Mortality among Catholic nuns certified as radiologic technologists

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that Catholic nuns have a different mortality experience than women of similar age in the general population. We had a unique opportunity to evaluate mortality patterns of nuns identified in an occupational study of nearly 145,000 radiologic technologists (73% female). METHODS: A total of 1,103 women were classified as nuns based on their titles of "Sister" or "SR". Their mortality experience was compared to other female radiologic technologists and to U.S. white females. RESULTS: Five hundred eighty-three nuns (53%) were deceased as of January 1, 1995. Compared to other technologists, nuns were at significantly increased risk of dying from all causes (Standardized mortality ratio (SMR)=1.1; 95% Confidence interval (CI)=1.0-1.2, stomach cancer (SMR=2.7; 95% CI=1.2-5.4), diabetes (SMR=2.2; 95% CI=1.0-4.1), ischemic heart disease (SMR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1-1.4), all digestive diseases (SMR=2.0; 95% CI=1.3-3.0), and gastric and duodenal ulcers (SMR=8.3; 95% CI=2.3-21.3). In contrast, we observed a significant deficit in lung cancer (SMR=0.5; 95% CI=0.2-0.9), no deaths from cervical cancer, and a breast cancer risk 10% lower than expected (SMR=0.9; 95% CI=0.6-1.3). When compared to U.S. females, nuns experienced significantly reduced mortality from all causes (SMR=0.8; 95% CI=0.7-0.9), cervical cancer (SMR=0.0; 95% CI=0.0-0.7), all endocrine, metabolic and nutritional diseases (SMR=0.5; 95% CI=0.3-0.9), all circulatory diseases (SMR=0.7; 95% CI=0.7-0.8) including ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, and all respiratory diseases (SMR=0.5; 95% CI=0.3-0.8), and a nearly significant deficit of diabetes (SMR=0.6; 95% CI=0.3-1.0). In contrast, nuns had an almost 3-fold greater risk of tuberculosis (SMR=2.9; 95% CI=1.4-5.3) and a 20% excess of breast cancer (SMR=1. 2; 95% CI=0.8-1.7). The breast cancer excess was concentrated among nuns first certified before 1940 (SMR=2.0; CI=1.3-3.0), when radiation doses were possibly the highest, but the risk did not increase with increasing length of certification. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the general population, the mortality experience of nuns was favorable and reflected the "healthy worker effect" commonly seen in occupational studies. Patterns observed for breast and cervical cancer possibly indicate differences in reproductive and sexual activities associated with belonging to a religious order. The possibility of a radiation-related excess for breast cancer among nuns certified before 1940 cannot be completely discounted, although there was no dose-response relationship with a surrogate measure of exposure (number of years certified). When their mortality experience was compared with other radiologic technologists, the influence of lifestyle factors was not apparent. Am. J. Ind. Med. 37:339-348, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc. dagger     

Mortality among workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in an electrical capacitor manufacturing plant in Indiana: an update

An Indiana capacitor-manufacturing cohort (n=3,569) was exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from 1957 to 1977. The original study of mortality through 1984 found excess melanoma and brain cancer; other studies of PCB-exposed individuals have found excess non-Hodgkin lymphoma and rectal, liver, biliary tract, and gallbladder cancer. Mortality was updated through 1998. Analyses have included standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using rates for Indiana and the United States, standardized rate ratios (SRRs), and Poisson regression rate ratios (RRs). Estimated cumulative exposure calculations used a new job-exposure matrix. Mortality overall was reduced (547 deaths; SMR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.7-0.9). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma mortality was elevated (9 deaths; SMR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.6-2.3). Melanoma remained in excess (9 deaths; SMR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.1-4.6), especially in the lowest tertile of estimated cumulative exposure (5 deaths; SMR, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.2-8.7). Seven of the 12 brain cancer deaths (SMR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.0-3.3) occurred after the original study. Brain cancer mortality increased with exposure (in the highest tertile, 5 deaths; SMR, 2.71; 95% CI, 0.9-6.3); the SRR dose-response trend was significant (p=0.016). Among those working >or= 90 days, both melanoma (8 deaths; SMR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.1-5.2) and brain cancer (11 deaths; SMR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.1-3.8) were elevated, especially for women: melanoma, 3 deaths (SMR, 5.99; 95% CI, 1.2-17.5); brain cancer, 3 deaths (SMR, 2.87; 95% CI, 0.6-8.4). These findings of excess melanoma and brain cancer mortality confirm results of the original study. Melanoma mortality was not associated with estimated cumulative exposure. Brain cancer mortality did not demonstrate a clear dose-response relationship with estimated cumulative exposure.     

