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Mortality among professional drivers.
1Division of Occupational Medicine, Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, Reykjavík, Iceland.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Truck drivers in Reykjavík showed significantly higher lung cancer mortality compared to the general population. This excess risk may be linked to occupational exposures, such as engine exhaust, rather than smoking habits.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Assessing occupational health risks is crucial for worker well-being.
- Previous studies have suggested potential links between certain occupations and increased cancer risk.
- Understanding specific occupational hazards requires detailed mortality analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mortality rates of truck drivers and taxi drivers in Reykjavík.
- To compare their mortality with the national average.
- To identify potential occupational factors contributing to observed mortality patterns, particularly lung cancer.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study design was employed, following truck drivers and taxi drivers in Reykjavík.
- Mortality data were collected until December 1, 1988.
- Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) were calculated and compared to national rates.
Main Results:
- Truck drivers exhibited a significantly elevated risk of lung cancer mortality (SMR 2.14).
- Conversely, truck drivers had lower than expected deaths from respiratory diseases.
- Taxi drivers did not show significant deviations in mortality rates compared to the national average.
Conclusions:
- The elevated lung cancer mortality among truck drivers is unlikely to be solely due to smoking.
- Occupational exposures, potentially including engine exhaust gases, are implicated as a likely cause.
- Further investigation into specific workplace exposures for truck drivers is warranted.