Common risk factors in the development of transitional cell carcinoma are smoking, occupational exposure to chemicals, chronic bladder irritation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, arsenic, personal history of cancer in the urinary tract, congenital bladder anomalies, and aristolochic acids.

Environmental exposures account for most cases of bladder cancer.

Common risk factors in the development of transitional cell carcinoma are:^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

• Smoking
  • Smoking tobacco is the strongest risk factor for developing cancer of the renal pelvis or ureter.
  • Risk increases with the length of time a person smokes and with the number of cigarettes smoked.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Phenacetin
• Aromatic amines, such as 2-naphthylamine, benzidine
• Human papilloma virus
• Balkan nephropathy
• Well-characterized carcinogenic chemicals
  • 4-aminobiphenyl
  • 4-nitrobiphenyl
  • 2-amino-1-naphthol
• Occupational exposure to chemicals

• Metal workers
• Painters
• Rubber industry workers
• Textile and electrical workers
• Miners
• Cement workers
• Transport operators
• Excavating-machine operators
• Jobs that involve the manufacture of carpets, paints, plastics, and industrial chemicals.

• Chronic bladder irritation
• Drinking chlorinated water
• High concentrations of arsenic in drinking water
• Decreased fluid intake
• Consumption of Chinese herbs that contain aristolochic acid
• Inflammation
• Chronic urinary tract infection
• Bladder stones
• Schistosoma haematobium

• Trauma
• Chemotherapy

• Cyclophosphamide
• Ifosfamide

• Radiation therapy
• Arsenic
• Congenital bladder anomalies

• Urachus
• Exstrophy

• Urothelial cancers of the renal pelvis and ureter
• Augmentation cystoplasty
• Thiazolidinediones given for diabetes
• Other factors

• Air pollution
• Artificial sweeteners
• Coffee and tea
• Hair dyes

• Genetic effects

• Hereditary
• Mutation in the TP53 gene
• Alterations of the RB gene
• Differences in the endogenous mechanisms responsible for metabolizing chemical carcinogens