Cancer incidence among Norwegian airline cabin attendants

BACKGROUND: Cabin crews are exposed to cosmic radiation at work and this may increase their incidence of radiation-induced cancers. Former studies indicate an increased risk of breast cancer. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. The cohort was established from the files of the Civil Aviation Administration and included people with a valid licence as a cabin attendant between 1950 and 1994. The cohort was linked to the Cancer Registry of Norway. Observed number of cases was compared with expected, based on national rates. Breast cancer incidence was analysed, adjusting for individual fertility variables. RESULTS: A group of 3693 cabin attendants were followed over 72 804 person-years. Among the women, 38 cases of breast cancer were observed (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 1.1, 95% CI : 0.8-1.5). Among men excess risks were found for cancers in the upper respiratory and gastric tract (SIR = 6.0, 95% CI : 2.7-11.4) and cancer of the liver (two cases, SIR = 10.8, 95% CI : 1.3-39.2). For both sexes elevated risks were found for malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer; for men these were SIR = 2.9 (95% CI : 1.1-6.4) and SIR = 9.9 (95% CI : 4.5-18.8) respectively, while for women these were SIR = 1.7 (95% CI : 1.0-2.7) and SIR = 2.9 (95% CI : 1.0-6.9) respectively. For no cancer site was a significant decreased risk found. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk of radiation-induced cancers was not observed. The excess risks of some other cancers are more probably explained by factors related to lifestyle.     

Cancer incidence after nasopharyngeal radium irradiation

BACKGROUND: From 1940 until 1970, nasopharyngeal radium irradiation was used to treat children and military personnel suffering from Eustachian tube failure attributable to local lymphoid hyperplasia. METHODS: We studied cancer incidence in a cohort of 4339 Dutch patients treated with nasopharyngeal radium irradiation, mostly in childhood, and 4104 frequency-matched nonexposed subjects. Average doses to the nasopharynx, pituitary gland, brain, and thyroid gland were 275, 10.9, 1.8, and 1.5 cGy, respectively. We assessed cancer incidence from cancer registry linkage (1989-1996), self-report including medical verification (1945-1988), and death certificates (1945-1996). RESULTS: During 18-50 years of follow-up, four thyroid malignancies (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] = 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.8-7.2) and five malignant brain tumors (SIR = 1.3; CI = 0.4-3.1) were observed. Increased risks were observed for malignancies of lymphoproliferative and hematopoietic origin (SIR = 1.9; CI = 1.2-2.8) and breast cancer (SIR = 1.5; CI = 1.1-2.1). Strong dose-response trends could not be demonstrated for any cancer outcome, although relative risk estimates were elevated in the highest-dose category for head and neck cancer and breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide little evidence for a high excess risk of cancer associated with nasopharyngeal radium irradiation treatment as applied in the Netherlands. Inconsistent findings across studies and public concern warrant the continuing follow-up of available cohorts.     

