Risk of lung, larynx, pharynx and buccal cavity cancers among carbon electrode manufacturing workers

Among workers employed in factories producing carbon graphite products the risk of cancer due to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was estimated. In one cohort (plant A), a cancer incidence study was carried out; the number of cases were not significantly increased for lung cancers [7 cases, standardized incidence ratio (SIR) 79] or for cancers of the upper respiratory and alimentary tract (10 cases, SIR 103). In another cohort (plant B), a mortality study was carried out; neither the mortality from lung cancer [13 deaths, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 118] nor that from upper respiratory and alimentary tract cancers (10 deaths, SMR 125) was significantly higher than expected. Within each cohort, a case-referent study was carried out. In plant A the odds ratios were high but nonsignificant for lung cancers (odds ratio 3.42) and upper respiratory and alimentary tract cancers (odds ratio 2.19) and they showed a nonsignificant relationship with duration of exposure. In plant B, the odds ratios were low for every cancer site.