Acetylene

Exposure related observations in humans: other data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

exposure-related observations in humans: other data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Human workplace investigations, published in peer reviewed literature. Limitations in reporting but otherwise adequate for assessment and used as supporting data

Data source

Reference

Reference 1

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

High production volume challenge revised test plan for acetylene CAS NO. 74-86-2

Author:

American Chemistry Council Acetylene Panel

Year:

2006

Bibliographic source:

http://www.epa.gov/HPV/pubs/summaries/acetylen/c15005rt2.pdf

Reference 2

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

Epidemiologic problems associated with exposure to several agents

Author:

Waxweiler RJ

Year:

1981

Bibliographic source:

Environ Health Perspect 42: 51-56

Reference 3

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

No title identified

Author:

Riboli E

Year:

1988

Bibliographic source:

Scand J Environ Health 9:455-462

Reference 4

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

Preliminary report of an exposure-based, case-control monitoring system for discovering occupational carcinogens

Author:

Siemiatycki J

Year:

1982

Bibliographic source:

Teratog Carcinog Mutagen 2(2): 169-177

Reference 5

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

Mortality of workers at acetylene production plants

Author:

Newhouse ML

Year:

1988

Bibliographic source:

Br J Ind Med 45:63-69

Reference 6

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

Cancer mortality among Danish molders

Author:

Hansen ES

Year:

1991

Bibliographic source:

Am J Ind Med 20:401-409

Reference 7

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

Toxic substance exposure and multiple myeloma: a case-control study

Author:

Morris PD

Bibliographic source:

J Natl Cancer Inst. 76(6):987-994

Reference 8

Reference Type:

other: Publication cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

Infectious and noninfectious exposures in the etiology of light chain myeloma: a case-control study

Author:

Williams AR

Year:

1989

Bibliographic source:

Cancer Res. 49:4038-4041

Reference 9

Reference Type:

other: OTS report cited in ACCAP review 2006

Title:

No title identified

Author:

Rohm and Haas Company

Year:

1980

Bibliographic source:

OTS0518103 and OTS0518118 (TSCATS/402048, 402078)

Materials and methods

Endpoint addressed:

carcinogenicity

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

74-86-5

IUPAC Name:

74-86-5

Constituent 2

Reference substance name:

Acetylene

EC Number:

200-816-9

EC Name:

Acetylene

Cas Number:

74-86-2

Molecular formula:

C2H2

IUPAC Name:

acetylene

Method

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

The review article summarises data from numerous studies involving occupational exposure to acetylene

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Results and discussion

Results:

Acetylene has been used for over 100 years as an anesthetic and industrial chemical, and few complications of using this gas have been reported, published epidemiological studies have failed to establish a link between use of acetylene and cancer (see endpoint summary for further details).

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Numerous studies of exposed workers have failed to establish any link between acetylene and cancer.

Executive summary:

The American Chemistry Council Acetylene Panel reviewed the material in December 2006. They recognised acetylene has been used for over 100 years as an anesthetic and industrial chemical, and few complications of using this gas have been reported, published epidemiological studies have failed to establish a link between use of acetylene and cancer. Waxweiler, 1981 found no evidence of any association with liver angiosarcoma in workers exposed to a number of materials. Acetylene exposure was not a risk factor in mortality from lung cancer in a case-referent study in which exposure to chemicals in an acetylene and phthalic anhydride plant accounted for one third of the total number of lung cancer deaths (Riboli et al., 1988). A pilot study on 454 men found no association between occupational exposure to acetylene and the development of cancer (Siemiatycki et al., 1982). A study of 370 workers involved in acetylene cylinder manufacture between 1935 -1975, reported excess mortality from lung cancer, and cancer of the stomach and pancreas. However, no association between exposure to acetylene and lung cancer was identified (Newhouse et al., 1988). Acetylene also was not listed as a risk factor for developing cancer in a study of 632 Danish male molders (Hansen, 1991). In two case-controlled studies, acetylene exposure was not identified as a risk factor for developing multiple myeloma (Morris et al., 1986; Williams et al., 1989). In 1980 Rohm and Haas reported the findings of a Texas plant, which utilizes acetylene and other chemicals to produce acrylate and methacrylate ester, the excess of total cancer deaths in those hired from 1958 to 1962, could not be correlated with job-related causes.