Diesel engine exhaust and lung cancer: An unproven association

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.95103812· OSTI ID:160176

Muscat, J E; Wynder, E L ^[1]

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1. American Health Foundation, New York, NY (United States)

The risk of lung cancer associated with diesel exhaust has been calculated from 14 case-control or cohort studies. We evaluated the findings from these studies to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to implicate diesel exhaust as a human lung carcinogen. Four studies found increased risks associated with long-term exposure, although two of the four studies were based on the same cohort of railroad workers. Six studies were inconclusive due to missing information on smoking habits, internal inconsistencies, or inadequate characterization of diesel exposure. Four studies found no statistically significant association. It can be concluded that short-term exposure to diesel engine exhaust (<20 years) does not have a causative role in human lung cancer. There is statistical but no causal evidence that long-term exposure to diesel exhaust (>20 years) increases the risk of lung cancer for locomotive engineers, brakemen, and diesel engine mechanics. There is inconsistent evidence on the effects of long-term exposure to diesel exhaust in the trucking industry. There is no evidence for a joint effect of diesel exhaust and cigarette smoking on lung cancer risk. Using common criteria for determining causal associations, the epidemiologic evidence is insufficient to establish diesel engine exhaust as a human lung carcinogen. 77 refs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 160176
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 103; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DIESEL ENGINES
DISEASE INCIDENCE
EXHAUST GASES
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
RISK ASSESSMENT