Hip fractures in women with breast cancer

The authors investigated whether the incidence of first hip fracture, an indicator of osteoporosis, is lower in breast cancer patients, who are assumed to have higher levels of endogenous estrogens, than in other women. A population-based Swedish cohort comprising 9,673 women with invasive breast cancer diagnosed from 1958 through 1983 was followed up with respect to the occurrence of a first hip fracture during the period 1965-1983. Overall, the number of observed acute fractures (n = 387) was slightly higher than expected (n = 348.6) (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.2). Risk for trochanteric fractures was slightly higher than expected (SIR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.4), but risk for cervical fractures was not (SIR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1). Risk for trochanteric fracture decreased with increasing age at breast cancer diagnosis, reaching standardized incidence ratios close to unity after the age of 70 years. Duration of follow-up appeared to be unrelated to the risk of either type of fracture. The authors conclude that the incidence of first hip fracture is not lower in breast cancer patients than in other women.     

Primary liver cancer, other malignancies, and mortality risks following porphyria: a cohort study in Denmark and Sweden.

Cancer incidence and mortality risks were evaluated in a combined cohort of patients who were hospitalized for porphyria in Denmark (1977-1989) and Sweden (1965-1983). Patients were identified by using population-based hospitalization registries. The unique individual identification numbers of 530 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and 296 with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) were linked to the nationwide cancer and death registries. Among patients with both types of porphyria, the authors found small but significantly elevated risks of all cancers combined (PCT: standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-2.2; AIP: SIR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.8) due to pronounced excesses of primary liver cancer (PCT: SIR = 21.2, 95% CI 8.5-43.7; AIP: SIR = 70.4, 95% CI 22.7-164.3) and moderate increases in lung cancer (PCT: SIR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.2; AIP: SIR = 2.8, 95% CI 0.3-10.2). PCT patients had a significantly increased risk of mortality from liver cirrhosis (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 8.4, 95% CI 3.1-18.4) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (SMR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-6.7). The increased risk of primary liver cancer and the increased risk of mortality from cirrhosis of the liver are consistent with findings from previous clinical surveys, but the new observations of excess lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease require confirmation.     

Mortality among workers in an Italian cigarette factory

A cohort study was conducted to evaluate the mortality pattern among female and male workers in a cigarette factory. The study followed 972 female workers and 761 male workers with at least 6 months of cumulative employment from 1 January 1962 through 1 July 1996. Among women, mortality from all causes of death [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 0.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.8-1.1] and mortality from all malignant neoplasms (SMR = 1.1; CI = 0.9-1.3) were consistent with reference rates. Male workers had a significantly reduced overall mortality (SMR = 0.8; CI = 0.7-0.9), while mortality from all malignant neoplasms was as expected (SMR = 0.9; CI = 0.7-1.0). Among female workers the frequencies of deaths from diseases of nervous system (SMR = 2.0; CI = 1.1-3.4) and from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (SMR = 2.7; CI = 1.0-5.6) were elevated at a statistically significant level. No association between duration of employment and diseases of nervous system was observed. A higher risk for NHL, based on three deaths, was reported among female workers with 15 or more years of employment (SMR = 8.1; CI = 2.2-21.0). Although based on small numbers, the excess of NHL here reported suggests that potential exposure to foliar residues of pesticides should be thoroughly considered in tobacco manufacturing.     

Mortality among firefighters from three northwestern United States cities.

To explore whether exposure among firefighters to fire smoke could lead to an increased risk of cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, the mortality of 4546 firefighters who were employed by the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, WA and Portland, OR for at least one year between 1944 and 1979 were compared with United States national mortalities and with mortality of police officers from the same cities. Between 1945 and 1989, 1169 deaths occurred in the study population and 1162 death certificates (99%) were collected. Mortality due to all causes, ischaemic heart disease, and most other non-malignant diseases was less than expected based upon United States rates for white men. There was no excess risk of overall mortality from cancer but excesses of brain tumours (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3-3.2) and lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers (SMR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.9-1.8) were found. Younger firefighters (< 40 years of age) appeared to have an excess risk of cancer (SMR = 1.45, 95% CI 0.8-2.39), primarily due to brain cancer (SMR = 3.75, 95% CI 1.2-8.7). The risk of lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers was greatest for men with at least 30 years of exposed employment (SMR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.1-3.6), especially for leukaemia (SMR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.0-5.4).     

