Observations on Skin Cancer Among Refinery Workers

Among 1077 matched pairs of workers in 3 refineries (in LA, NJ and MD) during the period of 1949 to 61, 46 neoplasms occurred in the group exposed to high boiling aromatic petroleum fractions compared to 45 in the nonexposed group. Skin lesions constituted 58.7% (27/46) of neoplasms in the exposed group and 53.5% (24/45) of the controls. The distribution of skin cancers of the basal cell type in the exposed group was 15 on face-head-neck, and 2 on the extremities; in controls 1 was on the lip; 15 on face-head-neck and 0 on extremities. The distribution of squamous cell carcinoma was, in exposed workers, 6 on lip, 4 on extremities; in controls, 3 on lip, 4 on face-head-neck, and 1 on the trunk. All lesions of the extremities occurred in the exposed group yet no relationship to job was apparent when case histories were studied. The same number of lesions appeared in each of the 2 groups before age 45 and after age 50. The author offers 2 explanations for the findings: (1) the high-boiling aromatic fraction was not carcinogenic to man; (2) the extent or frequency and duration of exposure was inadequate to produce lesions. Prolonged observation ofmore » the exposed group is necessary to establish a more definitive answer.« less