The identification and control of occupational bladder cancer

The recognition of an increasing number of environmental and occupational factors imvolved in cancer etiology indicates the urgent need for more effective identification and control procedures. On the evidence of experience derived from the historical example of occupational bladder cancer, it is suggested that the problems of identification and control require an integrated approach which must involve the toxicity screening of industrial materials, the environmental screening of the industrial process and the epidemiological screening of those who work in industry. Such a programme will depend for its success upon the cooperation and understanding of all concerned, and the need for consultation and the full provision of information is stressed. Benefits are indicated which might ultimately accrue from the establishment of a computerized data bank in which the results of toxicological, epidemiological and carcinogenicity investigations have been accumulated and collated under the auspices of an international agency.