International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 19, S67-S72, Copyright © 1990 by International Epidemiological Association
R Rylander
The case for a decreased risk of lung cancer after exposure to
environmental agents is evaluated using toxicological and epidemiological
data. Experimental evidence demonstrates that exposure to substances which
produce an inflammatory response in the lung, such as bacterial endotoxins,
causes an increase in the secretion of inflammatory mediators and
substances with a particular effect on tumour cells such as tumour necrosis
factor (TNF). Other irritant agents, such as tobacco smoke, may also induce
an activation of macrophages at low levels of exposure. Epidemiological
evidence from several studies suggests that people exposed to dusts
containing bacterial endotoxins have a lower lung cancer incidence than
those who are unexposed. There are also some data suggesting that in
certain ethnic groups, females smoking a small number of cigarettes/day,
might have a lower risk for lung cancer than non-smokers. These data
provide support for a hypothesis that low-dose exposures to some air
pollutants might result in a decreased risk of lung cancer.
ARTICLES
Environmental exposures with decreased risks for lung cancer?
Department of Environmental Hygiene, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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