Tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer risk: a meta-analysis of dry-cleaning-worker studies
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Tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer risk : a meta-analysis of dry-cleaning-worker studies. / Vlaanderen, Jelle; Straif, Kurt; Ruder, Avima; Blair, Aaron; Hansen, Johnni; Lynge, Elsebeth; Charbotel, Barbara; Loomis, Dana; Kauppinen, Timo; Kyyronen, Pentti; Pukkala, Eero; Weiderpass, Elisabete; Guha, Neela.
In: Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 122, No. 7, 07.2014, p. 661-6.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer risk
T2 - a meta-analysis of dry-cleaning-worker studies
AU - Vlaanderen, Jelle
AU - Straif, Kurt
AU - Ruder, Avima
AU - Blair, Aaron
AU - Hansen, Johnni
AU - Lynge, Elsebeth
AU - Charbotel, Barbara
AU - Loomis, Dana
AU - Kauppinen, Timo
AU - Kyyronen, Pentti
AU - Pukkala, Eero
AU - Weiderpass, Elisabete
AU - Guha, Neela
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - BACKGROUND: In 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tetrachloroethylene, used in the production of chemicals and the primary solvent used in dry cleaning, as "probably carcinogenic to humans" based on limited evidence of an increased risk of bladder cancer in dry cleaners.OBJECTIVES: We assessed the epidemiological evidence for the association between tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer from published studies estimating occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene or in workers in the dry-cleaning industry.METHODS: Random-effects meta-analyses were carried out separately for occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene and employment as a dry cleaner. We qualitatively summarized exposure-response data because of the limited number of studies available.RESULTS: The meta-relative risk (mRR) among tetrachloroethylene-exposed workers was 1.08 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.42; three studies; 463 exposed cases). For employment as a dry cleaner, the overall mRR was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.85; seven studies; 139 exposed cases), and for smoking-adjusted studies, the mRR was 1.50 (95% CI: 0.80, 2.84; 4 case-control studies).CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis demonstrates an increased risk of bladder cancer in dry cleaners, reported in both cohort and case-control studies, and some evidence for an exposure-response relationship. Although dry cleaners incur mixed exposures, tetrachloroethylene could be responsible for the excess risk of bladder cancer because it is the primary solvent used and it is the only chemical commonly used by dry cleaners that is currently identified as a potential bladder carcinogen. Relatively crude approaches in exposure assessment in the studies of "tetrachloroethylene-exposed workers" may have attenuated the relative risks.
AB - BACKGROUND: In 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tetrachloroethylene, used in the production of chemicals and the primary solvent used in dry cleaning, as "probably carcinogenic to humans" based on limited evidence of an increased risk of bladder cancer in dry cleaners.OBJECTIVES: We assessed the epidemiological evidence for the association between tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer from published studies estimating occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene or in workers in the dry-cleaning industry.METHODS: Random-effects meta-analyses were carried out separately for occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene and employment as a dry cleaner. We qualitatively summarized exposure-response data because of the limited number of studies available.RESULTS: The meta-relative risk (mRR) among tetrachloroethylene-exposed workers was 1.08 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.42; three studies; 463 exposed cases). For employment as a dry cleaner, the overall mRR was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.85; seven studies; 139 exposed cases), and for smoking-adjusted studies, the mRR was 1.50 (95% CI: 0.80, 2.84; 4 case-control studies).CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis demonstrates an increased risk of bladder cancer in dry cleaners, reported in both cohort and case-control studies, and some evidence for an exposure-response relationship. Although dry cleaners incur mixed exposures, tetrachloroethylene could be responsible for the excess risk of bladder cancer because it is the primary solvent used and it is the only chemical commonly used by dry cleaners that is currently identified as a potential bladder carcinogen. Relatively crude approaches in exposure assessment in the studies of "tetrachloroethylene-exposed workers" may have attenuated the relative risks.
KW - Humans
KW - Laundering
KW - Occupational Exposure
KW - Risk Assessment
KW - Solvents
KW - Tetrachloroethylene
KW - Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
U2 - 10.1289/ehp.1307055
DO - 10.1289/ehp.1307055
M3 - Review
C2 - 24659585
VL - 122
SP - 661
EP - 666
JO - Environmental Health Perspectives
JF - Environmental Health Perspectives
SN - 0091-6765
IS - 7
ER -
ID: 135653606