title: Carcinoma of the pharynx and tonsils in an occupational cohort of asphalt workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated a possible association between pharyngeal/tonsillar carcinoma and mixed carcinogen exposures in an asphalt roll company in Italy that used asbestos until 1979, when a new factory was built using a different production process.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated all workers involved in the entire production history of the company, divided into two subcohorts based on exposure status (workers in the original factory, 1964-1979, and those who worked only in the new factory, 1980-1997). We ascertained the vital status of the study population in February 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the subset of workers in the earlier subcohort, there were five deaths from pharyngeal/tonsillar carcinoma for a standardized mortality ratio of 21 (95% confidence interval = 8.8-51). No cases were recorded among workers hired after 1979.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased standardized mortality ratio for this relatively rare cancer among workers exposed before 1979 may have been due to carcinogenic exposures at the plant.
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Nephrology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvarani
authors.forename: Robin M T
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirastu
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccini
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiani
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Risi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Violante
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D001194:Asbestos; C006647:asphalt