TY - JOUR
T1 - Toenail concentrations of trace elements and occupational history in pancreatic cancer
AU - Camargo, Judit
AU - Pumarega, José A.
AU - Alguacil, Joan
AU - Sanz-Gallén, Pere
AU - Gasull, Magda
AU - Delclos, George L.
AU - Amaral, André F.S.
AU - Porta, Miquel
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - © 2019 The Authors Background: Some occupations potentially entailing exposure to cadmium, arsenic, lead, selenium, nickel, and chromium have been associated with an increased risk of exocrine pancreatic cancer (EPC), but no studies have assessed whether body concentrations of such compounds differed among subjects occupationally exposed and unexposed. No studies which found that exposure to such metals increased the risk of EPC assessed whether past occupations were the source of exposure. Objective: The aim was to analyse the relationship between toenail concentrations of trace elements and occupational history in EPC patients. Methods: The study included 114 EPC cases personally interviewed on occupational history and lifestyle factors. Occupations were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations 1988. Selected occupational exposures were assessed by two industrial hygienists and with the Finnish job-exposure matrix (Finjem). Concentrations of 12 trace elements were determined in toenail samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Adjusted geometric means (aGMs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Results: Patients occupationally exposed to aromatic hydrocarbon solvents (AHs) had higher concentrations of cadmium, manganese, lead, iron and vanadium. The aGM of cadmium concentrations for cases exposed to any pesticide was 0.056 μg/g [95% CI: 0.029–0.108], and, for unexposed cases, 0.023 μg/g [0.017–0.031]. Patients occupationally exposed to pesticides had higher concentrations of cadmium and manganese. Higher concentrations of vanadium, lead and arsenic were related to exposure to formaldehyde. Vanadium and lead were also associated with exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, and arsenic was related to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Conclusions: Patients occupationally exposed to AHs, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, formaldehyde, volatile sulphur compounds and PAHs had higher concentrations of several metals. These elements may account for some of the occupational risks previously reported for pancreatic cancer.
AB - © 2019 The Authors Background: Some occupations potentially entailing exposure to cadmium, arsenic, lead, selenium, nickel, and chromium have been associated with an increased risk of exocrine pancreatic cancer (EPC), but no studies have assessed whether body concentrations of such compounds differed among subjects occupationally exposed and unexposed. No studies which found that exposure to such metals increased the risk of EPC assessed whether past occupations were the source of exposure. Objective: The aim was to analyse the relationship between toenail concentrations of trace elements and occupational history in EPC patients. Methods: The study included 114 EPC cases personally interviewed on occupational history and lifestyle factors. Occupations were coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations 1988. Selected occupational exposures were assessed by two industrial hygienists and with the Finnish job-exposure matrix (Finjem). Concentrations of 12 trace elements were determined in toenail samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Adjusted geometric means (aGMs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Results: Patients occupationally exposed to aromatic hydrocarbon solvents (AHs) had higher concentrations of cadmium, manganese, lead, iron and vanadium. The aGM of cadmium concentrations for cases exposed to any pesticide was 0.056 μg/g [95% CI: 0.029–0.108], and, for unexposed cases, 0.023 μg/g [0.017–0.031]. Patients occupationally exposed to pesticides had higher concentrations of cadmium and manganese. Higher concentrations of vanadium, lead and arsenic were related to exposure to formaldehyde. Vanadium and lead were also associated with exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, and arsenic was related to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Conclusions: Patients occupationally exposed to AHs, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, formaldehyde, volatile sulphur compounds and PAHs had higher concentrations of several metals. These elements may account for some of the occupational risks previously reported for pancreatic cancer.
KW - Arsenic
KW - Cadmium
KW - Manganese
KW - Occupation
KW - Pancreatic cancer
KW - Trace elements
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.037
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.037
M3 - Article
C2 - 30928845
SN - 0160-4120
VL - 127
SP - 216
EP - 225
JO - Environmental International
JF - Environmental International
ER -
