The effect of censoring on cancer risk estimates based on the Canadian National Dose Registry of occupational radiation exposure

Cohort studies represent an important epidemiological tool for exploring the potential adverse health effects of low-dose exposure to ionizing radiation in the workplace. Analyses of data from the National Dose Registry of Canada have suggested that occupational radiation exposure leads to increased risk of several specific types of cancer, as well as increased overall risk of cancer. An important aspect of such studies is the censoring in recorded exposures induced by dosimetry detection limits. Such a censoring effect can lead to significant underestimation of cumulative doses which, in turn, can result in overestimation of the excess cancer risk associated with occupational radiation exposure. In this article, we present analytic results, supported by a simulation study, on the magnitude of overestimation of risk based on the additive relative risk model used in the analysis of the NDR data that can occur due to censoring. Our results indicate that overestimation of risk is modest, being less than 20% in all situations considered here. Because censoring also results in ovestimation of the precision of the risk estimates, the significance levels of Wald-type statistical tests for increased risk based on the ratio of the estimate to its standard error are virtually unaffected by censoring. These results suggest that although the application of the additive excess relative risk model in the presence of censoring may lead to some overestimation of risk, the model does not lead to invalid conclusions regarding the association between occupational radiation exposure and cancer risk based on data from the NDR.     

Estimating the incidence of lung cancer attributable to occupational exposure in Iran

Objective  

The aim of this study was to estimate the fraction of lung cancer incidence in Iran attributed to occupational exposures to the well-established lung cancer carcinogens, including silica, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, chromium, diesel fumes, beryllium, and asbestos.     

基于地理信息系统的职业病危害因素接触情况可视化分析

采用QGIS软件创建某机械加工企业矢量化在线厂区平面图,包括车间、工种、职业病危害因素、检测结果等数据信息。采用 Excel数据表作为职业卫生数据源的文件格式,并与QGIS软件进行数据连接,使数据表与图层中的数据动态更新。利用QGIS软件不同的颜色、形状、符号等标识,呈现出职业病危害因素的空间分布特征,对职业病危害因素的浓度或强度进行可视化分析。通过缩放地图、切换图层等操作,总览企业职业病危害因素接触情况,精准呈现某一工种的具体职业卫生信息,为制定职业卫生防护对策提供指导。     

Risks of occupational exposure to optical radiation

During the past 40 years a wide body of biomedical research has been conducted to understand the factors which influence injury to optical radiation-particularly with respect to the eye. A primary motivation for much of this research has been the advent of lasers, since focal damage of the retina from a collimated beam exposure is possible at some distance. A wide range of research studies provided the basis for establishing human exposure limits for ultraviolet and infrared radiation as well as for intense visible light. The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has published guidelines for human exposure, and these are available at no cost from the ICNIRP website (http://www. icnirp.org). Laser Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) limits used in international safety standards, such as those of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are based upon ICNIRP guidelines. Practical laser safety standards and regulations have evolved to promote the safe design and use of laser products. As a result of newer laser applications and increased knowledge of the biological effects, MPEs have been revised a number of times. Despite the existence of safety standards and regulations, accidental eye injuries from lasers still occur. Accidental exposure to welding arcs and intense lights occur more fequently, but the consequential loss of vision is much less, with permanent effects rare. Accidental human exposure information also adds to our understanding of ultraviolet, blue-light and laser induced retinal injury. Accidents are most frequently attributed to the lack of understanding of hazards and a failure to follow established safe work practices.     

Relations between age at occupational exposure to ionising radiation and cancer risk.

OBJECTIVES: To discover how the age when a given dose of ionising radiation is received (exposure age) affects the subsequent cancer risk, and whether the types of cancer caused by repeated exposure to small doses during adult life differ from naturally occurring cancers at that age. METHOD: A nested case-control design with all possible controls in a cohort of nuclear workers, and a Mantel-Haenszel test (requiring only one degree of freedom) to discover whether there was any level of exposure age where the null hypothesis of no effects of radiation was rejected. This analysis was followed by inspection of how different types of cancers were related to the cancer risk. RESULTS: For radiation received at least 15 years before a cancer death (to allow for cancer latency) evidence of a dose related risk was found which was largely the result of exposures during the last 10 years of working life (between 55 and 65 years of age). The relative frequency of site specific cancers showed no signs of being different for radiogenic and idiopathic cancers, and there was no evidence of the exceptionally strong association between radiation and leukaemia found in atomic bomb data and other high dose situations. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity to carcinogenic effects of radiation increases progressively with age during adult life and, provided the dose is too small to produce many cell deaths, the ratio of leukaemias to solid tumours is no different for radiogenic and idiopathic cancers.     

