Printing ink as a risk factor for urinary bladder neoplasm

Abstract

This is a case control study conducted in Khartoum state during the period from April 2006 to October 2007. The study aimed to asses the industrial hazard among workers in printing industry (primary aromatic amines), which induce bladder cancer, and detecting the cellular changes associated with, using Pap stain. 150 urine cytological specimens were collected, 100 specimens were collected from printing industry workers which divided into two groups, the first group samples were collected from workers who were in direct contact with printing ink such as printing technicians and the second group samples were collected from workers who were not in direct contact with printing ink including other occupations in side the printing industry, such as book binders, packaging workers, photographers, etc, (cases). And 50 urine specimens were collected from non-printing industries workers (controls). This urine samples processed and microscopically examined. The cytological smears revealed the following findings: Many superficial squamous cells were found in 24 (24%) specimens, all of them from case group. most of specimens showed dense inflammatory infiltrate and the chronic inflammatory cells detected in 19 (19%) of the case group and in 6 (12%) of control group. 5(5%) of the cases showed acute inflammation, with 0 (0%) of control group. other cells including basal and Para basal cells, umbrella cells detected in 29 (29%) samples all of them from case group. Cells with dysplastic feature detected in 5 (5%) specimens from the case group with P-value (0.028), no similar finding in control group. The result was only significant at the 5% level for the presence of cells with dysplastic feature among workers in direct contact with printing ink.