The IARC Studies and next .. Ib Frandsen Association of Danish Asphalt Industries 1
In 1994 an unresolved issue Is there a link between exposure to bitumen fume and lung cancer? 2
IARC cohort study 30,000 European asphalt workers Overall mortality below expectation SMR 0,96 Slightly increased lung cancer mortality SMR 1,17 No conclusive evidence Smoking and coal tar major confounders 4
IARC NCC study 1,000 [1253] Asphalt controls companies 350 [433] lung cancer cases Smoking habits Occupational Other job history industries Dermal Assessment of past exposure Inhalation Does exposure to bitumen fumes cause lung cancer? 6
It is a global issue As we saw that the result of a coming IARC Monograph would have an im- mediate Global effect, EAPA contacted NAPA for support to the NCC Study. We got NAPA’s immediate support and subsequently other associations in US have joined as well. 7
Result of NCC Study 2009 • The Nested Case Control Study was initiated in 2004 with the purpose to disentangle the contribution of bitumen, oth- er agents occurring in the asphalt industry, other occupati- onal exposures, and tobacco smoking. • Analyzed 433 lung cancer cases and 1253 controls, mainly paving workers, from 6 European countries plus Israel. Found no evidence of an association between lung • cancer risk and exposure to bitumen fume. • Two factors which contributed to the slightly elevated inci- dence of lung cancer mortality observed during the study reported in 2001 were tobacco smoking and coal tar expo- sure. The study further acknowledged the importance and re- • sults of the continuous trend towards minimizing inhalation and dermal exposures. 8
IARC Monograph Re-evaluation of the evidence for carcinogenicity of bitumen in 2011/12 Available and peer-reviewed studies Group 1, 2A, 2B or 3 9
IARC evaluation Group 1 Carcinogenic to humans Group 2 A Probably carcinogenic to humans Group 2 B Possibly carcinogenic to humans Group 3 Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to ... Group 4 Probably not carcinogenic to humans 10
A roadmap towards the monograph process was signed in 2005 Bitumen does not represent a cancer hazard or risk – neither in situ nor in liquid form Focus on occupational exposure to bitumen fumes Recognize differences in exposure from different applications 11
IARC Monograph IARC NCC Study Fraunhofer Study IARC Monograph re-classification BGFA Study AI studies in US 12
Preparation for the Monograph Health Forum Dresden and Rome Chapter 1 preparation Research gap identification 13
Initiatives Best practice in exposure reduction Low temperature asphalt Engineering controls Maximum laying temperatures 14
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