Mortality and cancer experience of Quebec aluminum reduction plant workers. Part I: The reduction plants and coal tar pitch volatile (CTPV) exposure assessment

Journal Article · Sat Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181484cf3· OSTI ID:20969868

Lavoue, J; Gerin, M; Cote, J; Lapointe, R ^[1]

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1. University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ (Canada)

This paper presents the exposure assessment and job-exposure matrix (JEM) used to estimate coal tar pitch volatile (CTPV) exposure for a study of mortality and cancer incidence in aluminum smelter workers in Quebec, Canada. Historical CTPV exposure was assessed by estimating benzene-soluble material (BSM) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) levels for combinations of job and time period. Estimates were derived by using several procedures including averaging measurement data, a deterministic mathematical model using process-related correction factors, and expert-based extrapolation. The JEM comprised 28,910 jobs, covering 7 facilities from 1916 to 1999. Estimated exposures ranged from 0.01 {mu} g/m{sup 3} to 68.08 {mu} g/m{sup 3} (B(a)P) and 0.01 mg/m{sup 3} to 3.64 mg/m{sup 3} (BSW) and were lowest before 1940 and after 1980. This methodology constitutes an improvement compared with methods used for previous studies of the Quebec cohort.

• OSTI ID: 20969868
• Journal Information: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Journal Name: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 49; ISSN JOEMFM; ISSN 1076-2752
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
ALUMINIUM
BENZOPYRENE
CANADA
COAL TAR
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
PITCHES
VOLATILE MATTER