INDUSTRIES AND CANCER

Epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between selected industries and cancer is reviewed, This article will focus on several industries which have not been covered elsewhere in this volume, briefly describ e current research on cancer in the agricultural and construction indu stries, and discuss surveillance data on cancer mortality in relation to industry listed on US death certificates. Employment in the rubber industry has been associated with bladder cancer, leukemia, stomach, a nd lung cancer and is considered by the International Agency for Resea rch on Cancer (IARC) to have 'sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity i n humans.' Studies of workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PC Bs) have reported excess mortality from gastrointestinal neoplasms, he matologic neoplasms, and skin cancer (specifically malignant melanoma) ; IARC considers that the evidence for carcinogenicity in humans is 'l imited.' Employment in the boot and shoe industry has been associated with nasal adenocarcinomas in England and Italy ('sufficient'). Hairdr essers and barbers have been found to have excess bladder cancer and l ess consistent evidence for several other sites ('limited'). Workers e xposed to wood dust have excess mortality from cancer of the nasal sin uses and paranasal cavities; there is less consistent evidence for exc ess laryngeal cancer ('sufficient'). Workers employed in the petroleum industry have limited evidence for excess leukemia and other lymphati c and hematopoietic neoplasms, and skin cancer (particularly malignant melanoma) ('limited').