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John F. Gamble, Eileen D. Pearlman, and Mark J. Nicolich

Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc., East Millstone, NJ 08875-2350 USA

Abstract

A nested case-control study was designed to evaluate whether a nearly twofold excess of kidney cancer among workers at a refinery/petrochemical plant was associated with cumulative exposure to C₂-C₅ saturated, C₂-C₅ unsaturated, C₆-C₁₀ aliphatic saturated, C₆-C₁₀ aliphatic unsaturated, and C₆-C₁₀ aromatic process streams. Nonoccupational risk factors were body mass index (BMI) , blood pressure (both measured at about age 28) , and smoking. There was no significant association with cumulative exposure or tenure as estimated by conditional logistic regression and adjusted for nonoccupational risk factors. Categorical analysis showed increased odds ratios only in the second (low) and fourth (high) quartiles compared to the first quartile reference group of lowest exposed workers, and a three-quarter-fold increased odds ratio for >32 years' tenure compared to the <25-year reference group. The number of cases was small with wide confidence intervals around estimate of risk, so the possibility of an exposure-response trend cannot be ruled out. Multivariate analysis identified overweight (high BMI ; p<0.01) as the most important risk factor in this data set, followed by tenure and increased blood pressure. There was a weak association with current smoking, but not with pack-years smoked. The risk of kidney cancer for a nonsmoker with normal blood pressure but 25% overweight was increased about 2.6-fold (95% CI = 1.2-5.4) . The risk of kidney cancer for a nonsmoker of normal weight with high blood pressure (e.g., 150/110) , was increased about 4.5 (95% CI, 0.8-26) . Key words: blood pressure, case-control study, kidney cancer, petrochemical workers, petroleum hydrocarbons, refinery workers, smoking. Environ Health Perspect 104:642-650 (1996)

Address correspondence to J. F. Gamble, Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Mettlers Road, CN 2350, East Millstone, NJ 08875-2350 USA.

We thank all those persons at the refinery and petrochemical plant who through their knowledge and experience helped make it possible to classify jobs and departments by exposure, particularly the members of the industrial hygiene departments. We appreciate the assistance in collecting risk factor information, particularly Pat Dupont for her work on the annuitant questionnaires. Micki Vodarsik, Fran Merlino, and Gail Jorgensen were instrumental in data collection, entry, and editing. Linda Smart, Lauri Mackenzie, and Vicki Fowler did the typing. This project was funded by Exxon Chemical Americas and Exxon Company, USA.

Received 18 May 1995 ; accepted 7 February 1996.