Cancer incidence of workers exposed to dimethylformamide and/or acrylonitrile.

This study was to determine whether exposure to dimethylformamide (DMF) and acrylonitrile (ACN) separately or in combination, was associated with increased cancer incidence. Workers exposed to DMF and/or ACN were observed from 1956 through 1984 for cancer incidence. The workers exposed to DMF but not ACN showed significant excesses in incidence for buccal cavity and pharynx cancer and malignant melanoma. A significant excess of prostate cancer incidence was observed among workers exposed to DMF and ACN. No dose-response relationships were observed between DMF or ACN exposure and cancer incidence. The significant excesses in cancer incidence among employees exposed to DMF and/or ACN could be due to statistical chance or other factors, such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. Further studies are warranted.