A mortality follow-up study of pottery workers: preliminary findings on lung cancer

The possible association between exposure to low levels of silica and lung cancer was investigated by following up pottery workers included in a survey conducted in 1970-71 of respiratory disease among such workers. The initial results show that, among men under the age of 60 at the time of the original survey, mortality has been similar to that expected, but that there was an excess of lung cancer of over 30% even after allowance had been made for cigarette smoking and place of residence. There were no particular excesses of lung cancer by product group or job group. However, there was some indication that lung cancer risk increased with estimated cumulative exposure to respirable quartz. These findings do suggest an association between lung cancer and the low levels of silica found in potteries, and the follow-up will therefore be continued and a more detailed analysis of the data carried out.