Occupational exposure to asbestos-free talc did not increase the risk for lung, mesothelioma, or laryngeal cancers, according to the results of a systemic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
The study authors, including corresponding author and lead researcher Paolo Boffetta, MD, MPH, Associate Director for Population Sciences, Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, concluded that “current epidemiological evidence does not provide support for an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or laryngeal cancer among workers who are primarily exposed to talc that is free from asbestos contamination.”
Study Methods
Researchers conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies gathered from MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases to determine the incidence and mortality rates and associations of lung, mesothelioma, and laryngeal cancers among workers exposed to asbestos-free talc.
Meta-analyses were conducted by random-effects models for lung cancer, and by crude models for laryngeal cancer; a systematic review was conducted for mesothelioma.
Publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots and the Egger's test.
Key Findings
A total of 13 publications reported on lung cancer in workers exposed to asbestos-free talc, eight reported on mesothelioma, and seven on laryngeal cancer. Additionally, the study authors included five studies on lung cancer among talc miners and millers as well as three studies from other industries in the meta-analysis.
The pooled relative risk for developing lung cancer was 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.97–1.33) for miners and millers and 1.12 for other workers (95% CI = 0.79–1.57).
There was no significant publication bias found (P = .45).
No mesothelioma cases were found among talc miners and millers. Laryngeal cancer also showed no association with exposure to talc (relative risk = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.58–1.57).
The study authors suggested that future studies should better control for confounders, including tobacco smoking.
DISCLOSURES: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit jto.org.