Risk of second primary malignancies in women with papillary thyroid cancer

Second malignancies in women diagnosed with thyroid cancer are of concern given the young average age at diagnosis and excellent survival. Data from the California Cancer Registry were used to evaluate the risk of second primary cancers among a retrospective population-based cohort of 10,932 women diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer between 1988 and 1999. Follow-up was calculated from 2 months until the diagnosis of a second primary cancer, death, loss to follow-up, or December 31, 1999, whichever occurred first. Standardized incidence ratios, based on age-specific cancer incidence rates for California women, were calculated. During a total of 50,938 person-years of follow-up (mean: 4.7 years), 279 women developed a second primary cancer. The incidence of invasive breast cancer was not elevated compared with California women overall (standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7, 1.1) or when stratified by age, race/ethnicity, follow-up, or radiation treatment. An excess of in situ breast cancer (SIR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.4), kidney cancer (SIR = 3.9, 95% CI: 2.2, 6.3), and melanoma (SIR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.2) limited to the first 5 years after diagnosis was observed. Women with papillary thyroid cancer are at increased risk of in situ, but not invasive, breast cancer, kidney cancer, and melanoma.     

Mortality among firefighters from three northwestern United States cities.

To explore whether exposure among firefighters to fire smoke could lead to an increased risk of cancer, lung disease, and heart disease, the mortality of 4546 firefighters who were employed by the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, WA and Portland, OR for at least one year between 1944 and 1979 were compared with United States national mortalities and with mortality of police officers from the same cities. Between 1945 and 1989, 1169 deaths occurred in the study population and 1162 death certificates (99%) were collected. Mortality due to all causes, ischaemic heart disease, and most other non-malignant diseases was less than expected based upon United States rates for white men. There was no excess risk of overall mortality from cancer but excesses of brain tumours (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3-3.2) and lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers (SMR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.9-1.8) were found. Younger firefighters (< 40 years of age) appeared to have an excess risk of cancer (SMR = 1.45, 95% CI 0.8-2.39), primarily due to brain cancer (SMR = 3.75, 95% CI 1.2-8.7). The risk of lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers was greatest for men with at least 30 years of exposed employment (SMR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.1-3.6), especially for leukaemia (SMR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.0-5.4).     

Mortality and cancer incidence among Lithuanian cement producing workers

Aims: To investigate mortality and cancer incidence of cement producing workers.

Methods: A total of 2498 cement workers who have been employed at Portland cement producing departments for at least one year from 1956 to 2000 were followed up from 1 January 1978 to 31 December 2000. The cohort contributed 43 490 person-years to the study. Standardised incidence ratios (SIR) and standardised mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated as ratios between observed and expected numbers of cancers and deaths. The expected numbers were based on sex specific incidence and mortality rates for the total Lithuanian population.

Results: Significantly increased SMRs were found for all malignant neoplasms (SMR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.5) and for lung cancer (SMR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.9) among male cement workers. SIR for all cancer sites was 1.2 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.4). Excess risk was found for cancer of the lung (SIR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.1). The SIR for urinary bladder cancer was also increased (SIR 1.8, 95% CI 0.9 to 3.5). The overall cancer incidence was not increased among females (SIR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.1). With increasing cumulated exposure to cement dust, there were indications of an increasing risk of lung and stomach cancers among males.

Conclusions: This study supported the hypothesis that exposure to cement dust may increase the lung and bladder cancer risk. A dose related risk was found for stomach cancer, but no support was found for an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

     

