Occupational Exposure to Diesel and Gasoline Engine Exhausts and the Risk of Kidney Cancer in Canadian Men

Abstract

IntroductionKidney cancer is the fifth most common incident cancer in Canadian men. Diesel and gasoline exhausts are common workplace exposures that have been examined as risk factors for non-lung cancer sites, including the kidney, but limitations in exposure assessment methods have contributed to inconsistent findings. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between occupational gasoline and diesel engine exhausts and the risk of kidney cancer in men.MethodsThe National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS) is a Canadian population-based case–control study conducted in 1994–1997. Incident kidney cancer cases were identified using provincial registries, while the control series was identified through random-digit dialing, or provincial administrative databases. Self-reported questionnaires were used to obtain information on lifetime occupational history and cancer risk factors. Two hygienists, blinded to case status, coded occupational histories for diesel and gasoline exhaust exposures using concentration, frequency, duration, and reliability. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) separately by exhaust type. The separate and combined impacts of both engine exhausts were also examined. ORs were adjusted for age, province, body mass index, occupational secondhand smoke exposure, and education.ResultsOf the kidney cancer cases (n = 712), 372 (52%) had exposure to both exhausts at some point, and 984 (40%) of the controls (n = 2457) were ever exposed. Workers who had ever been exposed to engine exhausts were more likely to have kidney cancer than those who were never exposed (OR diesel = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.99–1.53; OR gasoline = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.23–1.86). Exposure to gasoline exhaust was consistently associated with kidney cancer in a dose–response manner (P value for trends in highest attained and cumulative exposure both <0.0001). Those men with high cumulative exposure to both gasoline and diesel exhaust had a 76% increased odds of kidney cancer (95% CI = 1.27–2.43).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that occupational gasoline, and to a lesser extent, diesel exhaust exposure may increase the risk of kidney cancer.

Outdoor air pollution and cancer: An overview of the current evidence and public health recommendations

“…87 Occupational exposure to various agents have also been associated with cancer at different sites, including, for example, diesel and gasoline exhaust, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), inhalable dusts (metals, silica), work in trucking, mining, foundries, or carbon black production, and work with asphalt. 17,82,[88][89][90][91] The IARC evaluation noted that, beyond lung cancer, some adverse associations with outdoor air pollution were observed for bladder cancer in studies using different metrics of exposure to outdoor air pollution, traffic, or occupation as a surrogate indicator of exposure. 6 Bladder cancer shares several risk factors with lung cancer.…”

“…A meta‐analysis of household air pollution from burning of solid fuels also noted adverse associations with oral, cervical, and esophageal cancer 87 . Occupational exposure to various agents have also been associated with cancer at different sites, including, for example, diesel and gasoline exhaust, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), inhalable dusts (metals, silica), work in trucking, mining, foundries, or carbon black production, and work with asphalt 17,82,88‐91 …”

Occupational exposure as risk factor for kidney and bladder cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…20 Individuals working in petroleum industries are predisposed to KCa because there is a possible association between gasoline, diesel exposure and KCa. 21 The relationship between occupational risk of direct exposure to aromatic amine and cancer was not significant but higher risks were found for chemical, rubber, dyers and printer workers. 1 A significantly elevated risk of KCa was found among men in higher occupational class most especially in blue-collar industries (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.34-1.93)which might be linked to job stress among Japanese professionals.…”

“…For the studies that investigated the association of occupational exposure and risk of KCa; there were 4 case control studies, 17,20,21,24 3 cohort studies18, 19,23 and 1 ecological study 22 they were all population based studies. For the studies that investigated the association of occupational exposures and risk of bladder cancer; there were 5 case control studies, 26,30,31,34,35 3 cohort studies, 25,28,33 2 cross sectional studies, 27,29 and 1 social perspective.…”

Evaluation of renal and liver function in petrol station workers in Kirkuk city

“…Petrol is composed of numerous particulate and non-particulate compounds. It contains a mixture of volatile and nonvolatile compounds mainly the mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (aromatic, saturated and unsaturated) and non-hydrocarbons (Nitrogen, Sulphur, Oxygen, Vanadium and Nickel) (Peters et al, 2018).…”