Skip to main content
PMC home page
Occupational and Environmental Medicine logoLink to Occupational and Environmental Medicine
. 1995 Oct;52(10):673–678. doi: 10.1136/oem.52.10.673

Haematopoietic cancer mortality among vehicle mechanics.

K L Hunting 1, H Longbottom 1, S S Kalavar 1, F Stern 1, E Schwartz 1, L S Welch 1
PMCID: PMC1128333  PMID: 7489058

Abstract

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS--This historical cohort study investigated causes of death among car and mobile equipment mechanics in the District of Columbia's Department of Public Works. Men who were employed for at least one year between 1977 and 1989 were eligible for inclusion in the cohort; follow up was up to the end of 1991. Three cases of leukaemia (index cases) had been reported among these workers before the inception of this study. This research was undertaken to estimate the relative risk of haematological cancer among mechanics working for the District of Columbia. RESULTS--Among the 335 male fleet maintenance workers, the all cause standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was 0.50 (33 observed deaths, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.35-0.70), and the all cancer SMR was 0.55 (nine deaths, 95% CI 0.25-1.05). Three deaths from lymphatic and haematopoietic cancer were observed; the SMR was 3.63 (95% CI 0.75-10.63). In the subgroup with highest potential for exposure to fuels and solvents, the SMR for leukaemia and aleukaemia was 9.26 (two deaths, 95% CI 1.12-33.43), and the SMR for other lymphatic and haematopoietic neoplasms was 2.57 (one death from malignant lymphoma, 95% CI 0.06-14.27). All three lymphatic and haematopoietic cancer deaths were among car and mobile equipment mechanics (one was an index case). The two additional index cases were a fourth mechanic who died of leukaemia in 1992, after mortality follow up ended, and a fifth mechanic who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1988 and is still alive. CONCLUSION--Many garage mechanics in this cohort regularly used petrol to clean parts and to wash their hands; some workers would occasionally siphon petrol by mouth. Benzene, a recognised cause of haematological cancer, is a component of petrol. Previous research indicates that garage mechanics may be at risk of leukaemia and other haematological cancers, presumably due to exposure to petrol; this study supports those findings.