Breast cancer and occupational exposures in women in Finland.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of breast cancer is not fully understood. Environmental and occupational exposures may contribute to breast cancer risk. METHODS: We linked 324 job titles from the 1970 census of 892,591 Finnish women with incidence of breast cancer (23,638 cases) during 1971-1995. We converted job titles to 31 chemical and two ergonomic agents through a measurement-based, period-specific, national job-exposure matrix. Poisson regression models were fit to the data, with adjustment for birth cohort, follow-up period, socioeconomic status, mean number of children, mean age at first delivery, and turnover rate. RESULTS: For premenopausal breast cancer, medium/high level of occupational exposure to ionizing radiation was associated with a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-2.5; trend P = 0.03). For postmenopausal breast cancer, we found on SIR of 1.2 (1.1-1.3) for low level and 1.4 (1.1-1.8) for medium/high level of ionizing radiation (trend P = 0.001); and an SIR 1.3 (1.1-1.7) for medium/high levels of both asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers. Aromatic hydrocarbon solvents showed a significant trend for a modest excess of postmenopausal breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that occupational exposure to ionizing radiation may be associated with an increased risk of female breast cancer. High-quality studies on environmental and occupational etiology of breast cancer are needed for further elucidation of risk factors.     

Cancer incidence in a cohort of infertile women

To explore further the relation between infertility and breast and female reproductive cancers, cancer incidence among 2,632 Israeli women treated for infertility between 1964 and 1974 was evaluated. Cancer incidence through December 1981 was determined by matching the study cohort to the Israel Cancer Registry. The observed number of cancers was compared with sex-age-ethnic and calendar-year, site-specific national cancer rates. There were 42 cancers observed compared with 37.4 expected, yielding a standardized incidence ratio of 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.8-1.5). Analysis by infertility diagnosis demonstrated no significant excess of total cancer incidence; the standardized incidence ratio was 1.3 (95% CI = 0.8-1.8) for infertility due to hormonal deficiency, 0.7 (95% CI = 0.3-1.4) for mechanical infertility, 1.6 (95% CI = 0.6-3.6) for infertility of the male partner, and 1.1 (95% CI = 0.5-2.2) for unclassified diagnosis. Site-specific analyses revealed a significantly increased risk (8.0; 95% CI = 2.5-19.3; four cases observed, 0.50 expected) of endometrial cancer for the hormonal group and a nonsignificant excess of breast cancer and melanoma. Although numbers were small, women with disorders causing unopposed estrogen production had a risk of 1.4 (95% CI = 0.8-2.2) for all cancer sites, which reached 10.3 (95% CI = 2.6-28.2; three cases observed, 0.29 expected) for endometrial cancer and 1.8 (95% CI = 0.8-3.4; eight cases observed, 4.43 expected) for breast cancer. Among women with nonhormonal infertility, there was a suggestion of increased risks of carcinoma of the ovary (3.2; 95% CI = 0.3-32.9; two cases observed, 0.63 expected) and thyroid (3.0; 95% CI = 0.3-24.6; two cases observed; 0.67 expected). No evidence of an association between ovulation-inducing drugs and cancer was found. This study supports the hypothesis that infertility caused by hormone deficiency is a risk factor for uterine cancer, but is inconclusive regarding breast cancer.     

Active and passive smoking and risk of breast cancer by age 50 years among German women

Recent studies suggest that both active and passive smokers have an increased risk of breast cancer compared with women who have never been either actively or passively exposed. Data on lifetime active and passive smoking were collected in 1999-2000 from 468 predominantly premenopausal breast cancer patients diagnosed by age 50 years and 1,093 controls who had previously participated in a German case-control study conducted in 1992-1995. Compared with never active/passive smokers, former smokers and current smokers had odds ratios of 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8, 1.7) and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0, 2.2), respectively, and ever active smokers had an odds ratio of 1.3 (95% CI: 0.9, 1.9). The risk increased with duration of smoking and decreased after cessation of smoking. Among never active smokers, ever passive smoking was associated with an odds ratio of 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1, 2.4). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during childhood or before the first pregnancy did not appear to increase breast cancer risk. At greatest risk were women who had a high level of exposure to both passive and active smoking (odds ratio = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.7). This study strengthens the hypothesis of a causal relation between active and passive smoke exposures and breast cancer risk.     

