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Kidney cancer risk in oil refining in Finland: a nested case-referent study
Ahti Anttila1, Arun Pokhrel, Pirjo Heikkilä
1From the Finnish Cancer Registry (Drs Anttila, Pokhrel, and Pukkala), Institute for Statistical and Epidemiological Cancer Research, Unioninkatu 22; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Dr Heikkilä), Topeliuksenkatu 41aA, Helsinki; RV Chem Oy (Mr Viinanen), Ruoriniemenkatu 12, Lahti; and School of Health Sciences (Dr Pukkala), University of Tampere, Finland.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess whether occupational exposure to hydrocarbons in the oil-refining activity increases the risk of kidney cancer.
Methods:
This case-referent study was nested within the cohort of employees in the oil refinery industry in Finland in 1967 to 1982 (n = 9454). The final data included 30 cases of kidney cancer and 81 age- and sex-matched referents.
Results:
There was a threefold increase in the kidney cancer risk for exposure to hydrocarbons in crude oil (odds ratio, 3.1; confidence interval, 1.1 to 8.9; 11 exposed cases). The risk was associated with the highest cumulative exposure category to hydrocarbons in crude oil.
Conclusions:
Occupational exposure in oil refining, particularly to crude oil, may increase kidney cancer risk. The study assessed historical exposures; further information needs to be collected for evaluating current exposures.
