Cancer incidence in a chlorochemical plant in Isère, France: an occupational cohort study, 1979-2002.
BACKGROUND
A major French chlorine chemical plant (chlor-alkali process with diaphragm cell and manufacturing of organochlorine chemicals) has used or produced known or suspected carcinogenic compounds.


METHODS
A cohort study, based on the plant occupational health service and the regional cancer registry, analyzed the standardized incidence ratios of malignant tumors for the period 1979-2002. Individual exposures were estimated from workers' occupational histories in a dual division of jobs into 9 sectors and 115 workshops with known exposures.


RESULTS
Men (2,742) were followed, corresponding to 52,794 person-years. Primary tumors (304) were observed for 290 expected cases, a non-significant 5% excess. A significant excess was found of pleural mesothelioma and bladder cancer in employees hired before 1964.


CONCLUSIONS
Excesses of mesothelioma and bladder cancer were found, whereas there was no excess of hematopoietic cancers despite high benzene and dioxin exposures. Surprisingly, mesothelioma cases did not include workers who were the most exposed to asbestos.
Consultation de Pathologies Professionnelles et Environnementales, Pôle de Santé Publique, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble Cedex, France.
Vincent
V
Bonneterre
Gérard
G
Mathern
Odile
O
Pelen
Anne-Laure
AL
Balthazard
Patricia
P
Delafosse
Nicolas
N
Mitton
Marc
M
Colonna
D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002713:Chlorine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004147:Dioxins / Q000009:adverse effects; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology
D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D004147:Dioxins; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D001194:Asbestos; D002713:Chlorine