Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (아시아태평양암예방학회)
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Complications and Carcinogenic Effects of Mustard Gas - a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Iran

  • Panahi, Yunes (Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Gholami, Nasrin (Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University Medical Sciences) ;
  • Ghojazadeh, Morteza (Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease Research Center, Tabriz University Medical Sciences) ;
  • Moslemi, Farnaz (Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University Medical Sciences) ;
  • Naghavi-Behzad, Mohammad (Students' Research Committee, Tabriz University Medical Sciences) ;
  • Azami-Aghdash, Saber (Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Ghaffari, Alireza (Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University Medical Sciences) ;
  • Piri, Reza (Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University Medical Sciences)
  • Published : 2015.12.03
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Abstract

Background: Catastrophic effects of mustard gas as a chemical warfare agent have always been a major problem for those exposed to this agent. In this meta-analysis it was tried to evaluate carcinogenesis, ocular, cutaneous and respiratory complications of mustard gas exposure among Iranians who had been exposed to this agent during the Iran-Iraq war. Materials and Methods: In this meta-analysis, the required data were collected using keywords "mustard gas", "sulfur mustard", "cancer", "neoplasm", "respiratory complications", "ocular complications", "lung disease", "chronic complication", "eye", "skin", "cutaneous complication", "carcinogenesis" and their combination with keywords "Iran", "Iranian", "prevalence", "mortality" and their Farsi equivalent terms from the databases of SID, Iranmedex, Magiran, Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Search engine, Gray Literature and Reference of References. To determine the prevalence of each complication and perform meta-analysis, CMA: 2 (Comprehensive Meta-Analysis) software with a randomized model was used. Results: Of the 542 articles found, 7 national articles, consistent with the aims of this study were selected. Meta-analysis of seven papers revealed that cancer risk, especially cancer of the respiratory system was elevated, so that the relative risk (RR) of cancer role of mustard gas was inconsistent from 2/1 to 4 in this survey. Also prevalence of delayed skin disorders due to sulfur mustard was 94.6%, pulmonary complications 94.5% and ocular complications 89.9%. The incidence of various cancers in victims exposed to mustard gas was 1.7% worldwide where the rate was 2.2% in Iranian victims of the Iraq-Iran war. Conclusions: Based on present study the prevalence of delayed mustard gas related cutaneous, pulmonary and ocular complications is above 90% and risk of carcinogenesis is higher in comparison to worldwide statistics. This may suggest need for long-term and persistent follow-up and rehabilitation procedures for populations exposed to this agent.

Keywords

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