Mortality of workers in the British cotton industry in 1968-1984.

Abstract

HODGSON JT, JONES RD. Mortality of workers in the British cotton industry in 1968-1984. Scand J Work Environ Health 199016:113-20. The mortality of 3458 cotton industry workers originally enrolled in a study of respiratory symptoms in the period [1968][1969][1970] was followed to the end of 1984. Both the total mortality and the mortality from respiratory disease were less than expected, and they both decreased as length of service increased. However, for the subjects who initiallyreported byssinotic symptoms, the mortality from respiratory disease was slightly raised overall, and it increased with length of service. These patterns of mortality indicate a survivor effect (ie, a tendency for those with respiratory weakness to leave the industry), together with a long-term effect reflected in respiratory mortality on the health of those workers susceptible to the effects of cotton dust. The mortality from lung cancer was lower than expected, and it decreased with length of service. This finding is consistent with other observations that exposure to cotton dust may reduce the risk of lung cancer.

Cancer among women textile workers in Shanghai, China: Overall incidence patterns, 1989–1998

“…Our finding of a decreased lung cancer incidence in the textile industry is consistent with previously reported findings among predominantly male cohorts of cotton mill workers [Henderson and Enterline, 1973;Merchant and Ortmeyer, 1981;Hodgson and Jones, 1990]. Corroborative evidence for a reduced lung cancer risk among women textile workers derives from a population-based case-control study conducted in Shanghai which reported odds ratios of 0.8 and 0.9 for textile employment for smokers and non-smokers, respectively [Levin et al, 1987].…”

“…This determination was based on evidence indicating elevated risks for bladder cancer among textile dye workers and weavers, and sinonasal cancer among weavers exposed to various dusts [IARC, 1990]. Deficits of lung cancer among cotton textile workers have been observed in several cohort studies [Henderson and Enterline, 1973;Merchant and Ortmeyer, 1981;Hodgson and Jones, 1990]. Most epidemiologic evidence regarding cancer risks has been based on studies of male workers.…”

Occupational dust exposure and the risk of laryngeal cancer in Turkey

“…In our previous report, we found an excess risk of supraglottic tumors among blue-collar textile workers exposed to cotton dust among their occupational exposures (10). The bacterial endotoxins found in cotton dust induce the release of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) interferon and stimulate mitogenic and macrophage activity, which play an important protective role against lung cancer among cotton workers (37,38). This protective activity of endotoxins may not apply to laryngeal cancer.…”

Mortality studies of machining fluid exposure in the automobile industry IV; a case-control study of lung cancer

“…If sensitivity to the acute effects of exposure were linked to lung cancer susceptibility and/or cigarette smoking, selective attrition of susceptible workers could lead to a healthy worker survivor effect, with the appearance of an inverse dose-response relationship. Such a mechanism has been proposed for cotton industry workers as well [Hodgson and Jones, 1990]. Chance variations in smoking patterns are unlikely given the large overall size of the study, the use of an internal analysis, and the use of a matched analysis to control for year of birth sex, race, and plant [Siemiatycki et al, 1988].…”