Bladder cancer

Abstract

Tumors of the urinary bladder contribute significantly to the overall human cancer burden with approximately 550,000 new cases per year worldwide. Of those, around 425,000 occur in men, and about two-thirds occur in high income countries. Occupation has been identified, after smoking, as the second important risk factor for bladder cancer causing possibly around 10% of all cancers although there is a considerable variation of this percentage between sexes and geographical regions. Several exposures, occupations, and industries have been associated with increased bladder cancer risk. Aromatic amines (benzidine, 4-aminobiphenyl, b-naphthylamine, ortho-toluidine) in dyestuff manufacture and in the rubber and other industries are specific agents in the workplace which have been unequivocally associated with bladder cancer. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aluminum process workers and other industries has also been clearly associated with bladder cancer. Excess risks have been observed among painters, machinists and other metal workers, workers in the textile industry, printers, hairdressers, dry cleaners, and transport workers. Exposures associated with the increased risk in these occupations/industries include PAHs, industrial oils/cutting fluids, diesel engine exhaust, paints, dyes, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, and metals.