Carcinogens in rubber production in the Soviet Union

Abstract

In a preliminary phase of a broad research project on cancer among workers in a rubber footwear plant in Moscow, exposure to several known or potential carcinogens was assessed. There were high dust contents bearing both toxic substances and carcinogens. The highest concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (500- 14 400 μg) were found on the soot used as a filler, and the maximum N-dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) level was measured in thiram (150 - 23 868 μġ kg-1). Air samples from the vulcanization process and the pressing of rubber goods showed BaP levels of up to 1.43 μg m-3. In the work area where polyvinyl chloride was used, the mean vinyl chloride concentration was 0.21 (SE 0.06) mġ m-3. The mean value of the acrylonitrile concentrations in the workroom area was 0.19 (SE 0.07) mġ m-3. Very high levels of DMNA and N-diethylnitrosamine were measured in the preparatory shop in the winter.