Mortality from lung cancer and respiratory disease among pottery workers exposed to silica and talc

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6699008

Thomas, T L; Stewart, P A

A cohort mortality study of white men employed for at least one year between 1939 and 1966 at three plants of a single United States company was conducted to evaluate the risk of lung cancer and nonmalignant respiratory disease among workers exposed to silica dust and nonfibrous (nonasbestiform) talc in the manufacture of ceramic plumbing fixtures. Follow-up of 2055 men through January 1, 1981, indicated a substantial excess of nonmalignant respiratory disease among those with high levels of exposure to silica dust (standardized mortality ratio = 2.26). The risk of nonmalignant respiratory disease rose with the number of years exposed, was not further enhanced by talc exposure, and appeared to be appreciably lower among those exposed in more recent time periods. For lung cancer, men exposed to high levels of silica dust with no talc exposure had a nonsignificant standardized mortality ratio of 1.37. However, those exposed to nonfibrous talc in addition to high levels of silica had a significant 2.5-fold excess risk of lung cancer. Among this group, the lung cancer standardized mortality ratio rose with increasing years of talc exposure to 3.64 among those exposed for 15 or more years. Although the role of silica as a cofactor cannot be ruled out, these data suggest that nonfibrous talc exposure is associated with excess lung cancer risk.

• Research Organization: National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 6699008
• Journal Information: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Epidemiol.; (United States) Vol. 125:1; ISSN AJEPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BODY
CERAMICS INDUSTRY
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
DUSTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
LUNGS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM SILICATES
MINERALS
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PERSONNEL
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SILICA
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
TALC
TIME DEPENDENCE
TOXICITY