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Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 7/2009

01.07.2009 | Original Article

Major histopathological patterns of lung cancer related to arsenic exposure in German uranium miners

verfasst von: Dirk Taeger, Georg Johnen, Thorsten Wiethege, Soile Tapio, Matthias Möhner, Horst Wesch, Andrea Tannapfel, Klaus-Michael Müller, Thomas Brüning, Beate Pesch

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 7/2009

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Abstract

Objective

The mechanisms of action of arsenic in the development of lung cancer are still not yet elucidated. Considering the relationship between arsenic and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, we hypothesized that arsenic exposure may be more closely associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Methods

A comprehensive histopathological database and a detailed job-exposure matrix developed for former German uranium miners with exposure to arsenic, radon, and quartz were analyzed to quantitatively assess the effect of arsenic regarding cell type of lung cancer. The distributions of major lung cancer cell types in 1,786 German uranium miners were associated with levels of arsenic exposure under control for the other lung carcinogens. To evaluate the arsenic effects in association with a frequent occupational lung disease in miners stratification by silicosis was performed.

Results

There was an arsenic-related increase of the proportion of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung but restricted to miners without silicosis. The increase was found at all levels of co-exposure to radon and quartz dust. In miners with silicosis, the proportion of adenocarcinoma increased with rising arsenic exposure. Arsenic exposure was associated with non-small cell lung cancer. Silicosis turned out as major determinant of the cell type related with arsenic.

Conclusion

These results indicate a cell type characteristic effect of arsenic in the development of lung cancer.
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Metadaten
Titel
Major histopathological patterns of lung cancer related to arsenic exposure in German uranium miners
verfasst von
Dirk Taeger
Georg Johnen
Thorsten Wiethege
Soile Tapio
Matthias Möhner
Horst Wesch
Andrea Tannapfel
Klaus-Michael Müller
Thomas Brüning
Beate Pesch
Publikationsdatum
01.07.2009
Verlag
Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 7/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0386-1

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