Carcinogen exposure, a variety of sources
Arsenic compounds are associated with many forms of skin, lung, bladder, kidney, and liver cancers, particularly when high levels are consumed in drinking water. In addition, occupational carcinogen exposure to inhaled arsenic, especially in mining and copper smelting, has been consistently associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Arsenic is also used in wood preservatives, glass, herbicides, insecticides (ant killers), and pesticides, and it is a general environmental contaminant of air, food, and water.
Asbestos is known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. People are exposed to asbestos mainly through inhaling fibers in the air they breathe. Asbestos has been used to insulate factories, schools, homes, and ships. It has also been used to make automobile brake and clutch parts, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, cement, paper products, textiles, and hundreds of other products. People in certain occupations may be exposed to asbestos on the job. Some of these occupations include: construction, installation of insulation, shipbuilding, auto workers, electricians and railroad workers.
Beryllium compounds are known to cause lung cancer based primarily on studies of workers in beryllium production facilities. These compounds are used as metals for aerospace and defense industries; for electrical components, X-ray tubes, nuclear weapons, aircraft brakes, rocket fuel additives, light aircraft construction, and the manufacture of ceramics; and as an additive to glass and plastics, dental applications, and golf clubs. Industry is also increasingly using beryllium for fiber optics and cellular network communication systems. Workers can be exposed through jobs related to the above activities, as well as through recycling of computers, cell phones, and other high-tech products. Outside of these industries, beryllium exposure occurs primarily through the burning of coal and fuel oil. The general population can be exposed to trace amounts of beryllium by inhaling air and consuming food contaminated with beryllium residues. Small concentrations have been reported in drinking water, food, and tobacco.
Studies of groups of workers show that cadmium metal and cadmium compounds are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Workers with the highest exposures are those involved in removing zinc and lead from minerals, producing cadmium powders, welding cadmium-coated steel, and working with solders that contain cadmium. Cadmium metal is primarily used to coat metals to prevent corrosion. Other uses are in plastic and synthetic products, in batteries, as stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride, and in fungicides. The industrial processes involved in making these products release cadmium into the air, surface water, ground water, and topsoil where it can be taken up by both land and water plants and, in turn, transferred to animals. Contaminated topsoil that allows uptake into tobacco plants may be indirectly responsible for the greatest nonoccupational human exposure to cadmium— smoking. Food is the main source of human exposure to cadmium for nonsmokers.
Some chromium compounds are known to cause lung cancer. The steel industry is the major consumer of chromium. It is used for protection against corrosion of metal accessories, including automotive parts, as well as for electroplating, layering one metal over another. Electroplating converts chromium 6, the carcinogenic form, to a noncarcinogenic form of chromium. This means that workers who handle chromium 6 are at greater risk than the general population. Other uses include nuclear and high-temperature research; the textile and leather-tanning industry; pigments for floor covering products, paper, cement, and asphalt roofing; and creating an emerald color in colored glass. Chromium is widely distributed in the air, water, soil, and food, and the entire population is probably exposed to some of these compounds. The highest exposure occurs in occupations related to stainless steel production, welding, chrome plating, and leather tanning. Typical levels in most fresh foods are low.
Lead acetate and lead phosphate are likely to be human carcinogens based on the evidence of kidney and brain tumors in animal studies. Lead acetate is used in cotton dyes; as a coating for metals; as a drier in paints, varnishes, and pigment inks; as a colorant in certain permanent hair dyes (progressive dyes); in explosives; and in washes to treat poison ivy. Lead phosphate is used as a stabilizer in certain plastics and specialty glass. Primary exposures are through skin contact, eating, and inhaling.
Nickel and nickel compounds are associated with several kinds of cancers in rats and mice. Studies in human populations link nickel exposure to cancers of the nasal cavity, lung, and possibly the larynx (voice box). Nickel is used in steel, dental fillings, copper and brass, permanent magnets, storage batteries, and glazes. Because nickel is present in the air, water, soil, food, and consumer products in the United States, we are exposed through eating, breathing, and skin contact.
| Metal | Cancers | Present in | Human Carcinogen? | Workers Exposed |
| Arsenic | Skin, Lung, Bladder, Kidney, Liver | Wood Preservatives, Glass, Pesticides | Yes | Smelting of ores containing Arsenic, pesticide application, and wood preservation |
| Asbestos | Lung, Mesothelioma | Insulation material, Automobile brake and clutch parts, roofing shingles, cement, paper products, textiles | Yes | Construction, ship building, installation of insulation, electricians, auto workers, railroad workers |
| Beryllium | Lung | Nuclear Weapons, rocket fuel, ceramics, glass, plastic, fiber optic products | Yes | Beryllium ore miners and alloy makers, phosphor manufacturers, ceramic workers, missile technicians, nuclear reactor workers, electric and electronic, equipment workers, and jewelers |
| Cadmium | Lung | Metal coatings, plastic products, batteries, fungicides | Yes | Smelting of zinc and lead ores, producing, processing and handling cadmium powders, welding or remelting of cadmium-coated steel, and working with solders that contain cadmium |
| Chromium | Lung | Automotive parts, floor covering, paper, cement, asphalt, roofing; anti-corrosive metal plating | Yes | Stainless steel production and welding, chromate production, chrome plating, ferrochrome alloys, chrome pigment, and corrosive metal and tanning industries |
| Lead | Kidney, brain | Cotton dyes, metal coating, drier in paints, varnishes, and pigment inks, certain plastics, specialty glass | Probable carcinogen | Construction work that involves welding, cutting, brazing, or blasting on lead paint surfaces; most smelter workers, including lead smelters where lead is recovered from batteries; radiator repair shops |
| Nickel | Nasal cavity, lung | Steel, dental fillings, copper and brass, permanent magnets, storage batteries, glazes | Nickel metal: Probable carcinogen Nickel compounds: Yes |
Battery makers, ceramic makers, electroplaters, enamellers, glass workers, jewelers, metal workers, nickel mine workers, refiners and smelters, paint-related workers and welders |
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see also:
Airborne Metal Particles
Environmental Cancer Lawsuit: Carcinogen Exposure to Metal ParticlesCauses of Cancer--Exposure to Carcinogens--Airborne Metal Particles
Ionizing Radiation
Environmental Cancer Lawsuit Focusing on Ionizing RadiationHow much do you know about Ionizing Radiation, a cause of cancer?
Cancer & the Environment
Carcinogenic Pollutants Lawsuit: Cancer Research InformationPollutants and Contaminants that Cause Cancer. Free Lawsuit Review
