Mortality of iron-steel workers in Anshan, China: a retrospective cohort study.
Foundry workers have increased mortality and morbidity risks from numerous causes, including various cancers. A retrospective Chinese iron-steel cohort study was conducted to examine the mortality effects of exposure to foundry work. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized rate ratios (SRRs) were calculated to evaluate mortality risks among male workers with exposure to 15 hazardous factors, adjusting for confounders. During 14 years of follow-up, 13,363 of 121,846 male workers died. SMR analysis showed a healthy-worker effect in comparison with the general population. SRR analysis showed increased risks for all causes, all neoplasms, and others among the exposed workers compared with non-exposed blue-collar workers. Combined exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and two or more dusts increased the risks of lung cancer (SRR = 654; 95% CI: 113-3,780) and other malignancies. Foundry work has adverse health effects, including carcinogenic risks.
Hoshuyama
Tsutomu
T
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. hoshuyam@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Pan
Guowei
G
Tanaka
Chieko
C
Feng
Yiping
Y
Yu
Lianzheng
L
Liu
Tiefu
T
Liu
Liming
L
Hanaoka
Tomoyuki
T
Takahashi
Ken
K
D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004391:Dust; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013232:Steel
D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D004391:Dust; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013232:Steel; D007501:Iron