Occupational exposures in the rubber tire industry and risk of cancer: a systematic review.

Objective: This study aimed at investigate the association between cancer and the rubber tire industry using indicators used to estimate exposure, such as duration or historical time period of exposure.

Methods: A systematic review using MEDLINE was carried out. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement guided the systematic review. The Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) was used to analyze biases in the selected studies.

Results: A total of 240 articles were initially selected. Of these, 17 were included in this systematic review of 15 different cohorts and one case-control study. Five cohorts were composed of rubber industry employees including some who worked in the rubber tire industry, whereas the other 10 cohorts were composed exclusively of rubber tire industry employees. An increased risk of lung/respiratory cancer is possible in the oldest time periods without duration of exposure showing any association according to the analysis. The work areas of mixing and milling as well as compounding seem to be more specifically associated with this risk, which could be expected because of the exposure to fumes containing carcinogenic agents.

Conclusions: Having worked in the rubber tire industry in the past, especially in milling, mixing as well as compounding may be associated with an increased risk of lung/respiratory cancer.