[Mortality in the French paper and pulp industry].
BACKGROUND
The objective was to describe a possible cancer mortality risk in relation with the occupational exposure within an International study co-ordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.


METHODS
An epidemiological cohort study was set up to assess the mortality in four French pulp and paper companies. The four cohorts were followed up from January 1st 1968 to December 31st 1992. The causes of death were ascertained by matching with the national file of causes of death.


RESULTS
The full cohort consisted in 5,529 men and 876 women. The total numbers of subjects deceased between 1968 and 1992 were respectively 708 and 34. Causes of death could be traced for 98%. The observed mortality was significantly lower than the expected for all causes of deaths (SMR = 0.86) as well for all deaths by cancer (SMR = 0.87). The analysis by departments showed an excess mortality by cancer of the pancreas in the wood preparation department (SMR = 3.14) as well as in the paper production department (SMR = 2.04).


CONCLUSIONS
In absence of any prior hypothesis, it is difficult to assign an occupational origin to these observed excesses. The future results of the international study will enable us to interpret these results more precisely.
Wild
P
P
Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité, Service épidémiologie, Vandoeuvre.
Bergeret
A
A
Moulin
J J
JJ
Lahmar
A
A
Hours
M
M
D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D010209:Paper; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
Une étude de mortalité dans l'industrie française du papier et de la pâte à papier.