Age at exposure modifies the effects of low-level ionizing radiation on cancer mortality in an occupational cohort

In a cohort of 4,563 nuclear workers followed retrospectively from 1950 to 1994, we found that age at exposure modified the effects of external radiation dose on cancer mortality. Analyses involved application of conditional logistic regression to risk sets of age- and calendar time-matched cancer deaths, with covariates treated as time dependent and with cumulative radiation doses divided according to the age intervals in which exposure occurred. After adjustment for confounding factors, we found that workers exposed to external radiation after the age of 50 years experienced exposure-related elevations in mortality from cancer at any site [rate ratio (RR) = 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.63-6.26], radiosensitive solid cancer (RR = 3.29; 95% CI = 1.10-9.89), and lung cancer (RR = 3.89; 95% CI = 1.23-12.3) substantially greater (1.6- to 3.5-fold greater) than were seen in coworkers exposed at all earlier ages. In contrast, all of the radiation doses contributing to mortality from cancers of the blood and lymph system were received before age 50 (for age <50, RR = 2.73 and 95% CI = 1.46-5.10; for age > or =50, RR = 0.24 and 95% CI = 0.00-687). Our results for cancer of any site are consistent with the results of previous studies examining the effects of exposure age in nuclear workers. Thus, effects of low-level radiation doses may depend on exposure age, and furthermore, patterns of effect modification by age may differ by type of cancer.     

Renal cell carcinoma and occupational exposure to chemicals in Canada

This study assesses the effect of occupational exposure to specific chemicals on the risk of renal cell carcinoma in Canada. Mailed questionnaires were used to obtain data on 1279 (691 male and 588 female) newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma cases and 5370 population controls in eight Canadian provinces, between 1994 and 1997. Data were collected on socio-economic status, smoking habit, alcohol use, diet, residential and occupational histories, and years of exposure to any of 17 chemicals. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using unconditional logistic regression. The study found an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma in males only, which was associated with occupational exposure to benzene; benzidine; coal tar, soot, pitch, creosote or asphalt; herbicides; mineral, cutting or lubricating oil; mustard gas; pesticides; and vinyl chloride. Compared with no exposure to the specific chemical, the adjusted ORs were 1.8 (95% CI = 1.2-2.6), 2.1 (1.3-3.6), 1.4 (1.1-1.8), 1.6 (1.3-2.0), 1.3 (1.1-1.7), 4.6 (1.7-12.5), 1.8 (1.4-2.3) and 2.0 (1.2-3.3), respectively; an elevated risk was also associated with exposure to cadmium salts and isopropyl oil. The risk of renal cell carcinoma increased with duration of exposure to benzene, benzidine, cadmium, herbicides and vinyl chloride. Very few females were exposed to specific chemicals in this study; further research is needed to clarify the association between occupational exposure to chemicals and renal cell carcinoma in females.     

职业性慢性放射性皮肤损伤病例分析

对我院近20年来诊治的22例职业性慢性放射性皮肤损伤病例进行总结分析。结果显示,22例均为男性,放射诊断医师2人,骨科医师20人,放射作业工龄6～46年,估算手部累积吸收剂量为39.1～233.7 Gy,确诊为慢性放射性皮肤损伤Ⅰ度1例,Ⅱ度6例,Ⅲ度15例,皮肤损伤Ⅲ度合并放射性皮肤癌5例。提示慢性放射性皮肤损伤有一定的潜伏期,存在剂量-效应关系。长期不愈的放射性溃疡或角质增生物是皮肤癌变的基础。     

Primary liver cancer and occupational exposure.

