The mortality of coke workers in Britain

Abstract

Two studies of coke workers in Britain, comprising 6,767 men, gave similar results. The proportion of lung cancer deaths was about 20% higher than in manual workers generally. The excess occurred primarily among younger men. The ratio of lung cancers to all other cancers was also higher than expected, with limited data showing no evidence of excessive tobacco consumption. Death rates from other causes were generally favorable. Overall the lung cancer death rates in oven workers were similar to those in non-oven men, but in both studies some indications of a job-specific excess were noted. These findings are compared with results from earlier studies in the United States and Canada where a much higher excess lung cancer mortality was found in oven men, particularly those with longer exposure times. We discuss possible reasons for the differences, and conclude that the results reported now contribute further evidence that exposure to coal carbonization fumes can cause lung cancer.

Mortality of tar distillation workers.

“…This finding is similar to that of Hurley et al (9), who found 18 deaths against 11.9 expected in a group of British coke workers under 45 years of age.…”

“…He provides a list of known or suspected hazards. The findings of both the present study and that of Hurley et al (9) suggest that future hygienic studies of tar distillation and coke oven environments with the aim of identifying such agents might be of value.…”

“…Histories were gathered in the first plaee from company records and were supplemented with information ob-'tained in interviews with current emplo yees or with former emplo yees living locally or with colleagues of former emplo yees (9).…”

“…For example, in studies of British gas workers, Doll et al (4,5) found excess mortality from bronchitis (but only in the first study), as well as from lung cancer and bladder cancer, and Hurley et al (9) reported significant excess mortality from ischemic heart disease in a subgroup of comparatively young British coke workers (aged less than 45 years at death). Studies of workers exposed to coal tars in many different industrial settings have been recently discussed (10,11).…”

Lung cancer among butchers and slaughterhouse workers.

“…Incomplete combustion products are considered the cause of an excess lung cancer risk in other occupational groups (58)(59)(60)(61)(62).…”