An alternative hypothesis for bladder cancer among workers exposed to ortho-toluidine and aniline

Details

• Personal Author:
  Acquavella JF ; Bannister R ; Boeniger, Mark F. ; Conner P ; Fajen, John M. ; Roberts D ; Streicher R ; Ward, Elizabeth M. ; Wilson JD ; Acquavella JF ; Bannister R ; Boeniger, Mark F. ; Conner P ; Fajen, John M. ; Roberts D ; Streicher R ; Ward, Elizabeth M. ; Wilson JD
• Description:
  The results of a study of bladder cancer in workers exposed to ortho- toluidine (95534) and aniline (62533) were discussed in a letter and a response. A NIOSH survey of workers employed at a chemical manufacturing facility in the 1950s and 1960s who were potentially exposed to ortho-toluidine, aniline, and other chemicals found an excess incidence of bladder cancer. The excess was attributed to exposure to ortho-toluidine. This finding was challenged. The findings of the NIOSH study were considered to be inconsistent with the results of two earlier mortality studies of workers exposed to aniline and ortho-toluidine that found no significant bladder cancer risk. It was suggested that the positive findings in the NIOSH study reflected the fact that aniline used in the 1950s contained 2- naphthylamine (91598) and possibly 2-aminofluorene (153786), known bladder carcinogens, as impurities. In the 1950s, aniline was made from benzene which was derived from coal-tar, which also contained 2- naphthylamine and 2-aminofluorene as impurities. The NIOSH response was that the two studies cited used mortality as the outcome. Using mortality as the endpoint in occupational bladder cancer studies frequently yields false negative results because bladder cancer is not a rapidly fatal cancer. Because of this, the two cited studies did not have the statistical power to detect an excess bladder cancer risk. Only cancer incidence studies, like the one NIOSH conducted, have the statistical power to detect an excess bladder cancer risk. Contacts with suppliers indicated that some supplied petroleum derived benzene in the 1940s and 1950s. A major producer of coal-tar derived benzene stated that during that period the benzene they supplied was 99.9% pure, containing only aliphatic compounds as impurities. The authors of the response conclude that the alternative hypothesis to explain the excess bladder cancer in its study is unlikely. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Amino Acids Chemistry Epidemiology Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mortality Neoplasms Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Urogenital Diseases Urogenital System

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• Keywords:
  Amino-compounds Bladder-cancer Cancer-rates Chemical-composition Chemical-industry-workers Mortality-data NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure
• ISSN:
  0027-8874
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  83
• Issue:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00213017
• Citation:
  J Natl Cancer Inst 1991 Nov; 83(22):1686-1687
• CAS Registry Number:
  2-Aminofluorene (CAS RN 153-78-6) ; 2-Naphthylamine (CAS RN 91-59-8) ; Aniline (CAS RN 62-53-3) ; o-Toluidine (CAS RN 95-53-4) ; 2-Aminofluorene (CAS RN 153-78-6) ; 2-Naphthylamine (CAS RN 91-59-8) ; Aniline (CAS RN 62-53-3) ; o-Toluidine (CAS RN 95-53-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of the National Cancer Institute
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:68392cabf1d1482967b3b3193ee9091ade449bdbb7667d9e9086d8b65529acb48a8f29bbe97b1f3a6ce6428d00cc62cd1f3a8c3e456fd16f9d513d7e2c8dd575
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204114/cdc_204114_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 264.87 KB ]