Exposures to IARC Carcinogenic Agents in Work Settings Not Traditionally Associated with Sinonasal Cancer Risk: The Experience of the Italian National Sinonasal Cancer Registry

The aim of this study is to highlight tasks and jobs not commonly considered at high risk for sinonasal cancer (SNC) identified by Regional Operating Centers currently active in the Italian National Sinonasal Cancer Registry (ReNaTuNS), which retrieve occupational histories through a standardized questionnaire. Data on exposures to IARC carcinogenic agents in work settings unknown to be associated with SNC risk were collected and analyzed. Out of 2208 SNC cases recorded in the ReNaTuNS database, 216 cases and their worked exposure periods were analyzed. Unsuspected jobs with exposure to wood dust include construction-related tasks, production of resins, agriculture and livestock jobs (straw and sawdust), and heel factory work (cork dust). Other examples are hairdressers, bakers (formaldehyde), dressmakers, technical assistants, wool and artificial fiber spinners, and upholsterers (textile dusts). Moreover, settings with coexposure to different agents (e.g., wood with leather dusts and chromium–nickel compounds) were recognized. The study describes jobs where the existence of carcinogenic agents associated with SNC risk is unexpected or not resulting among primary materials employed. The systematic epidemiological surveillance of all epithelial SNC cases with a detailed collection of their work history, as performed by a dedicated population registry, is essential for detecting all potential occupational cases and should be considered in the context of forensic medicine and the compensation process.

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Exposure to occupational hazards and risk of sinonasal epithelial cancer: results from an extended Italian case–control study

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-106738 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-106738

Author(s):

Angelo d’Errico ◽

Jana Zajacova ◽

Anna Cacciatore ◽

Santo Alfonzo ◽

Fabio Beatrice ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Solvents ◽

Smoking Habit ◽

Cumulative Exposure ◽

Sufficient Evidence ◽

Wood Dust ◽

Expert Assessment ◽

Welding Fumes ◽

Occupational Hazards ◽

Sinonasal Cancer ◽

Alcohol Production

ObjectivesThere is sufficient evidence for a causal association of sinonasal epithelial cancers (SNEC) only for exposure to wood and leather dusts, nickel compounds and employment in isopropyl alcohol production. The aim of this study was to assess whether other occupational hazards are associated with the risk of SNEC for the main histologic types, namely adenocarcinoma (AD) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodsThe study population included 375 incident SNEC cases collected from 1996 to 2014 (79% of all diagnosed SNEC) throughout the Piedmont region by the regional Sinonasal Cancer Registry, and 408 hospital controls. Exposure to 17 occupational agents was assigned through expert assessment based on interviews to the subjects on jobs held throughout their working life. The relationship of SNEC with ever and cumulative exposure to the hazards was assessed through unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, area of residence, smoking habit, year of enrolment and coexposures.ResultsAD was associated with both ever and cumulative exposure to wood dust, leather dust and organic solvents, and with cumulative exposure to textiles dusts. SCC risk was significantly increased by ever exposure to nickel, chromium and welding fumes, as well as by cumulative exposure to welding fumes, arsenic and organic solvents. A mixed group of other histological types was associated with both ever and cumulative exposure to wood dust and textile dusts.ConclusionsThe associations of SNEC with wood dust, leather dust and nickel were confirmed, while some new associations were observed for other hazards, which merit further investigation.

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THE MEASUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF WOOD DUST

Journal of Agricultural Engineering ◽

10.4081/jae.2010.1.25 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 25 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Rosario Proto ◽

Giuseppe Zimbalatti ◽

Martino Negri

Keyword(s):

Health And Safety ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Dust Particles ◽

Wood Dust ◽

High Concentration ◽

Dust Emissions ◽

Carcinogenic Agents ◽

Prevention Model ◽

Number Of Particles

In Italy, the woodworking industry presents many issues in terms of occupational health and safety. This study on exposure to wood dust could contribute to the realization of a prevention model in order to limit exposure to carcinogenic agents to the worker. The sampling methodology illustrated the analysis of dust emissions from the woodworking machinery in operation throughout the various processing cycles. The quantitative and qualitative assessment of exposure was performed using two different methodologies. The levels of wood dust were determined according to EN indications and sampling was conducted using IOM and Cyclon personal samplers. The qualitative research of wood dust was performed using an advanced laser air particle counter. This allowed the number of particles present to be counted in real time. The results obtained allowed for an accurate assessment of the quality of the dust emitted inside the workplace during the various processing phases. The study highlighted the distribution of air particles within the different size classes, the exact number of both thin and ultra-thin dusts, and confirmed the high concentration of thin dust particles which can be very harmful to humans.

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Epidemiological surveillance of sinonasal cancer in Italy and etiological issues

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isee.2016.3649 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alessandra Binazzi* ◽

Davide Di Marzio ◽

Marisa Corfiati ◽

Silvia Eccher ◽

Anna Maria Cacciatore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epidemiological Surveillance ◽

Sinonasal Cancer

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Sinonasal Cancer and Occupational Exposure in a Population-Based Registry

International Journal of Otolaryngology ◽

10.1155/2013/672621 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Carolina Mensi ◽

Dario Consonni ◽

Claudia Sieno ◽

Sara De Matteis ◽

Luciano Riboldi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Information ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Population Based ◽

