Mortality of iron miners in Lorraine (France): relations between lung function and respiratory symptoms and subsequent mortality.

Abstract

An increased mortality from lung and stomach cancer was found in previous studies on Lorraine iron miners. A detailed analysis, however, was not possible due to the lack of data for survivors. In this study the cohort included 1178 workers selected at random from all the 5300 working miners aged between 35 and 55 at the start of the follow up period, which ranged from 1975 to 1985. Occupational exposures and tobacco consumption, lung function tests, and respiratory symptoms were assessed for each subject in 1975, 1980, and 1985. This study confirmed the excess of lung cancer (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 389, p < 0.001) and of stomach cancer (SMR = 273, p < 0.05). There was no excess of lung cancer in non-smokers and moderate smokers (<20 pack-years) or the miners who worked only at the surface or underground for less than 20 years. A significant excess (SMR = 349, p < 0.001) was found in moderate smokers when they worked underground for between 20 and 29 years. Heavy smokers (over 30 pack-years) or subjects who worked underground for more than 30 years experienced a high risk: SMR = 478 (p < 0-001) for moderate smokers who worked underground for over 30 years; 588 (p < 0.001) for heavy smokers who worked underground for between 20 and 29 years; and 877 (p < 0.001) for heavy smokers who worked underground for over 30 years. This showed an interaction between smoking and occupational exposure. The excess mortality from lung cancer was because there were some subjects who died young (from 45 years old).Comparison with the results of a previous study showed that additional hazards produced by diesel engines and explosives increased the mortality from lung cancer. The SMR was higher than 400 (p < 0-001) from 45 years old instead of from 56 years. A relation was found between a decrease in vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and of FEVJIVC and mortality from all causes and from lung cancer in heavy smokers or men who had worked underground for more than 20 years. Respiratory symptoms were related to mortality from lung cancer among smokers (moderate and heavy) who worked underground for more than 20 years. It is considered that the risk of lung cancer in the Lorraine iron miners was mainly due to dust, diesel engines, and explosives although the role of low exposure to radon daughters could not be totally excluded.

Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust and lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

“…We excluded from consideration studies focusing on occupations involving mining because of potential confounding by radon, arsenic, and silica, as well as possible interactions between cigarette smoking and exposure to these substances in lung cancer induction.1-12 Since studies of miners often indicate higher relative risks for lung cancer than those considered in this meta-analysis, this was a conservative exclusion. [12][13][14][15] Forty-seven studies were identified as potentially relevant.1359 Studies were selected for inclusion on the basis ofthe following criteria.…”

340 Cancer incidence and mortality among underground and surface gold miners in Western Australia

“…Hodgson and Jones (1990) observed an overall SMR of 1.58 for lung cancer with a significant linear trend for years worked underground among tin miners (Hodgson and Jones, 1990). In a French iron mine, significantly increased mortality from lung cancer was observed with SMRs increasing by duration worked underground: 1.81 for 1-19 years, 4.23 for 20-29 years and 6.25 for 30 þ years (Chau et al, 1993).…”

“…On the other hand, the numbers of years worked in hard rock underground mines have been associated with an excess lung cancer risk (Hodgson and Jones, 1990;Chau et al, 1993;De Klerk et al, 1995). Underground mining is characterised by high exposures to diesel engine exhaust (Pronk et al, 2009) and silica exposure has been particularly high in the Kalgoorlie underground goldmines (Steenland et al, 2001).…”

Cellular responses induced in vitro by iron (Fe) in a central nervous system cell line (U343MGa)

“…Poisoning caused by excessive Fe in humans has been associated with pulmonary diseases including neoplasms caused by inhalation of Fe oxides (Chau et al, 1993), as well as heart and liver diseases, diabetes, and hormonal and immunological dysfunction (Salonen et al, 1992;Gardi et al, 2002;Trinder et al, 2002). The involvement of iron in neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease (AD and PD, respectively) has been described (Smith et al, 1997;Fasano et al, 2003).…”