Cancer Risk Among Tetrafluoroethylene Synthesis and Polymerization Workers

摘要: Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), a compound used for the production of fluorinated polymers including polytetrafluoroethylene, increases incidence liver and kidney cancers leukemia in rats mice. This is first time cancer risk humans has been explored comprehensively cohort mortality study (1950-2008) that included all polytetrafluoroethylene sites Europe North America at it was initiated. A job-exposure matrix (1950-2002) developed TFE ammonium perfluoro-octanoate, chemical polymerization process. National reference rates were to calculate standardized ratios (SMRs) 95% confidence intervals. Among 4,773 workers ever exposed TFE, we found lower rate death from most causes, as well increased risks (SMR = 1.27; interval: 0.55, 2.51; 8 deaths) 1.44; 0.69, 2.65; 10 1.48; 0.77, 2.59; 12 deaths). nonsignificant upward trend (P 0.24) by cumulative exposure observed cancer. perfluoro-octanoate exposures highly correlated, therefore their separate effects could not be disentangled. pattern findings narrows range uncertainty on potential carcinogenicity but cannot conclusively confirm or refute hypothesis carcinogenic humans.