Cause-specific mortality and cancer morbidity in 390 male workers exposed to high purity talc, a six-decade follow-up.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study updates information on mortality and cancer morbidity in a cohort of Norwegian talc workers.

METHODS:

Follow-up was extended with 24 years, covering 1953-2011. Comparisons were made with the general population and between subgroups within the cohort.

RESULTS:

Standardized mortality ratio for non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD) was 0.38 (95%CI: 0.18, 0.69) and for diseases of the circulatory system (CVD) 0.98 (95%CI: 0.82, 1.16). A non-significantly increased NMRD risk was observed at high dust exposures. There were no deaths from pneumoconiosis.

CONCLUSIONS:

With the clear limitations of a small cohort, our results do hint at an effect of talc dust on mortality from NMRD other than pneumoconiosis, covered by a strong and persisting healthy worker effect. Also, an effect on CVD mortality, masked by a healthy worker selection into the cohort cannot be ruled out. Excess mortality from pneumoconiosis seen in other studies, may reflect exposure to quartz and, possibly, bias due to comparability problems.

• Authors: Ebba Wergeland, Finn Gjertsen, Linda Vos, Tom K Grimsrud
• Journal: American journal of industrial medicine (Am J Ind Med) Vol. 60 Issue 9 Pg. 821-830 (Sep 2017) ISSN: 1097-0274 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28745030 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Dust
• Talc

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cause of Death
• Dust
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mining
• Neoplasms (etiology, mortality)
• Norway (epidemiology)
• Occupational Diseases (etiology, mortality)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Respiratory Tract Diseases (etiology, mortality)
• Talc (toxicity)