Editorial comment

摘要

The occupational and environmental causation of bladder cancer has been recognized since the classic description by Rehn in 1895 of the excess incidence of bladder cancer among German aniline dye workers exposed to aromatic amines. Known and suspected environmental causes of bladder cancer now include cigarette smoking, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, diesel exhaust, arsenic, phenacetin, cy-clophosphamide and ionizing radiation. The publication of this epidemiological study from Taiwan linking bladder cancer to the Chinese herbal medication AA adds to this list.