An epidemiological study of occupational bladder tumours in the dye industry of Japan.

Abstract

This report studies 100 cases of occupational bladder cancer which were reported between 1949 and 1970 by large companies producing dye. It is estimated that in fact a great many more than 100 cases may have developed during the 56 years from 1914 to 1970, as this period corresponds with the beginning of dye production to the termination of benzidine and beta-naphthylamine manufacture in Japan. New cases of occupational bladder tumour should diminish significantly in the future in Japan on account of the prohibition of the production of beta-naphthylamine and benzidine. However, it is important to follow-up continuously workers who have been exposed to these amines. In Japan no cases of occupational bladder tumours from the rubber industry have been reported. It is emphasized that prospective epidemiological studies are required not only in the rubber industry but also in other industries where amines may constitute an occupational hazard.

Re‐evaluation of the latent period of bladder cancer in dyestuff‐plant workers in Japan

“…The study's cancer incidence rate could be the same, or shift to the left (smaller side) if these workers are taken into consideration 2 . This incidence rate is not significantly different from the statistical data of other Japanese dye‐plant workers 3 . The subjects are systematically followed up by our well‐established system as described in .…”

“…Ishizu studied 3310 workers who had been exposed to bladder cancer‐related chemicals and reported that the incidence and mortality for those workers were 4.4% and 0.82%, respectively 13 . In addition, Tsuchiya et al reported 100 bladder cancers out of 2524 exposed workers (3.96%) in Japan 3 …”

“…Since then, many investigators reported the high incidence of not only bladder cancer but also pancreas and kidney cancer among workers who engaged in the manufacturing process of these dyestuffs 2 . Tsuchiya et al observed 100 urinary bladder tumors out of 2524 dye industry workers in Japan and estimated the incidence rate as 3.96% 3 . Since 1972, the production and use of these dyestuffs has been legally prohibited and the occurrence of this type of occupational cancer seemed to be decreasing in Japan.…”

“…2 Tsuchiya et al observed 100 urinary bladder tumors out of 2524 dye industry workers in Japan and estimated the incidence rate as 3.96%. 3 Since 1972, the production and use of these dyestuffs has been legally prohibited and the occurrence of this type of occupational cancer seemed to be decreasing in Japan. However, the fear that these substances' carcinogenicity could still be affecting the dyestuff workers has persisted, even though many years have passed since the legal prohibition.…”

Natural killer cell activity in workers exposed to benzidine and beta-naphthylamine.

“…2 The number of people who are at high risk for bladder cancer due to occupational exposure to aromatic amines (AA) amounts to more than 6000 in the United States,3 3000 in Japan (Ad hoc committee on industrial hygiene of the Japan Dyestuff Industry Association), and 2500 in China.4 Therefore, management of asymptomatic workers at high risk for bladder cancer is still important.…”