Mortality of mastic asphalt workers.
This study was conducted to investigate the adverse health effects of exposure to bitumen fumes. A cohort of 679 mastic asphalt workers was followed from 1959 to 10 June 1986, during this period 169 deaths occurred. The overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 163 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 141-190), the SMR was 225 (95% CI 172-288) for cancer and 223 (95% CI 130-358) for external causes. Among persons aged 40 to 89 years, significant increases were seen for lung cancer (SMR 290, 95% CI 188-429), nonpulmonary cancer (SMR 200, 95% CI 141-276), and liver cirrhosis (SMR 467, 95% CI 188-962). Bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma also occurred in excess (SMR 207, 95% CI 95-393). In conclusion, the inhalation of bitumen fumes may have contributed to the elevated mortality from cancer and respiratory diseases among mastic asphalt workers.
Hansen
E S
ES
Institute of Community Health, University of Odense, Denmark.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects