title: Mortality from solid tumors among workers in formaldehyde industries: an update of the NCI cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Formaldehyde, a widely used chemical, is considered a human carcinogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extended follow-up of the largest industrial cohort of workers in formaldehyde industries (n = 25,619) by 10 years through 2004. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and rate ratios (RRs) were calculated for deaths from solid tumors using quantitative formaldehyde exposure estimates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 998,239 person-years, 13,951 deaths occurred. With one additional death, previously observed excesses for nasopharyngeal cancer (n = 10) persisted for peak, average intensity and cumulative exposure; RRs in the highest exposure categories were 7.66 (95% CI: 0.94, 62.34), P-trend = 0.005, 11.54 (95% CI: 1.38, 96.81), P-trend = 0.09, and 2.94 (95% CI: 0.65, 13.28), P-trend = 0.06, respectively. For all cancer, solid tumors and lung cancer, SMRs among exposed workers were elevated, but internal analyses revealed no positive associations with formaldehyde exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with previous analyses of this cohort, this update continues to suggest a link between formaldehyde exposure and nasopharyngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA. freemala@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Beane Freeman
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Jay H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lubin
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Hoover
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hauptmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002617:Chemical Industry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde
keywords: cancer; epidemiology; formaldehyde