Veronica Sciannameo1,2, Angela Carta3,4, Angelo d'Errico1, Maria Teresa Giraudo5, Francesca Fasanelli6, Cecilia Arici4,7, Milena Maule6, Paolo Carnà1, Paolo Destefanis8, Luigi Rolle8, Paolo Gontero8, Giovanni Casetta8, Andrea Zitella8, Giuseppina Cucchiarale9, Paolo Vineis10, Stefano Porru4,7, Carlotta Sacerdote6, Fulvio Ricceri11,12. 1. Unit of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service, ASLTO3, Via Sabaudia 164, 10095, Grugliasco, TO, Italy. 2. Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy. 3. Department of Medical-Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy. 4. University Research Center Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy. 5. Department of Mathematics "G. Peano", University of Turin, 10123, Turin, Italy. 6. Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CPO Piedmont, Department of Medical Sciences, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy. 7. Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134, Verona, Italy. 8. Unit of Urology U, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy. 9. Unit of Urology I, Cellini Clinic, 10126, Turin, Italy. 10. Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK. 11. Unit of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service, ASLTO3, Via Sabaudia 164, 10095, Grugliasco, TO, Italy. fulvio.ricceri@unito.it. 12. Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, 10043, Orbassano, TO, Italy. fulvio.ricceri@unito.it.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The main risk factor for bladder cancer (BC) is cigarette smoking, but also occupational exposure to carcinogens is relevant, causing about 4-10% of BC. We aimed at investigating the association between BC risk, occupations held in the past and exposure to occupational carcinogens, also assessing whether these associations were influenced by tumour grade. METHODS: We pooled data from two Italian case-control studies on male BC, analyzing 893 cases and 978 controls. Occupations were classified using the International Standard Classification of Occupations and exposure to carcinogens was assigned using a validated Job Exposure Matrix. Logistic regression approach was used as well as a semi-Bayesian model, based on a priori information on exposure. RESULTS: A significantly increased BC risk was found for chemical engineering technicians, postmen, and lathe operators, but only, for the latter, the association remained significant after Bayesian control for type I error. Among carcinogens, cadmium and trichloroethylene were associated with BC. When analyzing data by grade, exposure to these carcinogens was associated with low-grade BC only. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that monitoring workplaces to prevent exposure to carcinogenic agents is still an important task, which should be still given adequate importance in public health.
PURPOSE: The main risk factor for bladder cancer (BC) is cigarette smoking, but also occupational exposure to carcinogens is relevant, causing about 4-10% of BC. We aimed at investigating the association between BC risk, occupations held in the past and exposure to occupational carcinogens, also assessing whether these associations were influenced by tumour grade. METHODS: We pooled data from two Italian case-control studies on male BC, analyzing 893 cases and 978 controls. Occupations were classified using the International Standard Classification of Occupations and exposure to carcinogens was assigned using a validated Job Exposure Matrix. Logistic regression approach was used as well as a semi-Bayesian model, based on a priori information on exposure. RESULTS: A significantly increased BC risk was found for chemical engineering technicians, postmen, and lathe operators, but only, for the latter, the association remained significant after Bayesian control for type I error. Among carcinogens, cadmium and trichloroethylene were associated with BC. When analyzing data by grade, exposure to these carcinogens was associated with low-grade BC only. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that monitoring workplaces to prevent exposure to carcinogenic agents is still an important task, which should be still given adequate importance in public health.