Dust Exposure ◽

Wood Dust ◽

Sinonasal Cancer ◽

Complete Collection ◽

Lombardy Region ◽

Industrial Sectors ◽

Population Based Registry

We examined occupational exposures among subjects with sinonasal cancer (SNC) recorded in a population-based registry in the Lombardy Region, the most populated and industrialized Italian region. The registry collects complete clinical information and exposure to carcinogens regarding all SNC cases occurring in the population of the region. In the period 2008–2011, we recorded 210 SNC cases (137 men, 73 women). The most frequent occupational exposures were to wood (44 cases, 21.0%) and leather dust (29 cases, 13.8%), especially among men: 39 cases (28.5%) to wood and 23 cases (16.8%) to leather dust. Exposure to other agents was infrequent (<2%). Among 62 subjects with adenocarcinoma, 50% had been exposed to wood dust and 30.7% to leather dust. The proportions were around 10% in subjects with squamous cell carcinoma and about 20% for tumors with another histology. The age-standardized rates (×100,000 person-years) were 0.7 in men and 0.3 in women. Complete collection of cases and their occupational history through a specialized cancer registry is fundamental to accurately monitor SNC occurrence in a population and to uncover exposure to carcinogens in different industrial sectors, even those not considered as posing a high risk of SNC, and also in extraoccupational settings.

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A quantitative risk assessment of sinonasal cancer as a function of time in workers occupationally exposed to wood dust

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health ◽

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01673 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Renata Soćko

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽

Wood Dust ◽

Sinonasal Cancer ◽

Occupationally Exposed

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Prevalence of occupational hazards in patients with different types of epithelial sinonasal cancers

Rhinology Journal ◽

10.4193/rhino11.228 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 31-36

Author(s):

M. Bonzini ◽

P. Battaglia ◽

D. Parassoni ◽

M. Casa ◽

N. Facchinetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Occupational Exposure ◽

Case Series ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Wood Dust ◽

Occupational Hazards ◽

Sinonasal Cancer ◽

Occupational Risk Factors ◽

Case Series Study ◽

Wide Range

Background: Occupational exposure to carcinogens contributes greatly to the etiology of sinonasal cancer (SNC), but the role of different risk factors in determining different histological subtypes is disputed. Methodology: All consecutive surgical epithelial SNC cases (case-series study) underwent a systematic occupational medicine examination to determine previous exposure to a wide range of work-related chemical hazards. Results: We investigated 65 SNC cases including intestinal-type adenocarcinoma [ITAC] squamous-cell carcinoma [SCC], and others. Occupational exposure was recognized for 39 cases. Occupational exposures were sensibly more frequent among ITAC than among SCC or other histotypes. Occupational exposure in ITAC cases was to leather or wood dust only, while among non-ITAC cases, we recognised exposure to formaldehyde, solvents and metal fumes. A high proportion of SNC with occupational exposure originated in the ethmoidal epithelium. Conclusion: In our case-series of SNC, a very high frequency of previous occupational exposure to carcinogens was detected, suggesting that occupational hazards may be associated to the aetiopathogenesis, primarily for ITAC, but also for other histotypes. Besides leather or wood, other chemical agents must be recognized as occupational risk factors.

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A Cross-Sectional Study on 3-(2-Deoxy-β-D-Erythro-Pentafuranosyl)Pyrimido[1,2-α]Purin-10(3H)-One Deoxyguanosine Adducts among Woodworkers in Tuscany, Italy

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20112763 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (11) ◽

pp. 2763 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Filippo Cellai ◽

Fabio Capacci ◽

Carla Sgarrella ◽

Carla Poli ◽

Luciano Arena ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Damage ◽

Oxidative Dna Damage ◽

Health Effect ◽

Occupational Status ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Wood Dust ◽

The European Union ◽

Sinonasal Cancer ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Inflammatory Reactions

Occupational exposure to wood dust has been estimated to affect 3.6 million workers within the European Union (EU). The most serious health effect caused by wood dust is the nasal and sinonasal cancer (SNC), which has been observed predominantly among woodworkers. Free radicals produced by inflammatory reactions as a consequence of wood dust could play a major role in SNC development. Therefore, we investigated the association between wood dust and oxidative DNA damage in the cells of nasal epithelia, the target site of SNC. We have analyzed oxidative DNA damage by determining the levels of 3-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentafuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-α]purin-10(3H)-one deoxyguanosine (M1dG), a major-peroxidation-derived DNA adduct and a biomarker of cancer risk in 136 woodworkers compared to 87 controls in Tuscany, Italy. We then examined the association of M1dG with co-exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), exposure length, and urinary 15-F2t isoprostane (15-F2t-IsoP), a biomarker of oxidant status. Wood dust at the workplace was estimated by the Information System for Recording Occupational Exposures to Carcinogens. M1dG was measured using 32P-postlabeling and mass spectrometry. 15-F2t-IsoP was analyzed using ELISA. Results show a significant excess of M1dG in the woodworkers exposed to average levels of 1.48 mg/m3 relative to the controls. The overall mean ratio (MR) between the woodworkers and the controls was 1.28 (95% C.I. 1.03–1.58). After stratification for smoking habits and occupational status (exposure to wood dust alone and co-exposure to VOCs), the association of M1dG with wood dust (alone) was even greater in non-smokers workers, MR of 1.43 (95% C.I. 1.09–1.87). Conversely, not consistent results were found in ex-smokers and current smokers. M1dG was significantly associated with co-exposure to VOCs, MR of 1.95 (95% C.I. 1.46–2.61), and occupational history, MR of 2.47 (95% C.I. 1.67–3.62). Next, the frequency of M1dG was significantly correlated to the urinary excretion of 15-F2t-IsoP, regression coefficient (β) = 0.442 ± 0.172 (SE). Consistent with the hypothesis of a genotoxic mechanism, we observed an enhanced frequency of M1dG adducts in woodworkers, even at the external levels below the regulatory limit. Our data implement the understanding of SNC and could be useful for the management of the adverse effects caused by this carcinogen.

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