Lung cancer mortality and carbon black exposure: a nested case-control study at a German carbon black production plant.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to conduct a case-control study of lung cancer nested within a cohort of 1528 German carbon black workers, 1976-1998.


METHODS
The authors conducted risk-set sampling of two controls matched on year of birth and conditional logistic regression modeling of cumulative carbon black exposure, duration of work in different departments, feedstock contact, asbestos exposure, smoking, age at hire, exposures before the carbon black job, and serving as a soldier in World War II or being a prisoner of war. Analyses were performed with both the full cohort and members of an inception cohort subset. Exposures were lagged by 10 years.


RESULTS
Analysis of 50 lung cancer deaths showed no association to carbon black exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon black exposure was not linked to lung cancer risk. Suggestions of positive associations with asbestos exposure, feedstock contact, and work in specific departments are inconclusive due to small numbers.
Büchte
Sebastian F
SF
Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeitsmedizin, Sozialmedizin und Sozialhygiene der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany. Sebastian.Buechte@RAG.DE
Morfeld
Peter
P
Wellmann
Jürgen
J
Bolm-Audorff
Ulrich
U
McCunney
Robert J
RJ
Piekarski
Claus
C
D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007219:Industrial Oils / Q000009:adverse effects; D007221:Industry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D053260:Soot / Q000009:adverse effects*
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D053260:Soot; D001194:Asbestos