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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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17-01-2024 | Prostate Cancer | Review

Risk of bladder, kidney and prostate cancer from occupational exposure to welding fumes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Giulia Collatuzzo, Maha Hamdani, Paolo Boffetta

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 3/2024

Abstract

Background

Our aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of cohort studies on risk of genitourinary (GU) cancers in workers exposed to welding fumes (WF).

Methods

We performed a systematic review of studies published on Pubmed, Scopus and Embase following PRISMA criteria. Two researchers selected cohort studies on WF exposure. From 2582 articles, 7 non-overlapping studies were included. Quality of studies was scored according to CASP. We run a random effects meta-analysis to calculate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of GU cancer, overall and stratified by cancer, country, and quality score.

Results

We included seven studies reporting results on GU cancers, including prostate, bladder and kidney cancer (PC, BC, and KC). The RR was 1.19 (95% CI = 1.07–1.32, 16 risk estimates) for GU cancer; 1.13 (95% CI = 0.90–1.42, 4 risk estimates) for PC; 1.26 (95% CI = 0.98–1.60, 7 risk estimates) for BC and 1.28 (95% CI = 1.12–1.47, 5 risk estimates) for KC. Heterogeneity was present in all meta-analyses (p < 0.001). The increased risk was more pronounced in North American than in European studies (respectively, OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.18–1.55; OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01–1.27 p heterogeneity = 0.03). There was no heterogeneity according to quality score (p = 0.4). Data were insufficient to investigate associations by industry or welding type. Publication bias for each cancer was excluded.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests increased risk of KC and BC, but not of PC, in workers exposed to WF. Confounding by other occupational and non-occupational risk factors could not be excluded. Data were not adequate to address the risk of specific exposure circumstances.

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Title: Risk of bladder, kidney and prostate cancer from occupational exposure to welding fumes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Giulia Collatuzzo
Maha Hamdani
Paolo Boffetta
Publication date: 17-01-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 3/2024
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-023-02040-0

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Risk of bladder, kidney and prostate cancer from occupational exposure to welding fumes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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