Bladder cancer and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

The association between occupational exposure to polycy‐clic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and bladder cancer development was investigated in a population‐based case‐control study carried out in the Bormida valley, Italy. One hundred and twenty‐one male cases and 342 male controls, matched by age were collected from local hospitals. Occupational exposure to PAH and aromatic amines (AA) was evaluated by means of a job exposure matrix, constructed specifically for this study. Subjects considered as sharing a “definite exposure to PAH” showed an increased risk even after adjustment for cigarette smoking and exposure to AA (OR = 2.14, 95% CL 0.82‐5.60). No elevation in risk was found for the category “possible exposure to PAH” (OR = 1.05, 95% CL 0.45‐2.44). The findings of this study are consistent with previous studies indicating PAH as a risk factor for bladder cancer. A possible residual confounding effect due to AA impurities is discussed.