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Cancer mortality in ethylene oxide workers
L Bisanti1, M Maggini, R Raschetti
1Regione Lombardia-Settore Sanità e Igiene, Servizio di Epidemiologia e Sistema Informativo, Milano, Italy.
British Journal of Industrial Medicine
|April 1, 1993
Summary
This study found a higher risk of lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma in chemical workers exposed to ethylene oxide. Workers handling only ethylene oxide showed a significantly increased risk for these cancers.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a widely used industrial chemical with known toxic properties.
- Previous studies have suggested a potential link between EtO exposure and cancer, but evidence remains inconclusive.
- Understanding the long-term health effects of occupational EtO exposure is crucial for worker safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mortality patterns and cancer incidence among a cohort of chemical workers exposed to ethylene oxide.
- To assess the association between ethylene oxide exposure and specific cancer types, particularly hematopoietic and lymphoid malignancies.
- To evaluate the impact of exposure levels by comparing workers with exclusive EtO handling licenses to those handling other toxic gases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 1971 chemical workers licensed for ethylene oxide handling from 1940 to 1984.
- Vital status ascertained through follow-up; causes of death determined from death certificates.
- Mortality compared to the general population of the region; standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) calculated.
- Analysis stratified by exposure group (EtO only vs. EtO and other gases) to account for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Overall mortality was lower than expected (76 observed vs. 98.8 expected deaths).
- A non-significant excess of all malignancies was observed (SMR = 130).
- Significant excess of lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma (SMR = 682; 4 observed deaths).
- Cancers of hematopoietic tissue showed a trend towards significance (SMR = 250; 6 observed deaths).
- In the subcohort exclusively handling ethylene oxide, SMRs for hematopoietic cancers (SMR = 700) and lymphosarcoma/reticulosarcoma (SMR = 1693) were substantially elevated.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposure to ethylene oxide may be associated with an increased risk of lymphosarcoma, reticulosarcoma, and other hematopoietic cancers.
- Workers with higher or exclusive exposure to ethylene oxide appear to be at a greater risk.
- Further research with quantitative exposure data is warranted to confirm these findings and establish causal relationships.