Occupational exposure to unintentionally emitted nanoscale particles and risk of cancer from lung to central nervous system - results from three French case-control studies

Guyguy Manangama (1, 2) , Céline Gramond (1, 2) , Sabyne Audignon-Durand (1, 2) , Isabelle Baldi (1, 2) , Pascale Fabro-Peray (3) , Annabelle Gilg Soit Ilg (4) , Pascal Guénel (5) , Pierre Lebailly (6) , Danièle Luce (7) , Isabelle Stücker (5) , Patrick Brochard (1, 2) , Aude Lacourt (1, 2)

1 LBMA - Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Microbiologie Appliquée
2 BPH - Bordeaux population health
3 CHU Nîmes - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes
4 Santé publique France - French National Public Health Agency [Saint-Maurice, France]
5 CESP - Centre de recherche en épidémiologie et santé des populations
6 ANTICIPE - Unité de recherche interdisciplinaire pour la prévention et le traitement des cancers
7 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail

Objectives: Nanoscale particles (1-100 nm) can be of natural origin, and either intentionally or unintentionally produced by human activities. Toxicological data have suggested a possible carcinogenic effect of such particles. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between occupational exposure to nanoscale particles and risk of lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma and brain tumors in adults.Methods: Three French population-based case-control studies were analyzed: 1) the ICARE study including 2,029 lung cancer cases and 2,591 controls; 2) the PNSM study including 371 pleural mesothelioma cases and 730 controls and 3) the CERENAT study including 257 brain tumor cases and 511 controls. Occupational exposure to unintentionally emitted nanoscale particles (UNPs) was retrospectively assessed by a job exposure matrix providing a probability and a frequency of exposure.Results: In adjusted analyses among men, significant associations between occupational exposure to UNPs and lung cancer (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.22-1.86 and brain tumors (OR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.17-2.44) were observed. No increased OR was observed for pleural mesothelioma (OR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.46-1.33).Conclusion: This is the first study showing positive associations between occupational exposure to UNPs and increased risk of lung cancer and brain tumors. These preliminary results should encourage further epidemiological research.

Mots clés: occupational exposure; unintentionally emitted nanoscale particles; lung; central nervous system; cancer

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Santé publique et épidémiologie

Guyguy Manangama, Céline Gramond, Sabyne Audignon-Durand, Isabelle Baldi, Pascale Fabro-Peray, et al.. Occupational exposure to unintentionally emitted nanoscale particles and risk of cancer from lung to central nervous system - results from three French case-control studies. Environmental Research, 2020, 191, pp.110024. ⟨10.1016/j.envres.2020.110024⟩. ⟨hal-02930142⟩