Abstract
Introduction Potentially high occupational exposures to styrene occur, largely in the absence of other chemicals, in the manufacture of glass-reinforced products. Styrene is also present in air pollution and tobacco smoke. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) styrene cohort was previously included in an international pooled cohort study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). An update to this study is currently being coordinated by researchers at Aarhus University. This update will include an updated exposure assessment. In 2019, IARC published its updated evaluation of the carcinogenicity of styrene and styrene-7,8-oxide, a metabolite of styrene in humans. IARC concluded that both agents were probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A).
The HSE cohort has never been separately analysed. It is only a small cohort (c 1800 participants), but it has long follow-up. It will contribute to the updated international study. Primary interest is in haematopoietic cancers, although other cancer sites such as oesophagus, nose and nasal cavities and lung are of interest too.
Materials and Methods Research governance clearances were obtained from NHS Ethics, HRA Confidentiality Advisory Group and NHS Digital IGARD. Work is currently underway to obtain mortality and cancer registration data for the cohort. The intention is to produce SMRs and SIRs and, where sufficient number of events allow, subanalyses including by cumulative exposure will be undertaken.
Results & Conclusion The international study will be statistically the most powerful study to have examined the carcinogenicity of styrene to date. As well as cohorts from the UK, the updated study will include cohorts from Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
The HSE cohort has never been separately analysed. It is only a small cohort (c 1800 participants), but it has long follow-up. It will contribute to the updated international study. Primary interest is in haematopoietic cancers, although other cancer sites such as oesophagus, nose and nasal cavities and lung are of interest too.
Materials and Methods Research governance clearances were obtained from NHS Ethics, HRA Confidentiality Advisory Group and NHS Digital IGARD. Work is currently underway to obtain mortality and cancer registration data for the cohort. The intention is to produce SMRs and SIRs and, where sufficient number of events allow, subanalyses including by cumulative exposure will be undertaken.
Results & Conclusion The international study will be statistically the most powerful study to have examined the carcinogenicity of styrene to date. As well as cohorts from the UK, the updated study will include cohorts from Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - Mar 2023 |