Premium
Morbidity and mortality in talc‐exposed workers
Author(s) -
Wergeland Ebba,
Andersen Aage,
Berheim Anders
Publication year - 1990
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.4700170408
Subject(s) - medicine , pneumoconiosis , asbestos , talc , silicosis , mesothelioma , incidence (geometry) , lung cancer , cohort , occupational disease , cause of death , environmental health , surgery , disease , pathology , materials science , physics , optics , metallurgy , composite material
Cancer incidence and cause‐specific mortality were studied in a male cohort of 94 talc miners and 295 talc millers, exposed to non‐asbestiform talc with low quartz content. No excess risk was found compared with national age‐specific incidence. Six cases of lung cancer occurred versus 6.49 expected (miners: observed 2, expected 1.27; millers: observed 4, expected 5.22). There were 3 deaths due to non‐malignant respiratory disease against 10.9 expected (miners: observed 1, expected 2.5; millers: observed 2, expected 8.4). Mesothelioma, tuberculosis, or pneumoconiosis were not recorded as causes of death. Pneumoconiosis was noted as a contributory cause in three cases (silicosis two, talcosis one). Further follow‐up will reduce any potential impact of “healthy worker” selection.