A cohort mortality study of workers exposed to chlorinated organic solvents in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
A retrospective cohort mortality study based on standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) was conducted to investigate the possible association between exposure to chlorinated organic solvents and various types of cancer deaths.


METHODS
Vital status and causes of death of study subjects were determined from January 1, 1985 to December 31, 1997 by linking cohort data with the National Mortality Database. Person-year accumulation began on the date of entry to the cohort, or January 1, 1985 (whichever came later), and ended on the closing date of the study (December 31, 1997), if alive; or the date of death.


RESULTS
This retrospective cohort study examined cancer mortality among 86,868 workers at an electronics factory in the northern Taiwan. Using various durations of employment and latency and adjusting for age and calendar year, no significantly elevated SMR was found for any cancer in either male or female exposed workers when compared with the general Taiwanese population. In particular, the risk of female breast cancer was not found to be increased. Although ovarian cancer suggested an upward trend when analyzed by length of employment, ovarian cancer risk for the entire female cohort was not elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that this study provided no evidence that exposure to chlorinated organic solvents was associated with human cancer risk.
Chang
Yung-Ming
YM
Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Tai
Chi-Fu
CF
Yang
Sweo-Chung
SC
Chen
Chiou-Jong
CJ
Shih
Tung-Sheng
TS
Lin
Ruey S
RS
Liou
Saou-Hsing
SH
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*
D012997:Solvents; D014241:Trichloroethylene; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene