Lung cancer mortality among a cohort of male chromate pigment workers in Japan.
In 1975, five manufacturers of chromate pigment in Japan were examined in a study of the carcinogenicity of chromates. These companies were producing lead chromate, zinc chromate, molybdate orange and/or strontium chromate. The current study covers a cohort of 666 workers involved in the manufacture of chromate pigment for at least 1 year between 1950 and 1975. The workers were followed up for 15-40 years, until 1989. Many previous reports have found an excess lung cancer risk among workers involved in the manufacture of chromate pigments and chromate chemicals. In the current study, subjects were classified on the basis of years worked, years of observation, characteristics of company, type of work engaged in for the longest period of time, and involvement in the manufacture of zinc chromate. Mortality was compared with that of all Japanese males by means of the person-year method. The route of exposure was primarily inhalation through the respiratory system. None of the results showed statistically significant differences that would suggest an excess risk for malignant neoplasms, particularly lung cancer, among workers engaged in the manufacture of chromate pigment in Japan.
Kano
K
K
Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Horikawa
M
M
Utsunomiya
T
T
Tati
M
M
Satoh
K
K
Yamaguchi
S
S
D002423:Cause of Death; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002840:Chromates / Q000506:poisoning*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000506:poisoning; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000506:poisoning; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D013324:Strontium / Q000506:poisoning; D015032:Zinc / Q000506:poisoning; D017967:Zinc Compounds
D002840:Chromates; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C023616:zinc chromate; C080292:molybdate orange; C048629:strontium chromate; C027373:potassium chromate(VI); C028982:sodium chromate(VI); D008982:Molybdenum; D015032:Zinc; D013324:Strontium