Diesel exhaust and coal mine dust: lung cancer risk in occupational settings

Journal Article · Fri Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1371.025· OSTI ID:20947258

Hoffmann, B; Jockel, K H ^[1]

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1. University Clinics of Essen, Essen (Germany)

Conflicting evidence on the carcinogenicity of diesel exhaust (DE) and coal mine dust in occupational settings exist. Exposure measurement in most studies is inferred on the basis of job classifications and may lead to misclassification. Confounding behavioral factors (i.e., smoking) and occupational risk factors (exposure to asbestos, arsenic, radon) need to be considered. We evaluated the epidemiological evidence and current findings of the carcinogenicity of DE and coal mine dust in occupational settings. Pertaining literature was identified through Medline search and recent review articles. Strengths and limitations of recent approaches are discussed. Many epidemiological studies have addressed the question of carcinogenicity in workers exposed to DE, and most showed a low-to-medium increase in the risk of bronchial carcinoma. The pooled relative risk (RR) estimates lie between 1.33 and 1.47, and a consistent rise in risk across various job categories and study designs point to a causal relationship. Data on the carcinogenicity of coal mine dust are less consistent and the potential for confounding by unmeasured risk factors (arsenic, radon, DE) are higher. While silica as one of its components has been evaluated as carcinogenic, there is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity of pure coal dust according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There is sufficient evidence for a causal relationship between DE and lung cancer in occupational settings. The evidence for coal mine dust is less convincing, but individual studies show an increase in risk of lung cancer in exposed workers. 4 refs.

• OSTI ID: 20947258
• Journal Information: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Journal Name: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Journal Issue: 1076; ISSN 0077-8923; ISSN ANYAA9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COAL MINES
DIESEL FUELS
DUSTS
EXHAUST GASES
HEALTH HAZARDS
LUNGS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RISK ASSESSMENT