[Urothelial diseases as an occupational disease]

Abstract

The number of urothelial tumors of the lower urinary tract caused by occupational exposure is expected to markedly exceed the number of diseases which are actually compensated. The German compensation system for diseases is explained using the example of disease number 1301 which applies to bladder diseases due to aromatic amines. A standard procedure for the evaluation of the percentage of disability ("MdE") caused by tumors of the urinary bladder is presented. Important working areas which are associated with an elevated tumor risk of the lower urinary tract are mentioned. Cancerogenic aromatic amines can also be liberated in the human organism from soluble, i. e. bioavailable, azo dyes by reductive cleavage. Therefore, as a first step, a detailed work history (starting from the beginning of apprenticeship) must be obtained in all cases of urothelial tumors because of the very long latency time of tumors of the urothelium which can be up to fourty years and higher.