In a dynamic population-based case-referent study on primary liver cancer and occupational exposure, the work histories of 344 cases and 861 referents, derived from the follow-up of the whole Finnish population in 1976-1978 and 1981, were analyzed by industry, occupation, and agent. After adjustment for alcohol consumption, elevated odds ratios were found for the categories other agricultural workers (mainly milkmaids), clerical workers, persons exposed to welding fumes and those exposed to other inorganic dusts (mainly silica). One possible explanation for the excess among milkmaids was exposure to dust from cattle feed contaminated with aflatoxins. The excess among clerical workers was probably due to nonoccupational factors or chance because occupational exposure was generally rare. The excesses for welding fumes and inorganic dusts, although compatible with occupational etiology, contradict the results of many previous studies carried out among workers exposed to silica dust and welders.     

Bladder cancer and occupational exposure to leather

A large case-control study of bladder cancer (2982 cases; 5782 controls) included information about occupational exposure to leather. Occupational histories of exposed white study subjects were reviewed and 150 were determined to have had "true" on the job exposure to leather. The odds ratio estimate (OR) of bladder cancer associated with such exposure in white subjects (n = 8063) was 1.4 (95% confidence limits = 1.0, 1.9) after adjustment for sex, age, and cigarette smoking. The risk was highest in those first employed in a leather job before 1945, although no dose-response relation with duration of leather employment was found. Subjects employed in "dusty" leather jobs had a slightly higher risk than those with other types of leather jobs. Our results are consistent with reports of an increased risk of bladder cancer associated with exposure to leather. Although the agents responsible have not been identified, our findings of an increased risk associated with exposure in the earlier years of this century and in dusty jobs suggest that leather dusts may be important.     

医务人员职业暴露调查分析

目的调查医务人员职业暴露发生人群、场所、时机及源患者携带血源性病原体分布,为进一步预防职业暴露提供依据和有效防护措施,从而减少职业暴露的发生。方法采用回顾性调查方法,对医院2007年1月-2012年6月71名医务人员职业暴露报告资料进行分析。结果 71名医务人员职业暴露中,护士、助理护士、实习护士,分别占46.48%、4.22%、19.72%,工龄≤10年者占74.64%;暴露类型中,锐器伤占95.77%;暴露发生场所前3位为病区、手术室、急诊科,分别占47.89%、35.21%、9.85%;暴露发生时机前3位为术中、拔针时、处理医疗废物过程,分别占35.21%、18.31%、16.90%;源患者携带血源性病原体38例,占53.52%。结论暴露人员操作不熟练、防护意识不到位、接触侵入性操作、锐器伤发生概率大、对操作环境是否安全未进行充分评估是职业暴露的主要原因,加强职业安全教育、规范操作行为、充分评估操作环境的安全性等措施,能有效预防职业暴露。     

Laryngeal cancer and occupational exposure to asbestos

Summary The risk of laryngeal cancer associated with occupational exposure to asbestos was evaluated by a review of published reports. In only two of 13 cohort studies was the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) significantly increased. Smoking (a risk factor for laryngeal cancer) may have been more prevalent among asbestos workers than among the comparison populations. This was not taken into account in any of the studies, and may have caused the SMRs to be overestimated. Two of eight case-control studies reported large odds ratios ( 13) for laryngeal cancer. Subsequent case-control studies did not confirm this higher risk; the odds ratios in these studies were 0.3 to 1.9. The conclusion of the review, based on data from 13 cohort and 8 case-control studies, is that neither case-control nor cohort studies have established an increased risk of laryngeal cancer for asbestos workers.     

Geographical differences of cancer incidence in Costa Rica in relation to environmental and occupational pesticide exposure.

