Cancer incidence among asbestos‐exposed chemical industry workers: An extended observation period

Abstract

A previous study on the incidence of cancer in a cohort of 286 asbestos-exposed electrochemical industry workers observed from 1953 through 1980 has been extended with another 8 years of follow-up. The incidence of cancer was derived from the Cancer Registry of Norway, and the expected figures were calculated by a life table method. During the extended follow-up period from 1981 through 1988, among the cohort members there were 12 new cancer cases versus 14.2 expected (SIR 85, 95% CI 44-158). In a lightly exposed sub-cohort, the extended follow-up revealed 4 cases of lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma (ICD, 7th revision 162-163) versus 1.6 cases expected (SIR 256, 95% CI71-654). In a heavily exposed sub-cohort, the corresponding figures were 3 and 0.5 (SIR 588, 95% CI 118-1,725).

A state of the science review of the potential health hazards associated with asbestos in shielded metal arc welding rods in the United States

“…asbestos sprayers, cigarette filter workers, construction workers, shipyard workers, electrochemical plant workers, garage mechanics, locomotive drivers, railroad maintenance workers, and rock salt workers) as well as end users, were the subjects of epidemiology studies (Oksa et al 1997;Talcott et al 1989;Hilt et al 1991;Tarchi et al 1994;Fletcher, Engholm, and Englund 1993;Nokso et al 1994;Ohlson, Klaesson, and Hogstedt 1984;Gustavsson et al 1990;Sanden and Jarvholm 1992).…”

Cancer and the workplace

“…In the Nordic countries, where citizens are assigned identification numbers that are used in a variety of governmental data systems, census data can be linked electronically with occupational data and with cancer registration data to permit direct calculation of cancer rates in workers in specific industries. A number of studies of occupational cancer have been published on workers in Denmark, 28 Norway, 29 and Sweden 30 . By linking census data with national cancer registries, a collaborative group found increased risks for bladder and lung cancer in hairdressers in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden 31 …”