Lung and bladder cancer in a Norwegian municipality with iron and steel producing industry: population based case-control studies

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) England), 1998-06, Vol.55 (6), p.387-392
• Main Authors: Grimsrud, T K, Langseth, H, Engeland, A, Andersen, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asbestos; Asbestos - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bladder cancer; Case control studies; Case studies; Dust - adverse effects; Employment; Exposure; Health risks; Humans; Industrial plants; Kidneys; Lung cancer; Lung neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms - chemically induced; Lung Neoplasms - etiology; Lungs; Male; Medical sciences; Metallurgy; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Odds Ratio; Pig iron; Pneumology; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - adverse effects; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Steel plants; Steels; Tobacco smoking; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary bladder; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - chemically induced; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - etiology
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.55.6.387

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of occupation on the rising incidence of lung and bladder cancer among men in a Norwegian municipality where an iron and steel plant constituted the key industry between 1955 and 1989. METHODS: Based on the lung cancer cases reported to the Cancer Registry of Norway from 1980 to 1992 a population based case-control study was performed, including 86 cases and 196 controls. Information on occupations and smoking habits was collected through interviews and from the personnel files from the industrial plants. A case-control study on bladder cancer with 52 cases and 156 controls was carried out to cast light on the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). RESULTS: An odds ratio (OR) for lung cancer of 2.9 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2 to 6.7) was associated with exposure to PAHs. Based on data from personnel files, increased risk of lung cancer (OR 2.8 95% CI 1.1 to 7.0) was associated with work experience in the pig iron department at the ironworks. A non-significant OR of 1.8 was associated with exposure to asbestos. Bladder cancer was not associated with exposure to PAHs at the iron, steel, and coke plant, or with experience from any of the production departments at the plant. CONCLUSIONS: One fifth of the lung cancer cases were attributed to exposure to PAHs or asbestos. More than 80% of the cases of lung cancer were attributed to tobacco smoking. The cancer risk in the pig iron department may be due to a combination of exposures to PAH, asbestos, or dust of mixed composition.