[Risk of lung cancer among iron and steel workers in Anshan, China--case-control study]

A case-control interview study on 610 lung cancer patients and 959 controls was conducted among male workers in Anshan Iron-steel Complex. After adjusting for non-occupational risk factors, such as smoking, pulmonary disease, family history of cancer and the consumption of fruit, risks for lung cancer were significantly higher in workers engaged in smelting and rolling (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-2.2), in the fire-resistant brick factory (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.4-5.9), in general loading (OR = 2.5 95% CI = 1.0-6.1), and in coking (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.4-8.5) for 15 or more years. Significant dose-response was observed for exposure to total dust and B[a]P, but not for specific chemical components of dust. The lung cancer risk increased 40% in iron and steel workers with long term occupational exposure.