Full text

PDF
677

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aksoy M., Dinçol K., Erdem S., Akgün T., Dinçol G. Details of blood changes in 32 patients with pancytopenia associated with long-term exposure to benzene. Br J Ind Med. 1972;29(1):56–64. doi: 10.1136/oem.29.1.56. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Aksoy M., Erdem S., DinCol G. Leukemia in shoe-workers exposed chronically to benzene. Blood. 1974 Dec;44(6):837–841. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Aksoy M. Malignancies due to occupational exposure to benzene. Am J Ind Med. 1985;7(5-6):395–402. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700070506. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Arp E. W., Jr, Wolf P. H., Checkoway H. Lymphocytic leukemia and exposures to benzene and other solvents in the rubber industry. J Occup Med. 1983 Aug;25(8):598–602. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Blank I. H., McAuliffe D. J. Penetration of benzene through human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1985 Dec;85(6):522–526. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12277325. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Boyle C. A., Decouflé P. National sources of vital status information: extent of coverage and possible selectivity in reporting. Am J Epidemiol. 1990 Jan;131(1):160–168. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115470. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brandt L., Nilsson P. G., Mitelman F. Occupational exposure to petroleum products in men with acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia. Br Med J. 1978 Mar 4;1(6112):553–553. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6112.553. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Carlson L. A., Ekelund L. G., Olsson A. G. Frequency of ischaemic exercise E.C.G. Changes in symptom-free men with various forms of primary hyperlipaemia. Lancet. 1975 Jul 5;2(7923):1–3. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)92948-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Decouflé P., Blattner W. A., Blair A. Mortality among chemical workers exposed to benzene and other agents. Environ Res. 1983 Feb;30(1):16–25. doi: 10.1016/0013-9351(83)90161-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Holmberg B., Lundberg P. Benzene: standards, occurrence, and exposure. Am J Ind Med. 1985;7(5-6):375–383. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700070504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Infante P. F., Rinsky R. A., Wagoner J. K., Young R. J. Leukaemia in benzene workers. Lancet. 1977 Jul 9;2(8028):76–78. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90074-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Infante P. F., Schwartz E., Cahill R. Benzene in petrol: a continuing hazard. Lancet. 1990 Sep 29;336(8718):814–815. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)93282-t. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Infante P. F. State of the science on the carcinogenicity of gasoline with particular reference to cohort mortality study results. Environ Health Perspect. 1993 Dec;101 (Suppl 6):105–109. doi: 10.1289/ehp.93101s6105. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Jakobsson R., Ahlbom A., Bellander T., Lundberg I. Acute myeloid leukemia among petrol station attendants. Arch Environ Health. 1993 Jul-Aug;48(4):255–259. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1993.9940369. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lagorio S., Forastiere F., Iavarone I., Rapiti E., Vanacore N., Perucci C. A., Carere A. Mortality of filling station attendants. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1994 Oct;20(5):331–338. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Maibach H. I., Anjo D. M. Percutaneous penetration of benzene and benzene contained in solvents used in the rubber industry. Arch Environ Health. 1981 Sep-Oct;36(5):256–260. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1981.10667633. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. McMichael A. J., Spirtas R., Kupper L. L., Gamble J. F. Solvent exposure and leukemia among rubber workers: an epidemiologic study. J Occup Med. 1975 Apr;17(4):234–239. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Norseth T., Andersen A., Giltvedt J. Cancer incidence in the rubber industry in Norway. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983;9 (Suppl 2):69–71. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Ott M. G., Townsend J. C., Fishbeck W. A., Langner R. A. Mortality among individuals occupationally exposed to benzene. Arch Environ Health. 1978 Jan-Feb;33(1):3–10. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1978.10667299. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Schwartz E. Proportionate mortality ratio analysis of automobile mechanics and gasoline service station workers in New Hampshire. Am J Ind Med. 1987;12(1):91–99. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700120110. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Susten A. S., Dames B. L., Burg J. R., Niemeier R. W. Percutaneous penetration of benzene in hairless mice: an estimate of dermal absorption during tire-building operations. Am J Ind Med. 1985;7(4):323–335. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700070408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. VIGLIANI E. C., SAITA G. BENZENE AND LEUKEMIA. N Engl J Med. 1964 Oct 22;271:872–876. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196410222711703. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Van den Berghe H., Louwagie A., Broeckaert-Van Orshoven A., David G., Verwilghen R. Chromosome analysis in two unusual malignant blood disorders presumably induced by benzene. Blood. 1979 Apr;53(4):558–566. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Vianna N. J., Polan A. Lymphomas and occupational benzene exposure. Lancet. 1979 Jun 30;1(8131):1394–1395. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)92022-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Wolf P. H., Andjelkovich D., Smith A., Tyroler H. A case-control study of leukemia in the U.S. rubber industry. J Occup Med. 1981 Feb;23(2):103–108. doi: 10.1097/00043764-198102000-00013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Wong O. An industry wide mortality study of chemical workers occupationally exposed to benzene. I. General results. Br J Ind Med. 1987 Jun;44(6):365–381. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.6.365. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Yin S. N., Li G. L., Tain F. D., Fu Z. I., Jin C., Chen Y. J., Luo S. J., Ye P. Z., Zhang J. Z., Wang G. C. A retrospective cohort study of leukemia and other cancers in benzene workers. Environ Health Perspect. 1989 Jul;82:207–213. doi: 10.1289/ehp.8982207. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Yin S. N., Li G. L., Tain F. D., Fu Z. I., Jin C., Chen Y. J., Luo S. J., Ye P. Z., Zhang J. Z., Wang G. C. Leukaemia in benzene workers: a retrospective cohort study. Br J Ind Med. 1987 Feb;44(2):124–128. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.2.124. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Young N. Benzene and lymphoma. Am J Ind Med. 1989;15(5):495–498. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700150502. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Occupational and Environmental Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES