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Cancer incidence in a chlorochemical plant in Isère, France: An occupational cohort study, 1979–2002
Author(s) -
Bonneterre Vincent,
Mathern Gérard,
Pelen Odile,
Balthazard AnneLaure,
Delafosse Patricia,
Mitton Nicolas,
Colonna Marc
Publication year - 2012
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/ajim.22069
Subject(s) - medicine , mesothelioma , asbestos , bladder cancer , cohort , lung cancer , incidence (geometry) , cohort study , cancer , environmental health , occupational exposure , cancer registry , occupational medicine , pathology , materials science , physics , optics , metallurgy
Background A major French chlorine chemical plant (chlor‐alkali process with diaphragm cell and manufacturing of organochlorine chemicals) has used or produced known or suspected carcinogenic compounds. Methods A cohort study, based on the plant occupational health service and the regional cancer registry, analyzed the standardized incidence ratios of malignant tumors for the period 1979–2002. Individual exposures were estimated from workers' occupational histories in a dual division of jobs into 9 sectors and 115 workshops with known exposures. Results Men (2,742) were followed, corresponding to 52,794 person‐years. Primary tumors (304) were observed for 290 expected cases, a non‐significant 5% excess. A significant excess was found of pleural mesothelioma and bladder cancer in employees hired before 1964. Conclusion Excesses of mesothelioma and bladder cancer were found, whereas there was no excess of hematopoietic cancers despite high benzene and dioxin exposures. Surprisingly, mesothelioma cases did not include workers who were the most exposed to asbestos. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:756–767, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.