A cohort of approximately 1500 current and former workers in plastic pipe manufacturing plants and resin compounding facilities throughout the United States may have been exposed to Beta-napthylamine (BNA) during the manufacture of polyethylene pipe between 1970 and 1996. BNA, a known specific bladder carcinogen, was detected during employee exposure monitoring conducted in 1996. The chemical was found to be a contaminant of an additive in the resin used to manufacture polyethylene pipe, and was released when the resin was heated to high temperatures. Once the BNA was detected, the product was discontinued and a bladder cancer screening program was initiated in January 1999. An annual screening program was developed using a two-stage screening process to test for hematuria in stage one, and cytology in stage two. Employees with positive or suspicious cytology are referred to board certified urologists in their area for followup, at the company's expense. During the first year of screening a total of 618 employees were tested and 180 were diagnosed with hematuria; ten of the 180 had suspicious cytology in the stage two screening. One employee has been diagnosed with bladder cancer through the screening program and 3 employees had previous bladder cancer. Screening program methodology and materials will be presented along with results of the first two years of screening. Challenges for future years will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to: 1. Identify a known bladder carcinogen, 2. Describe the stages of a screening program for bladder cancer, and 3. Discuss methods for employee recruitment and enrollment in a long-term screening program
Keywords: Cancer Screening, Petrochemcial Production
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.