Mortality from solid tumors among workers in formaldehyde industries: an update of the NCI cohort.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Formaldehyde, a widely used chemical, is considered a human carcinogen.

METHODS:

We extended follow-up of the largest industrial cohort of workers in formaldehyde industries (n = 25,619) by 10 years through 2004. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and rate ratios (RRs) were calculated for deaths from solid tumors using quantitative formaldehyde exposure estimates.

RESULTS:

During 998,239 person-years, 13,951 deaths occurred. With one additional death, previously observed excesses for nasopharyngeal cancer (n = 10) persisted for peak, average intensity and cumulative exposure; RRs in the highest exposure categories were 7.66 (95% CI: 0.94, 62.34), P-trend = 0.005, 11.54 (95% CI: 1.38, 96.81), P-trend = 0.09, and 2.94 (95% CI: 0.65, 13.28), P-trend = 0.06, respectively. For all cancer, solid tumors and lung cancer, SMRs among exposed workers were elevated, but internal analyses revealed no positive associations with formaldehyde exposure.

CONCLUSIONS:

Consistent with previous analyses of this cohort, this update continues to suggest a link between formaldehyde exposure and nasopharyngeal cancer.

• Authors: Laura E Beane Freeman, Aaron Blair, Jay H Lubin, Patricia A Stewart, Richard B Hayes, Robert N Hoover, Michael Hauptmann
• Journal: American journal of industrial medicine (Am J Ind Med) Vol. 56 Issue 9 Pg. 1015-26 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1097-0274 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23788167 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Formaldehyde

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Chemical Industry
• Follow-Up Studies
• Formaldehyde (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Models, Statistical
• Neoplasms (chemically induced, mortality)
• Occupational Diseases (chemically induced, mortality)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects, statistics & numerical data)
• United States (epidemiology)