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Nasal cancer in leather workers: an occupational disease
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  • Guest Editorial
  • Published: January 1995

Nasal cancer in leather workers: an occupational disease

  • G. Battista1,
  • P. Comba2,
  • D. Orsi1,
  • K. Norpoth3 &
  • …
  • A. Maier3 

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology volume 121, pages 1–6 (1995)Cite this article

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The “Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology” publishes in loose succession “Editorials” and “Guest editorials” on current and/or controversial problems in experimental and clinical oncology. These contributions represent exclusively the personal opinion of the authors The Editors

Abstract

Nasal cancer has a number of causative agents; exposures to most of the established nasal carcinogens occur in the workplace. An increased risk of nasal cancer has been ascertained in shoe-making and shoe-repairing, but the results for leather goods manufacture and leather tanning don't provide adequate evidence of carcinogenicity. Findings from two epidemiological studies carried out in Italy (a case/control study and a case/series report) add further information on this issue. The case/control study was performed in the provinces of Siena (Tuscany), Verona and Vicenza (Venetia) including 96 cases and 378 controls. A significant increased risk (Odds Ratio: 6.8; 90% C.I.=1.9–25) of sinonasal cancer was found for the employ in the whole leather industry; Odds Ratio of 8.3 (C.I.=1.9–36) and 5.0 (C.I.=0.92–28) were associated with shoe-making and leather tanning. The case/series report is based on 110 patients accepted in some Italian hospitals during last three years (1990–1993): 26 cases had worked in the leather industry; adenocarcinoma is the most frequent type observed. Chromium salts and natural tannins are indicated as possible aetiological agents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Workers' Preventive Medicine, University of Siena, Via Tufi 1, I-53100, Siena, Italy

    G. Battista & D. Orsi

  2. Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy

    P. Comba

  3. Institut für Hygiene und Arbeitsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum, Essen, Germany

    K. Norpoth & A. Maier

Authors
  1. G. Battista
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  2. P. Comba
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  3. D. Orsi
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  4. K. Norpoth
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  5. A. Maier
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Battista, G., Comba, P., Orsi, D. et al. Nasal cancer in leather workers: an occupational disease. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 121, 1–6 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01202722

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  • Received: 05 August 1994

  • Accepted: 28 August 1994

  • Issue Date: January 1995

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01202722

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Key words

  • Nasal cancer
  • Occupation
  • Leather industry
  • Case/control study
  • Case
  • Series report
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