Lung cancer mortality in the German chromate industry, 1958 to 1998.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a mortality study of two German chromate production facilities and evaluated possible dose-response relationships between hexavalent chromium exposure and lung cancer.


METHODS
Mortality was followed-up through 1998 and limited to those employed since each plant converted to a no-lime production process. More than 12,000 urinalysis results of chromium levels were available, as was smoking information.


RESULTS
All-cause mortality indicated a healthy worker effect (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.67-0.96); however, lung cancers appeared to be increased (SMR = 1.48, 95% CI = 0.93-2.25). No clear dose-response was found in stratified analyses by duration of employment and time since hire. On the basis of urinary chromium data, lung cancer risk was elevated only in the highest exposure group (SMR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.08-3.65).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a possible threshold effect of occupational hexavalent chromium exposure on lung cancer.
Birk
Thomas
T
ENVIRON Germany GmbH, Essen, Germany. tbirk@environcorp.com
Mundt
Kenneth A
KA
Dell
Linda D
LD
Luippold
Rose S
RS
Miksche
Leopold
L
Steinmann-Steiner-Haldenstaett
Wolfgang
W
Mundt
Diane J
DJ
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002423:Cause of Death; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002840:Chromates; D002857:Chromium / Q000652:urine; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate
D015415:Biomarkers; D002840:Chromates; D002857:Chromium