Document Detail


Silica, silicosis and lung-cancer: results from a cohort study in the stone and quarry industry.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15156325     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Workers compensated for silicosis outside the mining industry are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In the meta-analyses no data from Germany are involved. Furthermore, exposure data are necessary if a threshold value is to be assessed in order to reduce the risk for silicosis and also for lung cancer. METHOD: A cohort study among workers compensated for silicosis between 1988 and 2000 from the stone and quarry industry in Germany has been initiated. The cohort was followed up until the end of 2001. From all workers a detailed description of their jobs was assessed. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty workers were enrolled in the study. During the follow-up 144 workers died, compared with 74.35 expected cases based on the mortality rates of the general population from Germany, leading to a standard mortality ratio (SMR) of 1.94 (95% CI 1.63-2.28). Lung cancer was the cause of death in 16 cases (SMR 2.40; 95% CI 1.37-3.90). All workers had a peak exposure above 0.15 mg/m3, the current threshold value. The cumulative exposure was above 2 mg/m3.years and the average exposure was 0.10 mg/m3 or larger. No association between the exposure and the risk of developing lung cancer could be observed. CONCLUSIONS: Workers from the stone and quarry industry compensated for silicosis are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer. In order to reduce that risk, the exposure has to be lowered, with a peak exposure below 0.15 mg/m3 and an average exposure below 0.10 mg/m3.
Authors:
K Ulm; P Gerein; J Eigenthaler; S Schmidt; H Ehnes
Related Documents :
21314805 - Retrospective analysis on coexisting ovarian cancer in 976 patients with clinical stage...
14516145 - Trends in asbestos body counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid over two decades.
6662095 - Cancer risk from asbestos in drinking water: summary of a case-control study in western...
2328225 - Mortality experience of haematite mine workers in china.
10936785 - Improving diagnostic accuracy of prostate carcinoma by systematic random map-biopsy.
10635385 - Surgical treatment of thyroid papillary carcinoma: current controversies.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2004-05-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  International archives of occupational and environmental health     Volume:  77     ISSN:  0340-0131     ISO Abbreviation:  Int Arch Occup Environ Health     Publication Date:  2004 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-07-08     Completed Date:  2004-11-04     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7512134     Medline TA:  Int Arch Occup Environ Health     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  313-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2004 Springer-Verlag
Affiliation:
Institute for Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Strasse 22, Munich, Germany. kurt.ulm@imse.med.tu-muenchen.de
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cohort Studies
Germany
Humans
Lung Neoplasms / chemically induced*,  mortality
Male
Middle Aged
Mining*
Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
Silicon Dioxide / toxicity*
Silicosis / complications*,  mortality
Smoking / adverse effects
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
7631-86-9/Silicon Dioxide

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Dry heat loss in incubator: comparison of two premature newborn sized manikins.
Next Document:  The peptide nucleic acids (PNAs): introduction to a new class of probes for chromosomal investigatio...