Cancer incidence and work place exposure among Swedish biomedical research personnel

Abstract

In general, there were few cases of cancer in this comparatively young cohort, but the findings give some indication of increased risks for malignant melanoma in female laboratory personnel after exposure to organic solvents or substances classified by IARC as being possibly carcinogenic.

Risk of breast cancer among enlisted Army women occupationally exposed to volatile organic compounds

“…A large population-based casecontrol study in British Columbia reported increased risks in occupations that used solvents and pesticides [Band et al, 2000]. A slight increase in breast cancer incidence was observed among women who were employed in biochemical research laboratories, concluding that increase may be due 1980-1984 1985-1988 1989-1992 1993-1996 to laboratory chemical exposure [Wennborg et al, 2001]. In industries that used solvents, a significant increase in risk for breast cancer was reported among young women (OR 1.3, P < 0.05) when exposure was categorized by the length of employment in a particular industry [Hansen, 1999].…”

Chemical Exposures in Research Laboratories in a University

“…Depending on the chemicals to be exposed, low level exposure does not imply that there is no health risk. It was reported that, although the risk appears to be generally low, the incidence may be increased for some types of malignancy [1][2][3][4] among laboratory personnel who use e.g. carcinogens and mutagens.…”

“…The subjects of foregoing studies on occupational health in laboratories were mostly on either carcinogenicity [1][2][3][4] or reproductive toxicity 5) among staff exposed to chemicals in laboratories, with limited data on types of chemicals used or intensity of exposures.…”

Adverse pregnancy outcomes in offspring of fathers working in biomedical research laboratories

“…[Sasco, 1992;Wennborg et al, 2001a]. The questionnaire included information about methods/techniques and agents used by the members of the research groups.…”