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Mortality of cadmium-exposed workers. A five-year update
G Kazantzis1, T H Lam, K R Sullivan
1TUC Centenary Insitute of Occupational Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, England.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|August 1, 1988
Summary
This updated study on cadmium-exposed workers shows continued excess lung cancer risk linked to exposure intensity. Bronchitis risk remains, but may be declining, while prostate cancer risk shows no increase.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Cadmium exposure is a known occupational hazard.
- Previous studies indicated potential health risks, including respiratory and cancer effects.
- Long-term cohort studies are crucial for understanding chronic exposure impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To update a cohort mortality study of cadmium-exposed workers with an additional five years of follow-up.
- To re-evaluate the association between cadmium exposure intensity and mortality from specific diseases.
- To assess trends in bronchitis and lung cancer risk within the cohort.
Main Methods:
- Cohort mortality study design.
- Updated follow-up data for five additional years (to 1984).
- Analysis of mortality risks (bronchitis, lung cancer, prostate cancer, hypertensive, cerebrovascular, renal diseases) in relation to cadmium exposure intensity.
Main Results:
- Confirmed significant excess risk of bronchitis related to exposure intensity; however, this was not significant over the latest five-year period, suggesting a potential decline.
- Stronger indication of excess lung cancer risk related to exposure intensity, significant for both the total and the five-year periods.
- No increased risk of prostate cancer, hypertensive disease, cerebrovascular, or renal disease was observed.
Conclusions:
- Cadmium exposure continues to be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in exposed workers.
- The risk of bronchitis may be declining in this cohort, despite historical associations with cadmium exposure.
- Current evidence suggests cadmium is unlikely to be a prostate carcinogen at the concentrations studied.