Occupational
The risk of pancreatic cancer from occupational exposure to ethylene oxide Liz Best* Liz Best Tony Cappello Alex Riordan Hannah Mazzotta
We conducted a literature review and meta-analysis of studies that examined the risk of pancreatic cancer among persons occupationally exposed to ethylene oxide (EtO). Our literature search was performed in PubMed and identified 19 published papers that were considered in our meta-analysis. Pooled risk estimates were calculated using random effects models, stratifying by overall risk, duration of employment, and decade of publication. The overall meta-relative risk (meta-RR) for pancreatic cancer was 1.16 (95% CI 0.87-1.56). For duration of employment, we performed a meta-regression for every one year increase in employment, which demonstrated a flat slope/beta and lack of a statistically significant dose response (meta-regression beta = 0.13, 95% CI -0.07-0.334 or meta-RR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.93-1.40). Meta-RRs were elevated at a level of statistical significance for the earlier decades (1980s and 1990s) compared to the later decades (2000s and 2010s), reflective of study quality improvement over time. Based on this analysis, there is no evidence to suggest that occupational exposure to EtO is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.