A Proportionate Cancer Morbidity Ratio Study of Workers Exposed to Chlorinated Organic Solvents in Taiwan

Abstract

We initiated an investigation to examine the possible association between the cancer risk and the chlorinated organic solvents exposure in an electronic factory. To obtain information on the incidence of the various types of cancer among the exposed and comparison groups, the cohort populations were merged with the National Mortality Database, the National Cancer Registry Database, and the National Insurance Hospitalization Database from the Department of Health (DOH), as well as the Labor Insurance Hospitalization Database from the Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI). The proportionate cancer morbidity ratio (PCMR) was used to estimate the cancer risk of the exposed workers in comparison with either textile workers or electronics workers. After adjustment for age, only the PCMR for breast cancer in the exposed female employees was significantly elevated when compared with the two comparison groups. The increased risk of breast cancer was mainly found in the category of 1989-1997 for year of diagnosis when stratified by calendar year. However, there was no dose-response relationship between female breast cancer risk and duration of employment. Although some PCMRs for the cancers were also increased in the exposed group, female breast cancer was consistently increased when compared with both textile and electronics comparison groups using different exclusion criteria. The results obtained in the present study suggest a possible association between exposure to chlorinated organic solvents and female breast cancer. Since this association has never been reported in the previous studies, further study is needed to clarify the association.

The health impacts of semiconductor production: an epidemiologic review

“…Lee et al 60 reported that the mortality odds ratio for all cancer (2.07, 1.3-3.27) and for liver cancer (2.57, 1.21-5.46) were significantly higher in male residents living in the downstream community from the waste site, compared to the unexposed ones living in an upstream community. 14 The risk estimates further increased during follow-up. 60 In case of workers inside, based on the industrial hygiene reports and interviews, it was assumed that almost all workers had been exposed to organic solvents during employment.…”

“…In the early 1990s, four workers died and about 200 workers were diagnosed with lead poisoning in one Thailand HDD company, and similar incidents were repeated across India, China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. 14 In the late 1990s, groundwater contamination similar to the San Jose case was identified in Taiwan. 14 In addition, the Korean government has investigated cancer risk among semiconductor workers in response to the rising concern over cancer cluster in Samsung Electronics.…”

“…14 In the late 1990s, groundwater contamination similar to the San Jose case was identified in Taiwan. 14 In addition, the Korean government has investigated cancer risk among semiconductor workers in response to the rising concern over cancer cluster in Samsung Electronics. 15 In the meantime, scientific evaluation of health risks has evolved.…”

Impact of Environmental Contaminants on Breast Cancer / Wpływ Zanieczyszczenia Środowiska Na Raka Piersi

“…The results of a study which examined the possible association between the cancer risk and exposure to the chlorinated organic solvents in an electronic factory in Taiwan suggested a possible association between exposure to chlorinated organic solvents and female breast cancer [107,108]. Investigation of breast cancer risk among relatively young Danish women (20-55 years) employed in industries with extensive use of organic solvents (ie metal product, wood and furniture, printing, chemical and textile and clothing industries) showed that long-term occupational exposure to organic solvents may play a role in breast cancer risk, because the adjusted relative risk for breast cancer for the group with over 10 years of employment was significantly elevated (twofold) [109].…”

“…Organic solvents are ubiquitous in occupational settings where they may contribute to risks for carcinogenesis. Therefore several research groups investigated the effects of organic solvents on human breast carcinogens [103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111].…”