Cancer incidence and cause specific mortality among workers in two Norwegian aluminum reduction plants
✍ Scribed by Pȧl Romundstad; Tor Haldorsen; Aage Andersen
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2000
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 139 KB
- Volume
- 37
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0271-3586
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✦ Synopsis
Background Concern about the health hazards in the aluminum industry has initiated this study where we have investigated associations between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and ¯uorides, and cancer incidence and cause speci®c mortality among workers in two Norwegian aluminum plants in operation since 1954 and 1957, respectively. Methods The study was designed as a historical cohort study and comprised 5627 identi®ed men employed for more than six months. Cancer incidence was investigated from start of employment to 1995, and cause speci®c mortality was investigated from 1962 to 1995. The observed cases of cancers and observed deaths were compared with expected numbers calculated from national rates. Internal comparisons were made using Poisson regression with age and smoking included in the models. Historical exposure to PAH and ¯uoride had been estimated previously by use of statistical modeling on industrial hygiene measurements and process parameters. A job exposure matrix was used to investigate possible associations between cumulative exposures, and cancer incidence and cause speci®c mortality. Smoking habits were identi®ed for 92% of the cohort members.
Results
The study showed a signi®cant excess risk for urinary bladder cancer among workers exposed to PAH, but no clear dose±response relationship. When using a 30-year lag period, a signi®cant excess of bladder cancer in the highest exposure category (b 2000 "g/m 3 Á year PAH) was shown (SIR 4.08). The data also suggested an association between exposure to PAH and pancreatic cancer, but no association with lung cancer was seen. The mortality analysis indicated an association between exposure to potroom emissions (¯uorides) and mortality from chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, but no associations with cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions The study ®ndings are compatible with an excess risk for bladder cancer for aluminum plant workers exposed to PAH. The increased risk for cancer of the pancreas indicated, should be further evaluated in larger exposed populations. Am.