Open AccessExposure to cutting oils and its relation to skin tumors and premalignant skin lesions on the hands and forearms.
Author(s) -
Bengt Järvholm,
Katie Fast,
Bengt Lavenius,
P Tomsic
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.2211
Subject(s) - incidence (geometry) , skin cancer , dermatology , medicine , population , cancer incidence , cancer , pathology , environmental health , physics , optics
In a cohort study the incidence of skin tumors on the hands and forearms of 682 turners exposed to cutting oils was compared to the incidence of the general male population and of office workers. Among the 682 turners, five premalignant squamous cell tumors and eight keratoacanthomas were found between 1960 and 1980. Five of this total of 13 turners with primary skin tumors had another skin tumor as well. Among the 682 men there were four cases of scrotal cancer. Among the 375 office workers examined, no malignant or premalignant tumors or keratoacanthomas were found on the hands or forearms. No primary skin tumors were found among the turners after 1975, when the acid-refined mineral oils were replaced by solvent-refined oils containing a far lower concentration of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which are probably the cancerogenic agent in the oils. The study shows a greatly increased risk of skin tumors on the hands and forearms of workers exposed to acid-refined mineral oils. Individual susceptibility also seems to be indicated.