Analytical study on testicular tumors occurring in automobile industry employees - embedded case-control-study

Status:

completed 04/2009

Aims:

The study of male germ cell cancer was designed to investigate an increased germ-cell tumor incidence among employees in the car-manufacturing industry.

Activities/Methods:

To identify potential occupational and non-occupational risk factors, a case-control study, nested in a cohort of manufacturing workers, including 205 germ-cell tumor patients and 1,091 control persons employed in the automobile industry was conducted. Data were collected via personal interviews. For a subgroup of study subjects blood and urine samples were collected for the purpose of a biological monitoring.

Results:

Summary of results:

1. The study did not indicate an increased germ-cell tumor risk due to occupational electromagnetic fields.
2. The increase in incidence cannot be explained by former or simultaneous activities in agriculture.
3. Slightly increased risks were implied for metal workers, particularly those involved in metal-cutting. It is possible that the observed associations may be explained by specific exposures to hazardous occupational substances. However, these associations have to be interpreted with caution and need to be verified in detail in subsequent analyses.
4. A possible risk increase was also implied for occupational handling of various hazardous substances such as bisphenol A, epoxy resins, the glycol ether EGBE, and dimethylformamide. Also, further research is warranted to verify the observed associations.

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