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A cohort mortality study of foundry workers
Author(s) -
Hansen Eva Støttrup
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199709)32:3<223::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , cohort study , occupational exposure , environmental health , foundry , occupational medicine , emergency medicine , metallurgy , materials science
Since the 1970s, hygienic improvements have led to a reduction in the level of airborne pollutants in Danish foundries. This mortality study reflects the exposure situation prior to 1970, and the findings may be used as a baseline for future evaluations of the preventive impact of reduced exposure. Mortality data were derived from a historical cohort study in which 3,056 foundry workers were compared with 43,024 workers employed in other industries. The foundry workers' life‐long risk of dying from pneumoconioses averaged 2% and the corresponding standardized mortality ratio (SMR) equaled 7,368 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 4,029–12,363). Excess mortality was also seen for chronic bronchitis and emphysema (SMR = 132, 95% CI: 98–185). Nonsignificant increases were seen for buccal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, and urothelial cancer. In conclusion, Danish foundry workers exposed prior to 1970 seem to suffer an excess risk of devastating lung disease of occupational origin. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:223‐233, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.