BACKGROUND: This study describes geographical differences in cancer incidence in Costa Rica, and investigates if some of these differences may be related to pesticides. METHODS: Data were combined from the cancer registry (1981-1993), the 1984 population census, the 1984 agricultural census, and a national pesticide data set. The 81 counties of Costa Rica were the units for the ecological analyses. Adjacent counties were grouped into 14 regions (3 urban and 11 rural) with relatively similar socioeconomic characteristics. County indices for population density and agricultural variables were constructed and categorized. Differences across regions and categories were assessed by comparing observed numbers of incident cases to expected values derived from national rates. Within the tertile of most rural counties, rate ratios between categories of high and low pesticide use were calculated. RESULTS: In urban regions, excesses were observed for lung, colorectal, breast, uterus, ovary, prostate, testis, kidney, and bladder cancers; and in rural regions for gastric, cervical, penile, and skin cancers. Skin cancers (lip, melanoma, non-melanocytic skin and penile cancer) occurred in excess in coffee growing areas with extensive use of paraquat and lead arsenate. In the most rural subset, heavy pesticide use was associated with an increase of cancer incidence overall and at a considerable number of specific sites, including lung cancer (relative risk [RR] 2.0 for men and 2.6 for women) and all female hormone-related cancers (RR between 1.3 and 1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Regions and populations at high risk for specific cancers were identified. Several hypotheses for associations between pesticides and cancer emerged. The findings call for studies at the individual level.     

Variations with time and age in the risks of solid cancer incidence after radiation exposure in childhood

The Japanese atomic bomb survivor incidence data set and data on five other groups exposed to ionizing radiation in childhood are analysed and evidence found for a reduction in the radiation-induced relative risk of cancers other than leukaemia with increasing time since exposure. Overall, reductions of 5·7–6·1 per cent per year of time since exposure are indicated, depending on the time at which the reduction is presumed to start, and all the reductions are statistically significant at the 5 per cent level. There is no significant heterogeneity in the speed of the reductions in relative risk with time by cohort, by cancer type, sex, or age at exposure group. There is a significant reduction of relative risk with increasing age at exposure, but adjustment for age at exposure does not markedly affect the time trends of relative risk. For all of the groups considered, there is a statistically significant increase in the excess absolute risk with increasing time since exposure. However, by contrast with the relative homogeneity of the time trends of relative risk, there is statistically significant heterogeneity by cancer type within the Japanese cohort (P=0·05) and between the cohorts (P<0·0001) in the speed of increase of the excess absolute risk with time since exposure. © 1998 National Radiological Protection Board.     

Vascular effects of occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation

Damage to the microcirculation caused by high-dose ionizing radiation is well known but data concerning low-dose exposure are scant and contrasting. We employed capillary microscopy to study dermal microcirculation damage resulting from occupational exposure to ionizing radiation doses lower than 5 rem/year (maximum permissible dose in Italy). We studied 145 physicians (60.7% radiologists, 33.8% orthopedic specialists, 5.5% cardiologists) occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation and a control group of 106 subjects in comparable but different occupations not exposed to ionizing radiation or to other skin hazards. All subjects were administered a clinical protocol and underwent capillary microscopy of the fingernail-fold. Capillary microscopy alterations were classified as absent, mild, moderate, marked and severe. Our data confirm that occupational exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation can lead to morphological and functional alterations of the dermal microcirculation, which can be identified early by capillary microscopy. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Risk and incidence of asthma attributable to occupational exposure among HMO members

Occupational asthma may account for a significant proportion of adult-onset asthma, but incidence estimates from surveillance of physician reports and workers' compensation data (0.9 to 15/100,000) are lower than expected from community-based cross-sectional studies of asthma patients. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 79,204 health maintenance organization members between the ages of 15 and 55 at risk for asthma. Computerized files, medical records, and telephone interviews were used to identify and characterize asthma cases. Evidence for asthma attributable to occupational exposure was determined from work-related symptoms and workplace exposure. The annual incidence of clinically significant, new-onset asthma was 1.3/1,000, and increased to 3.7/1,000 when cases with reactivation of previously quiescent asthma were included. Criteria for onset of clinically significant asthma attributable to occupational exposure were met by 21% (95% CI 12–32%) of cases giving an incidence of 71/100,000 (95% CI 43–111). Physicians documented asking about work-related symptoms in 15% of charts, and recorded suggestive symptoms in three cases, but did not obtain occupational medicine consultation, diagnose occupational asthma, report to the state surveillance program, or bill workers' compensation for any of them. These data suggest that the incidence of asthma attributable to occupational exposures is significantly higher than previously reported, and accounts for a sizable proportion of adult-onset asthma. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:1–10, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.