title: Feasibility of identifying high-risk occupations through tumor registries.
abstract: The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a population-based tumor registry to identify occupational groups at high risk of developing cancer. The study group comprised 6,424 union members residing in the San Francisco/Oakland Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) who represent six occupations: asbestos workers, bakers, painters, plasterers, plumbers and roofers. Computer linkage of union rosters to the California Tumor Registry (CTR) file identified incident cases of cancer. The CTR's age-sex-year-specific incidence rates were used to calculate the expected number of cancer cases, and estimated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). The results demonstrate, as expected, increased cancer incidence (SIR = 498) for trachea, bronchus, lung and pleura among asbestos workers, a group widely recognized as having high risk for respiratory cancers, and among painters (SIR = 199). Strengths and weaknesses of such an approach are discussed.
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D002140:California; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009790:Occupations; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects; D012042:Registries; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk; D012498:Sanitary Engineering
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos