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Document ID (ISN)56527
CIS number 91-1541
ISSN - Serial title 0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Year 1991
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Finkelstein M.M., Boulard M., Wilk N.
Title Increased risk of lung cancer in the melting department of a second Ontario steel manufacturer
Bibliographic information Feb. 1991, Vol.19, No.2, p.183-194. Illus. 8 ref.
Abstract A study of lung cancer among workers at an electric arc steel-making operation was performed to follow up on the observation of a lung cancer cluster in the melt shop of another plant. The study group comprised 335 deceased men identified from plant records. Eight of 30 men who had ever worked in the pouring pit area died of lung cancer (PMR 276; p<0.01), but increased risk was not found elsewhere in the melting department. There was a significant trend in lung cancer risk with the length of employment in the pit area during a time window 18-30yrs before death. An industrial hygiene assessment found present exposures to carcinogenic metals and silica to be within current guidelines. No polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected. This is the 2nd steel plant for which an increased risk of lung cancer has been found in the pouring areas. The causative factors have not yet been identified.
Descriptors (primary) electric arc; morbidity; occupation disease relation; iron and steel industry; length of service; high-risk groups; lung cancer
Descriptors (secondary) Canada; metals; silica; neoplasms; epidemiologic study; occupational hygiene evaluation; carcinogenic effects; smoking
Document type E - Books, reports, proceedings
Country / State or ProvinceCanada
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Occupational medicine, epidemiology
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
Iron and steel industry
Electricity