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Chimney sweeps' cancer, also called soot wart or scrotal cancer, is a squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum. It has the distinction of being the first reported form of occupational cancer , and was initially identified by Percivall Pott in 1775. [ 1 ]
Percivall Pott, engraved from an original picture by Nathaniel Dance-Holland, National Library of Medicine, Images from the History of Medicine.. Percivall Pott (6 January 1714, in London – 22 December 1788) was an English surgeon, one of the founders of orthopaedics, and the first scientist to demonstrate that cancer may be caused by an environmental carcinogen, namely chimney sweeps ...
Occupational cancer is cancer caused by occupational hazards. Several cancers have been directly tied to occupational hazards, including chimney sweeps' carcinoma , mesothelioma , and others. Types of hazards
A chimney sweep in Wexford, Ireland in 1850. A chimney sweep is a person who inspects then clears soot and creosote from chimneys. The chimney uses the pressure difference caused by a hot column of gas to create a draught and draw air over the hot coals or wood enabling continued combustion. Chimneys may be straight or contain many changes of ...
The first cause of cancer was identified by British surgeon Percivall Pott, who discovered in 1775 that cancer of the scrotum was a common disease among chimney sweeps. [ citation needed ] The work of other individual physicians led to various insights, but when physicians started working together they could draw firmer conclusions.
This cancer was a manifestation of scrotal squamous cell carcinoma which had first been noted in 1775 by Sir Percival Pott in climbing boys or chimney sweepers. It was the first industrially related cancer to be identified and was originally called soot wart, then chimney sweeps cancer. He describes it:
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Studies conducted before smoking and lung cancer were scientifically related connected a higher rate of smoking to lung cancer incidence, and eventually mortality 20 years later. [2] In 1775, Percivall Pott’s discovery of the high incidence of scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps demonstrated that charred organic substances were carcinogenic.