Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-02-2011 | Original Article

Cancer mortality study among French cement production workers

Authors: William Dab, Michel Rossignol, Danièle Luce, Jacques Bénichou, Alain Marconi, Philippe Clément, Michel Aubier, Denis Zmirou-Navier, Lucien Abenhaim

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 2/2011

Abstract

Purpose

To analyse the mortality and its causes, especially cancer, among French cement production workers.

Methods

A cohort of all workers employed at least 1 year in one of the main four cement companies in France was assembled (9,118 workers, 122,124 person-years of follow-up between 1990 and 2005). A common job titles classification was used to analyse occupational risk factors. We conducted a standardized mortality ratio analysis based on age, gender and calendar-period-specific national mortality rates and explored the combined effect of job titles and duration through an internal Cox regression analysis.

Results

The number of deaths during the follow-up period was 430 (4.7%). Malignant neoplasm was the cause of 48.1% of deaths. Overall, a deficit in all-causes mortality (standardized mortality ratio (SMR): 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–0.74) and in cancer mortality (SMR: 0.80, CI 0.69–0.92) was observed. Working in the quarry, yard and shipping sectors was associated with a 50% higher all-causes mortality risk in comparison with the administrative sector.

Conclusions

This cohort study does not support previous observations that cement workers are at higher risk of cancer mortality than the general population. The length of follow-up should be increased, and specific exposures deserve analysis.

Amandus HE (1986) Mortality from stomach cancer in United States cement plant and quarry workers, 1950–80. Br J Ind Med 43:526–528

Beck F, Guilbert P, Gautier A (2005) Baromètre santé. Saint-Denis INPES, coll. Baromètres santé. 593 p

Blair A, Linos A, Stewart PA, Burmeister LF et al (1993) Evaluation risks for non-hodgkin’s lymphoma by occupation and industry exposures from a case-control study. Am J Ind Med 23:301–312CrossRef

Breslow NE, Day NE (1987) Statistical methods in cancer research vol II. The design and analysis of cohort studies. IARC Sci Pub., Lyon, 406 p

Brownson RC, Zahm SH, Chang JC, Blair A (1989) Occupational risk of colon cancer. An analysis by anatomic subsite. Am J Epidem 130:675–687

Consonni D, De Matteis S, Lubin JH et al (2010) Lung cancer and occupation in a population-based case-control study. Am J Epidem 171:323–333CrossRef

Dietz A, Ramroth H, Urban T, Ahrens W, Becher H (2004) Exposure to cement dust, related occupational groups and laryngeal cancer risk: results of a population based case-control study. Int J Cancer 108:907–911CrossRef

Jakobsson K, Attewell R, Hultgren B, Sjöland K (1990) Gastrointestinal cancer among cement workers. A case-referent study. Occup Environ Med 62:337–340

Jakobsson K, Horstmann V, Welinder H (1993) Mortality and cancer morbidity among cement workers. Br J Ind Med 50:264–272

Jakobsson K, Albin M, Hagmar L (1994) Asbestos, cement, and cancer in the right part of the colon. Occup Environ Med 51:95–101CrossRef

Jansson C, Johansson AL, Bergdahl IA et al (2005) Occupational exposures and risk of esophageal and gastric cardia cancers among male Swedish construction workers. Cancer Causes Control 16:755–764CrossRef

Knutsson A, Dambler L, Järvholm B (2000) Cancers in concrete workers: results of a cohort study of 33 668 workers. Occup Environ Med 57:264–267CrossRef

Krstev S, Baris D, Stewart PA, Hayes RB, Blair A, Dosemeci M (1998) Risk for prostate cancer by occupation and industry: a 24-state death certificate study. Am J Ind Med 34:413–420CrossRef

Maier H, Tisch M (1997) Epidemiology of laryngeal cancer: results of the Heidelberg case-control study. Acta Otolaryng suppl 527:160–164CrossRef

McDowall ME (1984) A mortality study of cement workers. Br J Ind Med 41:179–182

Milne KL, Sandler DP, Everson RB, Brown SM (1983) Lung cancer and occupation in Alameda county: a death certificate case-control study. Am J Ind Med 4:565–575CrossRef

Minder CE, Beer-Porizek V (1992) Cancer mortality of Swiss men by occupation, 1979–1982. Scand J Work Environ Health 18(Suppl 3):1–27

Monson RR (1990) Occupational epidemiology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 291 p

Moulin JJ, Clavel T, Roy B et al (2000) Risk of lung cancer in workers producing stainless steel and metallic alloys. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 73:171–180CrossRef

Partanen T, Kauppinen T, Degerth R et al (1994) Pancreatic cancer in industrial branches and occupations in Finland. Am J Ind Med 25:851–866CrossRef

Pukkala E, Martinsen JI, Lynge E et al (2009) Occupation and cancer—follow-up of 15 million people in five Nordic countries. Acta Oncol 48:646–790CrossRef

Purdue MP, Järvholm B, Bergdahl IA, Hayes RB, Baris D (2006) Occupational exposures and head and neck cancers among Swedish construction workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 32:270–275

Rafnsson V, Johannesdottir SG (1986) Mortality among masons in Iceland. Br J Ind Med 43:522–525

Robinson C, Stern F, Halperin W et al (1995) Assessment of mortality in the construction industry in the United States, 1984–1986. Am J Ind Med 28:49–70CrossRef

Schoenberg JB, Stemhagen A, Mason TJ et al (1987) Occupation and lung cancer risk among New Jersey white males. J Nat Cancer Inst 79:13–21

Siemiatycki J, Dewar R, Lakhani R et al (1989) Cancer risks associated with 10 inorganic dusts: results from a case-control study in Montreal. Am J Ind Med 16:547–567

Smailyte G, Kurtinaitis J, Andersen A (2004) Mortality and cancer incidence among Lithuanian cement producing workers. Occup Environ Med 61:529–534CrossRef

Stern F (2001) Mortality among unionized construction plasterers and cement masons. Am J Ind Med 39:373–388CrossRef

Swanson GM, Lin CS, Burns PB (1993) Diversity in the association between occupation and lung cancer among black and white men. Cancer Epidem Biom Prev 2:313–320

Vestbo J, Knudsen KM, Raffn E et al (1991) Exposure to cement dust at a Portland cement factory and the risk of cancer. Br J Ind Med 48:803–807

Zagraniski RT, Kelsey JL, Walter SD (1986) Occupational risk factors for laryngeal carcinoma: Connecticut, 1975–1980. Am J Epidem 124:67–76

Title: Cancer mortality study among French cement production workers
Authors: William Dab
Michel Rossignol
Danièle Luce
Jacques Bénichou
Alain Marconi
Philippe Clément
Michel Aubier
Denis Zmirou-Navier
Lucien Abenhaim
Publication date: 01-02-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0530-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Cancer mortality study among French cement production workers

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2011

Closer correlation of cadmium in urine than that of cadmium in blood with tubular dysfunction markers in urine among general women populations in Japan

An engineering intervention resulting in improvement in lung function and change in urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine among foundry workers in Taiwan

Relative magnitude of presenteeism and absenteeism and work-related factors affecting them among health care professionals

Recurrence of sickness absence due to common mental disorders

Odor identification ability and self-reported upper respiratory symptoms in workers at the post-9/11 World Trade Center site

The prevalence and incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms among hospital physicians: a systematic review