Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Enhancing Tumor Content through Tumor Macrodissection
Published on: February 12, 2022
Mortality from solid tumors among workers in formaldehyde industries: an update of the NCI cohort
Laura E Beane Freeman1, Aaron Blair, Jay H Lubin
1Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA. freemala@mail.nih.gov
Background:
Formaldehyde, a widely used chemical, is considered a human carcinogen.
Methods:
We extended follow-up of the largest industrial cohort of workers in formaldehyde industries (n = 25,619) by 10 years through 2004. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and rate ratios (RRs) were calculated for deaths from solid tumors using quantitative formaldehyde exposure estimates.
Results:
During 998,239 person-years, 13,951 deaths occurred. With one additional death, previously observed excesses for nasopharyngeal cancer (n = 10) persisted for peak, average intensity and cumulative exposure; RRs in the highest exposure categories were 7.66 (95% CI: 0.94, 62.34), P-trend = 0.005, 11.54 (95% CI: 1.38, 96.81), P-trend = 0.09, and 2.94 (95% CI: 0.65, 13.28), P-trend = 0.06, respectively. For all cancer, solid tumors and lung cancer, SMRs among exposed workers were elevated, but internal analyses revealed no positive associations with formaldehyde exposure.
Conclusions:
Consistent with previous analyses of this cohort, this update continues to suggest a link between formaldehyde exposure and nasopharyngeal cancer.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity