Mortality and cancer morbidity in a cohort of Canadian petroleum workers

Abstract

Aims:To assess mortality and cancer morbidity in Canadian petroleum workers and explore exposure-response relations for specific petroleum agents.Methods:A total of 25 292 employees hired between 1964 and 1994 were linked to the Canadian tumour registry and national mortality database. Exposure-response trends were assessed for hydrocarbon solvents/fuels, hydrocarbon lubricants, petroleum coke/spent catalyst, and hydrogen sulphide (H2S).Results:External comparison analyses (mortality and incidence) showed deficits for all causes and all malignant neoplasms combined and were consistent with expectation for most malignant and non-malignant sites analysed. Gall bladder cancer mortality was increased among males based on four deaths, but cases had no common job assignments and the increase was focused in workers employed <10 years. Mesothelioma incidence was increased. Most exposure-specific analyses were compromised by small numbers. Statistically significant increases were observed for H2S exposure and a subgroup of accidental deaths as well as for petroleum coke/spent catalyst exposure and lung cancer. While both findings have a degree of biologic plausibility, the H2S association, which exhibited a clearer exposure-response pattern, could be subject to unmeasured confounders. Additionally, interpretation was complicated by the high correlation between hydrocarbon and H2S exposures. With regard to lung cancer, the analysis could not adequately control for smoking, was based on small numbers, and exhibited a tenuous exposure-response pattern.Conclusion:The findings for mesothelioma suggest the need for continued attention to asbestos in the petroleum industry. The relation between accidental deaths and H2S exposure deserves closer scrutiny in similarly exposed populations. Further analyses of lung cancer are underway and will be reported separately.

Offshore work and the work of nurses on board: an integrative review

“…The following international journals stood out: Occupational Environmental Medicine (14,17,(25)(26)(34)(35)(36) , Morbidity and Mortality Weekly …”

“…Offshore work in health and safety (1,17) The work of offshore nurses (2,11,38) Litter team (11) Rescue of offshore victims with use of helicopters (1,3,12,15,17,25,(35)(36)38) In search of safe practices Legislation (1)(2)(9)(10)15,24,27,33) Development programs (1,(12)(13)15,(18)(19)(22)(23)(24)(25)27,33,37) Source: Research data.…”

“…Leukemia is a disease of particular concern in this industry because of its association with exposure to benzene. The causes of these cancers are related not only to the workplace, but also to the roles played, showing that exposure to specific agents has significant relation with the development of disease or not (14,30,32,(35)(36) .…”

“…In the event of serious accidents, there is concern with reducing the number of victims and due to that, all workers should act to minimize or resolve the existing dangers related to physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic risks, both psychosocial and of the accident (36) . Given that platform installations operate far from the coastline, they need a certain degree of autonomy.…”

Suggested excess of occupational cancers in Norwegian offshore workers: preliminary results from the Cancer Registry Offshore Cohort

“…cancer forms, such as mesothelioma, hematopoietic cancers, malignant melanoma, cancer of the lung, and cancer of the prostate (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Based on this, our attention was primarily directed towards cancer of the lung, pleura, prostate, melanoma of the skin, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.…”