title: Mortality among shipbreaking workers in Taiwan--a retrospective cohort study from 1985 to 2008.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shipbreaking workers are typically exposed to a wide range of hazardous chemicals. However, long-term follow-up studies of their mortality patterns are lacking. This study examined mortality among shipbreaking workers over a 24-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 4,962 shipbreaking workers were recruited from the database of the Kaohsiung Shipbreaking Workers Union. The data were then linked to the Taiwan National Death Registry from 1985 to 2008. The mortality ratios-standardized for age and calendar years-(SMRs) for various causes of deaths were calculated with reference to the general population of Taiwan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among men workers, a statistically significant increased SMR was observed for all causes (SMR = 1.28), all cancers (SMR = 1.26; particularly noteworthy for lesions of oral and nasopharyngeal: SMR 2.03, liver: SMR 4.63, and lung: SMR 1.36), cirrhosis of the liver (SMR = 1.32), and accidents (SMR = 1.91). A statistically significant increase in mortality was observed for respiratory system cancer (SMR = 1.87) and lung cancer (SMR = 1.91) among workers with a longer duration of employment (≥7 years). The result also showed that among shipbreaking workers who were still alive, two people had mesothelioma and 10 people have asbestosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those employed in shipbreaking industries experienced an increase in mortality from all causes. The increased SMR for lung cancer was probably related to asbestos, metals, and welding fume exposure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Te
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yao-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ya-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Huei-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shiue
authors.forename: Jin-Huei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chung-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chun-Yuh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Saou-Hsing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Trong-Neng
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007221:Industry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos