Kidney cancer epidemiology

Information on the association of arsenic with skin cancer has primarily involved nonoc-cupational populations exposed to contaminated drinking water. Ingestion of arsenic has also been associated with lung, liver, bladder, and kidney cancers. Dose-response data for these cancers are available from epidemiological studies of a Taiwanese population exposed for 45 years to high levels of arsenic in the drinking water and involving more than 7000 cases of arsenical disease. For water arsenic... 

Results of several recent epidemiological studies have examined the possible association between gasoline exposure and increased leukemia and kidney cancer risks. In a recent follow-up study of the cohort of 34,569 British petroleum refinery and 23,306 distribution workers, an SMR of 121 for kidney cancer was reported in distribution workers (Rushton 1993). In particular, an increase in kidney cancer risk (SMR=141) was noted in tank truck drivers. For refinery workers, the SMR was 101. In addition, excesses in leukemia mortality were found in distribution workers (SMR=121), but not refinery workers (SRM=73). For tank truck drivers, the SMR was 155. No estimate of exposure to hydrocarbons was provided in the study. 

Enterline PE, Viren J. 1985. Epidemiologic evidence for an association between gasoline and kidney cancer. Environ Health Perspect 62 303-312. 

Wen CP, Tsai SP, Moffitt KB, et al. 1984. Epidemiologic studies of the role of gasoline (hydrocarbon) exposure in kidney cancer risk. Adv Mod Environ Toxicol 7 245-257. 

Toxicology. Epidemiological evidence suggests that workers intimately exposed to the products of combustion or distillation of bituminous coal are at increased risk of cancer at many sites, including lungs, kidney, and skin. The chemical composition and particle size distribution of coal tar pitch volatiles (CTPV) from different sources are significant variables in determining toxicity. ... 

In humans, 2,4-D in large doses can cause coma and generalized muscle hypotonia. Rarely, muscle weakness and marked hypotonia may persist for several weeks. In laboratory animals, signs of liver and kidney dysfunction have also been reported with chlorphenoxy herbicides. Several epidemiologic studies performed by the US National Cancer Institute confirmed the causal link between 2,4-D and non-Hodgkin s lymphoma. Evidence for a causal link to soft tissue sarcoma, however, is considered equivocal. 

Lead will also cause cancers in the kidney and lung in experimental animals. Furthermore, in humans exposed to lead similar tumors have been detected in epidemiological studies. Although the mechanism is not known, it is known that lead interferes with calcium-dependent protein kinases. The activation of PKC-mediated pathways leads to increased DNA synthesis. Thus, lead can cause increased cell replication and, so, hyperplasia. This may underlie the carcinogenicity. Lead may also act as a tumor promoter. 

Another important and widespread fungal toxin is ochratoxin, which is also found in cereals and, to a lesser extent, in coffee and cocoa beans. The toxin Ochratoxin A is the most commonly found and is produced by the Aspergillus t5rpe of fungus. Exposure occurs in many countries in Europe and affects farm animals as well as humans. The major toxic effect in both humans and animals is kidney damage and cancer of the kidney. The available epidemiological evidence indicates that the disease called Balkan nephropathy is associated with consumption of food contaminated with ochratoxin, and the toxin has been detected in the blood of people living... 

In man, a number of epidemiological studies using different designs have been conducted (17) on the health risks of non-medical exposure to formaldehyde and also in health-care professionals (18-23), with contradictory results. Cancers in excess in more than one study were Hodgkin s disease (24,25), leukemia (18,19,22,23,26), cancers of the buccal cavity and pharynx (particular the nasopharynx) (18,19,25,27,28), lung (18,24,27,29-31), nose (32-36), prostate (19,24,26), bladder (19,23,26), brain (20), colon (18-20,25,27), skin (18,25), and kidney (27). 

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