Retrospective cohort mortality study of workers engaged in motion picture film processing

OBJECTIVE: To assess potential health risks associated with work in a large motion picture film-processing facility. METHODS: A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted during 1960-2000 among 2646 film workers. Job family categories, created from detailed employee work history information, were used to evaluate chemical exposure patterns. RESULTS: Overall mortality was as expected (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-1.2). Statistically significant associations were found for suicides (SMR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2-3.0) among the hourly workers and AIDS (SMR = 5.3; 95% CI = 1.7-12.3) among the administrative workers. Film developers had increases of respiratory cancer (SMR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.1-3.0) and suicides (SMR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0-4.7), whereas film assemblers had an increase in suicides (SMR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.2-4.4) only. CONCLUSIONS: Excess deaths resulting from suicides and AIDS among the workforce suggest that nonoccupational influences may be involved in the mortality of this cohort and warrant further investigations.     

Breast cancer in relation to the occurrence and time of induced and spontaneous abortion

The authors evaluated whether an induced or spontaneous abortion during the first six months of gestation, particularly if it occurs before the first term pregnancy, increases the risk of breast cancer. Data from a case-control study of women under 70 years of age were used: 3,200 cases of breast cancer were compared with 4,844 controls with nonmalignant nongynecologic conditions. Among both nulliparous and parous women, the risk of breast cancer was not related to the number of induced or spontaneous abortions. After allowance for all identified potential confounding factors, the estimated relative risk for nulliparous women with an induced abortion relative to those who had never been pregnant was 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-2.2), and for spontaneous abortion, the corresponding estimate was 0.9 (95% CI 0.5-1.5). Among parous women, the estimated relative risks were 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.6) for an induced abortion and 0.9 (95% CI 0.8-1.0) for a spontaneous abortion, relative to never having had an abortion of any type. The time of the abortion had little effect: The relative risk estimates were 0.9 (95% CI 0.5-1.4) for induced abortion before the first term birth, 1.4 (95% CI 1.0-1.9) for induced abortion first occurring after the first term birth, 0.9 (95% CI 0.7-1.2) for spontaneous abortion before the first term birth, and 0.9 (95% CI 0.7-1.0) for spontaneous abortion first occurring after the first term birth. Similar results were evident for women under age 40, among whom the frequency of induced abortion was relatively high. These data suggest that the risk of breast cancer is not materially affected by abortion, regardless of whether it occurs before or after the first term birth.     

Thyroid cancer incidence among adolescents and adults in the Bryansk region of Russia following the Chernobyl accident

Thyroid cancer incidence in the Bryansk region, the most contaminated area of Russia after the Chernobyl accident, is analyzed for the residents aged 15-69 y at the time of the accident (about 1 million persons according to the 1989 census) for the period from 1986 to 1998. Sex and age standardized incidence rates are presented and compared to the whole Russian population rates (SIR analysis). Also, a geographical correlation analysis is performed for incidence rates and mean thyroid doses at the district level, which provides a basis for preliminary estimation of radiation associated risks for the period 1991-1998 (to allow for a potential five year latent period). Thyroid doses were estimated based on the State official document "Methodology for reconstruction of dose from iodine radioisotopes in residents of the Russian Federation exposed to radioactive contamination as a result of the Chernobyl accident in 1986" (2000). Altogether, 1,051 thyroid cancer cases were detected in the Bryansk oncological dispensary from 1986 to 1998 and 769 from 1991 to 1998. Histological confirmation was available for 87% and 95% of these cases, respectively. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were 1.27 (95% CI = 0.92, 1.73) for the period 1986-1990 and 1.45 (95% CI = 1.20, 1.73) for the period 1991-1998 for males and 1.94 (95% CI = 1.70, 2.20) and 1.96 (95% CI = 1.82, 2.1) for females. The excess relative risk per 1 Gy (using external control) estimate for the period 1991-1998 was -0.4 (95% CI = -3.5, 2.7), -1.3 (95% CI = -2.8, 0.1) for males and females, respectively, and -0.6 (95% CI = -2.1, 0.8) for both sexes. Using internal controls, the excess relative risk (ERR(1Gy)) per unit dose of 1 Gy was found to be 0.7 with 95% CI (-2.3, 5.2) for males, -0.9 with 95% CI (-2.4, 0.8) for females and 0.0 with 95% CI (-1.4, 1.7) for males and females together. These results are discussed in the light of the quality of information available on thyroid cancer cases and screening campaigns carried out after the Chernobyl accident.     

