylenes Neoplasms Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety Smokers Solvents Urogenital Diseases Urogenital System

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• Keywords:
  Analytical-processes Bladder-cancer Carcinomas Chlorinated-ethylenes Dry-cleaning-industry Dry-cleaning-solvents Employee-exposure Laundering Occupational-exposure Risk-analysis Smoking Statistical-analysis

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• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  70
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20043510
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2013 Sep; 70(Suppl 1):A34
• CAS Registry Number:
  Tetrachloroethylene (CAS RN 127-18-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 23rd Conference on Epidemiology in Occupational Health EPICOH 2013: Improving the Impact June 18-21, 2013, Utrecht, The Netherlands
• Supplement:
  1
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:441645a9193e2932dd2f456877dffa8470c3db1470f4ecee44766d4a1c00e9dcaa0f3c8ecf9390ad0b8afbce5d729ffa15ecd6ba9528db2819dd28bbc39bc141
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/195397/cdc_195397_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 65.67 KB ]