TY - JOUR
T1 - Cancer incidence in a group of workers potentially exposed to ethylene oxide
AU - Norman, Sandra A.
AU - Berlin, Jesse A.
AU - Soper, Keith A.
AU - Middendorf, Bruce F.
AU - Stolley, Paul D.
N1 - Funding Information:
13Thies s A, Frentzel-Beyme R, Link R el al. Mortality study on employees exposed to alkylene oxides (ethylene oxide/ propylene oxide) and their derivatives. In: Prevention of Occupational Cancer. Occupational Safety and Health Series No. 46. Geneva: International Labour Office, 1982, pp. 249-59. 14 Gardner M, Coggon D, Pannett B, Hams E. Workers exposed to ethylene oxide: a follow-up study. BrJIndMed 1989; 46: 860-65. 13Kiesselbach N, Ulm K, Lange H-J, Korallus U. A multicentre mortality study of workers exposed to ethylene oxide. Br J IndMed 1990; 47: 182-88. 16Horm J, Asire A, Young J, Pollack E (eds). SEER Program: Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the United States. 1973-81. Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, NIH Publication No. 85-1837, 1984. 17 National Cancer Institute. 1987 Annual Cancer Statistics Review Including Cancer Trends, 1950-1985. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, NIH Publication No. 88-2789, 1988.
PY - 1995/4
Y1 - 1995/4
N2 - Background. Cytogenetic changes associated with ethylene oxide (ETO) exposure at a worksite prompted a study of cancer incidence in that cohort.Method. Cancer incidence through 31 December 1987 was ascertained in a cohort of 1132 individuals employed at the worksite at any time from 1 July 1974 through 30 September 1980, the period of potential exposure to ETO at the plant. The number of observed cancers was compared with that expected based on age- and sex-specific incidence rates reported by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program. Standardized morbidity ratios (SMR) were calculated separately for regular and temporary employees.Results. Of the 28 cancers observed in the cohort, 12 were breast cancers. The SMR for breast cancer among regular female employees ranged from 2.55 (95% Cl : 1.31-4.98, P = 0.02) to 1.70 (95% Cl . 0.89-3.23, P = 0.09) depending on calendar year of follow-up, assumptions about completeness of follow-up, and the reference rates used. The excess of breast cancer over expected in regular female employees diminished over time. No statistically significant excess of breast cancer was noted for temporary female employees at any point during follow-up. No increase in cancer incidence was found over that expected for any cancer sites associated with ETO in previous studies-leukaemia, brain, pancreas and stomach.Conclusions. Factors such as appropriateness of latency periods, length of follow-up and lack of a common histopathological type need to be considered in evaluating the excesses in observed breast cancer incidence, which diminished over time.
AB - Background. Cytogenetic changes associated with ethylene oxide (ETO) exposure at a worksite prompted a study of cancer incidence in that cohort.Method. Cancer incidence through 31 December 1987 was ascertained in a cohort of 1132 individuals employed at the worksite at any time from 1 July 1974 through 30 September 1980, the period of potential exposure to ETO at the plant. The number of observed cancers was compared with that expected based on age- and sex-specific incidence rates reported by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program. Standardized morbidity ratios (SMR) were calculated separately for regular and temporary employees.Results. Of the 28 cancers observed in the cohort, 12 were breast cancers. The SMR for breast cancer among regular female employees ranged from 2.55 (95% Cl : 1.31-4.98, P = 0.02) to 1.70 (95% Cl . 0.89-3.23, P = 0.09) depending on calendar year of follow-up, assumptions about completeness of follow-up, and the reference rates used. The excess of breast cancer over expected in regular female employees diminished over time. No statistically significant excess of breast cancer was noted for temporary female employees at any point during follow-up. No increase in cancer incidence was found over that expected for any cancer sites associated with ETO in previous studies-leukaemia, brain, pancreas and stomach.Conclusions. Factors such as appropriateness of latency periods, length of follow-up and lack of a common histopathological type need to be considered in evaluating the excesses in observed breast cancer incidence, which diminished over time.
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U2 - 10.1093/ije/24.2.276
DO - 10.1093/ije/24.2.276
M3 - Article
C2 - 7635586
AN - SCOPUS:0029003344
SN - 0300-5771
VL - 24
SP - 276
EP - 284
JO - International Journal of Epidemiology
JF - International Journal of Epidemiology
IS - 2
ER -