Mortality among augmentation mammoplasty patients

Much attention has focused on disease risks among women receiving silicone breast implants, but there has been little evaluation of their mortality experience. We undertook a retrospective cohort study of 13,488 women receiving cosmetic implants and 3,936 patients with other types of plastic surgery at 18 plastic surgery practices. After an average of 13 years of follow-up, deficits in overall mortality were found as compared with the general population (U.S. rates) for both implant [255 deaths; standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.6-0.8] and comparison subjects (125 deaths; SMR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.5-0.7). These findings indicate that patients seeking plastic surgery are in general healthier than their peers. Implant patients, however, experienced excess risks of death compared with the general population for brain cancer (SMR = 2.45) and suicide (SMR = 1.54). Internal analyses showed a higher overall mortality among the implant than among the comparison patients (relative risk = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.0-1.6). This overall excess reflected increases for respiratory tract (SMR = 3.03) and brain (SMR = 2.25) cancers and for suicide (SMR = 4.24).     

Frequency of emergency department attendances as a predictor of mortality: nine-year follow-up of a population-based cohort

Heavy users of the services of emergency departments (EDs) have in previous studies been found to have psychological, social, economic and other difficulties besides their more or less acute medical problems. In order to establish whether mortality is associated with high ED use, a nine-year follow-up study was conducted of a 10 per cent population sample (n = 17,000), selected from the catchment area of Huddinge Hospital, Sweden. ED visits were found to predict nine-year mortality in the cohort. The group of individuals who had made four or more ED visits during a period of 15 months prior to follow-up (heavy ED users) had a two-fold excess mortality (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) = 1.9-2.1), those who had made one to three ED visits (moderate ED users) had a slightly elevated mortality (standardized mortality ratio SMR = 1.1, 95 per cent CI = 1.0-1.3), while the SMR of the non-users was 0.9 (95 per cent CI = 0.8-1.0). The three predominant causes of death in the cohort were diseases in the circulatory system, tumours and violent death. Heavy ED users had elevated mortality in all diagnoses, the most important excess mortality being from violent death, comprising suicide, probable suicide and alcohol/drug abuse, with an SMR of 6.3 (95 per cent CI = 6.0-6.7). The excess mortality from these causes of the heavy ED users accounted for more than one-third of their total excess mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mortality in Florida professional firefighters, 1972 to 1999

BACKGROUND: Exposure to occupational hazards among firefighters may lead to increased mortality from cancer, lung, or heart disease. METHODS: Age- and gender-adjusted mortality rates of 34,796 male and 2,017 female Florida professional firefighters between 1972 and 1999 were compared with the Florida general population. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred eleven male and 38 female firefighter deaths with known causes were identified. In male firefighters, mortality due to all causes and most non-malignant diseases was significantly less than expected. There was no excess overall mortality from cancer, but excesses existed for male breast cancer [standardized mortality ratio (SMR = 7.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.99-18.96) and thyroid cancer (SMR = 4.82; 95% CI: 1.30-12.34)]. Mortality from bladder cancer was increased and approached statistical significance (SMR = 1.79; 95% CI: 0.98-3.00). Firefighters certified between 1972 and 1976 had excess mortality from bladder cancer (SMR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.04-3.33). Female firefighters had similar morality patterns to Florida women except for atherosclerotic heart disease (SMR = 3.85; 95% CI: 1.66-7.58). CONCLUSIONS: Excess mortality risk from bladder cancer may be related to occupational exposure during firefighting. The thyroid cancer and breast cancer risk in males, as well as the excess risk of cardiovascular disease mortality noted in females warrant further investigation.