Cancer and possible link to printing industry

[StevieBee]

Last year, a good friend on mine lost her father to an aggressive and rapid cancer of the kidney. He was late 60s with, previously of very good health and from a family that had and remains otherwise long-livers with no history or cancer anywhere else.

Three of his former colleagues have since been diagnosed with same type of cancer and others are undergoing various checks.

All of these previously worked in the printing industry (newspapers and commercial printing)

A cousin of mine (52) has also been diagnosed with a similar type of cancer and is unlikely to see Easter. He's an illustrator and a prolific user of the airbrush; has been since he was at college.

Is anyone aware of other similar cases involving people in similar professions?

[The_Doc]

Alinine dyes used to be taught as the reason, and my medical school knowledge dredges this up. Bladder cancers I think.

I see however that the scrap of detail to grasp, if you fancy it, and I have no idea where it leads, is naphthylamine dyes

I'm a knee surgeon, so don't think I can tell you any more. You need an epidemiologist....

[StevieBee]

The_Doc said:

Alinine dyes used to be taught as the reason, and my medical school knowledge dredges this up. Bladder cancers I think.

I see however that the scrap of detail to grasp, if you fancy it, and I have no idea where it leads, is naphthylamine dyes

I'm a knee surgeon, so don't think I can tell you any more. You need an epidemiologist....

Thanks Doc.

[tricky1962]

Hi, the term is aniline dyes (not alinine) and these were used in the 60s and 70s to dye inks for the early flexo printing presses - hence the term anilox.

An alternative cause for renal cancer, depending on the type of printing they did, could be organic solvents - benzene derivatives or chlorinated solvents etc.

Worth a google

Hope this helps