TY - JOUR T1 - Cancer incidence among short- and long-term workers in the Norwegian silicon carbide industry JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PY - 2010/1VL - 36 IS - 1 SP - 71 EP - 79 AU - Bugge, Merete Drevvatne AU - Kjuus, Helge AU - Martinsen, Jan Ivar AU - Kjærheim, Kristina M3 - doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2875 UR - https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=2875 KW - cancer KW - cancer incidence KW - dust exposure KW - epidemiology KW - incidence KW - long-term worker KW - lung KW - lung neoplasm KW - neoplasm KW - Norway KW - short-term worker KW - silicon carbide industry KW - smoking KW - worker N2 - '

'

OBJECTIVES ': 'A previous study among workers in the Norwegian silicon carbide industry, followed until 1996, revealed an excess incidence of lung and total cancer. The present study adds nine years of follow-up and focuses on cancer risk among short- and long-term workers, based on the assumption that these two groups have different exposure and lifestyle characteristics.

'

'

METHODS ': 'The total cohort for this study comprised 2612 men employed for >6 months between 1913 and 2003. The follow-up period for cancer was 1953–2005. Short-term workers were defined as having <3 years of total employment in the industry. We estimated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) using national rates as the expected values.

'

'

RESULTS ': 'Among the short-term workers, we observed an overall excess incidence of cancer [SIR 1.4, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2–1.6], with an excess of lung cancer (SIR 2.6, 95% CI 1.9–3.5) as the most important contributing factor. The long-term workers also had an excess incidence of total cancer (SIR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3) and lung cancer (SIR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.2). We also observed an increased risk of cancers at other sites, specifically among short-term workers.

'

'

CONCLUSIONS ': 'We observed an increased risk of cancer (especially in the lung but also at other sites) among both short- and long-term workers. Dust exposure in the silicon carbide industry may have contributed to the increased risk among long-term workers, whereas the increased risk among short-term workers may be due to a combination of occupational and lifestyle factors.

SN - 0355-3140 ER -