title: Cancer incidence and mortality among temporary maintenance workers in a refinery/petrochemical complex in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Petrochemical plant maintenance workers are exposed to various carcinogens such as benzene and metal fumes. In Korea, maintenance operations in petrochemical plants are typically performed by temporary employees hired as contract workers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate cancer risk in temporary maintenance workers in a refinery/petrochemical complex in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects consisted of 14 698 male workers registered in a regional petrochemical plant maintenance workers union during 2002-2007. Cancer mortality and incidence were identified by linking with the nationwide death and cancer registries during 2002-2007 and 2002-2005, respectively. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for each cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased SMR 3·61 (six cases, 95% CI: 1·32-7·87) and SIR 3·18 (five cases, 95% CI: 1·03-7·42) were observed in oral and pharyngeal cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings may suggest a potential association between oral and pharyngeal cancers and temporary maintenance jobs in the petrochemical industry. Future studies should include a longer follow-up period and a quantitative exposure assessment.
authors.forename: Dong-Hee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Eun-Kyo
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jae-Kil
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hye-Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyang-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Kye-Mook
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Eun-A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoo-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010578:Petroleum; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum
keywords: Cancer,; Construction,; Leukemia; Maintenance,; Oral,; Petrochemical,; Pharynx,; Refinery,