Abstract | PURPOSE: MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a case-control study based in a national representative cohort of Chinese herbalists. This study analyzed 6,564 Chinese herbalists employed between 1985 and 1998. All incident cases of urothelial carcinoma that occurred between 1988 and 2001 were defined as the case group. Controls were selected from the baseline cohort in a randomized manner. A total of 24 cases and 140 controls were included in analysis. Information about fangchi exposure was obtained in a questionnaire survey administered in 2002. RESULTS: Processing, selling or dispensing herbs containing fangchi significantly increased the risk of urothelial carcinoma (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3, p = 0.03). This relationship was independent of cigarette smoking or potential arsenic exposure from drinking water from deep wells. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to the Chinese herbal drug fangchi increases the risk of urothelial carcinoma in herbalists. Appropriate medical monitoring is warranted for workers who have similar exposure.
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Authors | Hsiao-Yu Yang, Jung-Der Wang, Tsai-Chang Lo, Pau-Chung Chen |
Journal | The Journal of urology
(J Urol)
Vol. 189
Issue 1
Pg. 48-52
(Jan 2013)
ISSN: 1527-3792 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23164394
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Aristolochic Acids
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aristolochic Acids
(adverse effects)
- Asian People
- Carcinoma, Transitional Cell
(chemically induced, epidemiology)
- Case-Control Studies
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal
(adverse effects)
- Female
- Herbal Medicine
- Humans
- Male
- Occupational Diseases
(chemically induced, epidemiology)
- Occupational Exposure
(adverse effects)
- Risk Factors
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
(chemically induced, epidemiology)
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