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HERO ID
157849
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Mortality among workers employed in the titanium dioxide production industry in Europe
Author(s)
Boffetta, P; Soutar, A; Cherrie, JW; Granath, F; Andersen, A; Anttila, A; Blettner, M; Gaborieau, V; Klug, SJ; Langard, S; Luce, D; Merletti, F; Miller, B; Mirabelli, D; Pukkala, E; Adami, HO; Weiderpass, E
Year
2004
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Cancer Causes and Control
ISSN:
0957-5243
EISSN:
1573-7225
Volume
15
Issue
7
Page Numbers
697-706
Language
English
PMID
15280628
DOI
10.1023/B:CACO.0000036188.23970.22
Web of Science Id
WOS:000223620900008
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the risk of lung cancer mortality related to occupational exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO2).
METHODS:
A mortality follow-up study of 15,017 workers (14,331 men) employed in 11 factories producing TiO2 in Europe. Exposure to TiO2 dust was reconstructed for each occupational title; exposure estimates were linked with the occupational history. Observed mortality was compared with national rates, and internal comparisons were based on multivariate Cox regression analysis.
RESULTS:
The cohort contributed 371,067 person-years of observation (3.3% were lost to follow-up and 0.7% emigrated). 2652 cohort members died during the follow-up, yielding standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-0.90) among men and 0.58 (95% CI 0.40-0.82) among women. Among men, the SMR of lung cancer was significantly increased (1.23, 95% CI 1.10-1.38); however, mortality from lung cancer did not increase with duration of employment or estimated cumulative exposure to TiO2 dust. Data on smoking were available for over one third of cohort members. In three countries, the prevalence of smokers was higher among cohort members compared to the national populations.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results of the study do not suggest a carcinogenic effect of TiO2 dust on the human lung.
Keywords
titanium dioxide; mortality; lung cancer; occupation
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