Cancer incidence and mortality in workers employed at a transformer manufacturing plant: Update to a cohort study

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 58 - 62
• Main Authors: Yassi, Annalee, Tate, Robert B., Routledge, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-07-2003; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Canada - epidemiology; cancer incidence; cancer mortality; Cohort Studies; Databases, Factual; Digestive System Neoplasms - chemically induced; Digestive System Neoplasms - epidemiology; Electricity; Emollients - poisoning; Epidemiology; Follow-Up Studies; gallbladder cancer; Gallbladder Neoplasms - chemically induced; Gallbladder Neoplasms - epidemiology; historical cohort study; Humans; Incidence; Industrial Oils - poisoning; Industry; Male; Medical sciences; Melanoma - chemically induced; Melanoma - epidemiology; mineral oil; Mineral Oil - poisoning; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; occupational epidemiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - chemically induced; Pancreatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; record linkage; Records as Topic; transformer manufacturing; Tumors; Canada; North America; America; Human; Electric transformer; gallbladder cancer; record linkage; transformer manufacturing; Toxicity; Mortality; Mineral oil; Malignant tumor; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Incidence; occupational epidemiology; pancreatic cancer; Cohort study; cancer mortality; cancer incidence; historical cohort study; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10237

Background
This study is an extension of a previously published analysis of cancer mortality in a transformer manufacturing plant where there had been extensive use of mineral oil transformer fluid. The objectives of the present study were to update the mortality analysis and include deaths for the past 6 years as well as to do an analysis of cancer incidence of the cohort.
Methods
A cohort of 2,222 males working at a transformer manufacturing plant between 1946 and 1975 was constructed. Using a classical historical cohort study design, cancer incidence and mortality were determined through record linkage with Canadian provincial and national registries. The rates of cancer incidence and mortality experienced by this cohort were compared to that of the Canadian male population.
Results
A statistically significant increased risk of developing and dying of pancreatic cancer was found but not an increase in overall cancer mortality. This was consistent with the previous report from this group. Interestingly, the cohort demonstrated a statistically significant risk of overall cancer incidence and specific increased incidence of gallbladder cancer.
Conclusions
This study contributes further evidence to the growing body of literature indicating the carcinogenic properties of mineral oils used in occupational settings, in particular those used prior to 1970s. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:58–62, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.