Development of a cancer research study in the Shanghai textile industry.
This article describes the development of a cancer study among Shanghai textile workers. Due to the organization of work between 1949 and the 1980s, and superior record-keeping practices, it is possible to track textile workers' job tasks and workplace exposures over virtually the entirety of their working lives. The authors' experiences utilized important relationships developed over more than ten years to access work exposures and cancer outcomes. Initial findings indicate a significantly increased risk for breast cancer for women employed in cotton, wool, mixed-fiber, and machine-maintenance sectors. This project is an example of the unique research opportunities to be found in China, and illustrates how these data sources may be lost due to ongoing changes in the Chinese economy.
Camp
Janice E
JE
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. jecamp@u.washington.edu
Seixas
Noah S
NS
Wernli
Karen
K
Fitzgibbons
Dawn
D
Astrakianakis
George
G
Thomas
David B
DB
Gao
Dao Li
DL
Checkoway
Harvey
H
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D032984:Ethics, Research; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012042:Registries; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013783:Textile Industry; D014481:United States
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational