Case-series investigation of intracranial neoplasms at a petrochemical research facility
✍ Scribed by Elizabeth Delzell; Colleen Beall; Brad Rodu; Peter S.J. Lees; Patrick N. Breysse; Philip Cole
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 159 KB
- Volume
- 36
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0271-3586
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Background From 1970 through 1997, 17 intracranial neoplasms were identi®ed among 6,800 employees of a petrochemical research facility. This investigation describes the case±series. Methods The intracranial neoplasms were identi®ed by self reports and record linkages, and were con®rmed by medical records and a pathology review. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) compare observed and expected numbers of cases according to certain work characteristics. Results Overall, there were 17 observed and 10.5 expected intracranial neoplasms, including 11/4.7 benign intracranial tumors and 6/5.9 brain cancers. All brain cancers occurred among male research scientists or technicians. Four had worked at some time on the same ¯oor of one building (SIR 12.6, 95% CI 3.4±32.1), and several had worked on a research project with at least one other brain cancer case. The benign intracranial neoplasm cases did not have common building assignments or work activities.
Conclusions The occurrence pattern of brain cancers, but not that of benign tumors, suggests a possible occupational etiology.