Lung cancer mortality and iron oxide exposure in a French steel-producing factory

Abstract

This study did not detect any relationship between exposure to iron oxides and lung cancer mortality. An excess of mortality from bladder cancer was found among workers exposed to oil mist.

Bladder cancer and occupational exposure to metalworking fluid mist: a counter-matched case–control study in French steel-producing factories

“…Data from two of the six factories (initial cohort 1) were gathered during our previous study 5. For the remaining four factories (initial cohort 2), cohort members were identified based on payroll records.…”

“…In a previous study of mortality in French steel-producing factories, we assessed occupational exposure based on a factory-specific job-exposure matrix (JEM) 5. Secondary results indicated excess mortality from bladder cancer for workers exposed to oil mist (Relative Risk (RR)=2.44, 95% CI 1.06 to 5.60) 5…”

Human inhalation exposure to iron oxide particles

“…Epidemiological evidence on exposed cohorts from these four groups indicates higher risk of lung fibrosis, siderosis, and silicosis. In addition, iron oxide exposure is suspected to lead to an increased risk of lung cancer for workers in these industries [14,15]. However, these studies contain several methodological drawbacks, due in part to their retrospective nature, that do not directly correlate iron oxide exposure with the observed health effects, perpetuating the uncertainty of a causal relationship.…”

“…The following studies summarized in Table 1 on workers in steel factories show inconsistent results and have shared a similar concomitant exposure problem. Bourgkard et al investigated a cohort of 16,742 males and 959 females employed for at least 1 year in a French carbon steel-producing factory between 1959 and 1997 [14]. Overall, no correlation was determined between iron oxide exposure and mortality from lung cancer relative risk adjusted with asbestos, silica, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposures (RR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.55-1.17).…”

Evaluation of Health Consequences of Air Pollution Induced by Beam Rolling Mills Factory (Iran)

“…Some studies also reveal that steel workers with exposure to polluted workplace had 14% increased risk of lung and stomach cancer (Zhaoyi et al, 1998) and cancer morbidity (Yeon-Soon et al, 2006). On similar lines, several studies were conducted to assess the effect of pollution generated by iron and steel factories and risk to the health of workers as well as residence in the nearby areas (Chai et al, 2004;Hoshuyama et al, 2006;Amal et al, 2008;Bourgkard et al, 2008).…”