Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40420647›Full record

SynthesisAmerican journal of industrial medicine2025

Occupational Benzene Exposure and Risk of Male Genital Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Alessandro Godono, Andrea Quattrocolo, Roberta Caradonna, Maria Vittoria Picciaiola, Paolo Boffetta, Monireh Sadat Seyyedsalehi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in American journal of industrial medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alessandro GodonoDepartment of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
Andrea QuattrocoloDepartment of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
Roberta CaradonnaDepartment of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
Maria Vittoria PicciaiolaDepartment of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
Paolo BoffettaDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Monireh Sadat SeyyedsalehiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9063-9128

Funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBenzene is an established Group 1 carcinogen due to its leukemogenic properties. Recent studies suggest that occupational benzene exposure may be associated with solid cancers. However, little is known about its association with male genital cancers. We aimed to summarize the scientific evidence on occupational benzene exposure and the risk of male genital cancers.

methodsWe searched for relevant articles in three electronic databases. Methodological quality and the certainty of evidence were evaluated using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment tool. We performed pooled and stratified meta-analyses, as well as meta-regressions to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

resultsThirty-one publications were included. Pooled results of incidence and mortality for prostate and testis cancer did not indicate a significant association with occupational benzene exposure. A borderline association was found for the incidence of prostate cancer (standardized incidence ratio (SIR): 1.07, 95% CI 0.97-1.19). Subgroup analyses stratified by study design and study quality revealed significant heterogeneity, with case-control (relative risk (RR): 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.36) and high-quality studies (RR: 1.22, 95% CI 1.14-1.31) showing an increased risk. Both NOS and GRADE assessments yielded mostly low to very low-quality results.

conclusionsThis review provides no clear evidence of an association between occupational exposure to benzene and the risk of male genital cancers. Subgroup analysis suggests an increased risk of prostate cancer in high-quality studies. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the methodological limitations of the available studies. Further analyses including methodologically sound studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

Indexed as

BenzeneGenital Neoplasms, MaleOccupational DiseasesOccupational ExposureProstatic NeoplasmsTesticular NeoplasmsHumansIncidenceMaleBenzenebenzenemale genital canceroccupational exposureoccupational healthprostate cancer

Identifiers

PMID40420647
PMCPMC12242111

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.