Silicosis and risk of lung cancer or lung tuberculosis: a cohort study

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-9351(86)80195-5· OSTI ID:5088386

Westerholm, P; Ahlmark, A; Maasing, R; Segelberg, I

This is a study of cancer mortality, cancer incidence, and incidence of lung tuberculosis among cases of silicosis reported to the National Swedish Pneumoconiosis Register during 1959-1977. Two occupational categories were extracted - mining, tunneling, and quarrying (n = 284) and iron and steel foundries (n = 428), respectively. Control groups were drawn from a national register of persons undergoing periodic health examinations with regard to silicosis risk. The controls were matched for occupation, age, and time of first exposure. In cases drawn from mining, quarrying, and tunneling workers seven deaths in lung cancer were observed and two among the controls. Among iron and steel foundry workers the corresponding numbers were 10 and 6. The values for expected numbers, based on general population statistics, were 1.3 and 2.6, respectively, for these two occupational groups. When cancer incidence statistics were used, the case/control ratio for lung cancer was 2.1 for mining, quarrying, and tunneling and 0.6 for iron and steel foundries. There were 29 cases of lung tuberculosis registered among the silicosis cases during the follow-up period. Only one tuberculosis case was observed among the controls. The results demonstrate that persons with silicosis contracted in the mining, quarrying, and tunneling occupations are subject to an increased risk of lung cancer.

• Research Organization: Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions, Stockholm
• OSTI ID: 5088386
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Vol. 41:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
DISEASE INCIDENCE
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
PNEUMOCONIOSES
SILICA
HEALTH HAZARDS
TUBERCULOSIS
DUSTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOUNDRIES
MINING
MORTALITY
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RISK ASSESSMENT
BACTERIAL DISEASES
BODY
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DISEASES
HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
INFORMATION
MINERALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)