Silicosis and lung cancer risk in underground uranium miners

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Health Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199404000-00012· OSTI ID:258993

Samet, J M; Pathak, D R; Morgan, M V ^[1]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States); and others

The presence of radiographic silicosis as a risk factor for lung cancer was assessed in a case-control study conducted within a study cohort of New Mexico underground uranium miners. Chest radiographs were interpreted for the presence of silicosis for 65 lung cancer cases and 216 controls. The presence of silicosis on the chest radiograph taken closest to the start of employment or on the latest radiograph available was not associated with lung cancer risk after adjustment for cumulative exposure to radon progeny. The odds ratio associated with the presence of any type of opacity indicative of pneumoconiosis on the chest x ray closest to the start of employment was 1.33 (95% confidence interval, 0.31-5.72). For the most recent available chest x ray, the corresponding odds ratio was 1.16 (95% confidence interval, 0.35-3.84). Although the findings are limited by the relatively small number of subjects, the lack of association of silicosis with lung cancer suggests that silica exposure should not be regarded as a major uncertainty in extrapolating radon risk estimates from miners to the general population. 20 refs., 1 fig., 1 fig.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG04-90ER60950
• OSTI ID: 258993
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 66; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
CHEST
CORRELATIONS
LUNGS
MINERS
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PNEUMOCONIOSES
PROGENY
RADON
RISK ASSESSMENT
URANIUM MINES