Occupational exposure and brain tumors.

Epidemiological evidence of an occupational risk of brain cancer has been reported in four industries where chemical exposures are likely, most recently in a series of prospective studies in the petrochemical industry. However, only in the case of vinyl chloride exposure has an occupational central nervous system carcinogen been identified. This report reviews the convergence of epidemiological and laboratory evidence that established the occupational carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride, and discusses in detail the current evidence for an occupational risk of brain tumors in the petrochemical industry.