RISK ASSESSMENT OF A COHORT EXPOSED TO AROMATIC-AMINES - INITIAL RESULTS

Abstract

A cohort of 1385 workers potentially exposed to carcinogenic amines was evaluated to determine the extent of its risk for bladder cancer. The cumulative incidence of bladder cancer was determined from death certificates, from interviews with community urologists, and from a screening program. A total of 13 confirmed cases of bladder cancer were identified at the conclusion of the 1st yr of study. The entire cohort has approximately a 4-fold excess risk of bladder cancer; however, black workers with > 10 yr of employment had a risk ratio of 111 (based on 3 cases). The onset of disease occurred, on the aveage, 15 yr earlier in these black workers than in the general U.S. population. The cumulative incidence of bladder cancer increased with the duration of employment, ranging from 0.4% for workers with 5 or fewer years of employment to 36% for those with > 20 yr. No significant differences were found between cases and noncases for cigarette smoking, coffee drinking, use of artificial sweetners or prior employment in high-risk occupations. More cases of bladder cancer are expected in this cohort because many members have not yet achieved the average latency found for the confirmed cases.