INCREASED STANDARDIZED INCIDENCE RATIO OF BREAST CANCER IN FEMALE ELECTRONICS WORKERS
Resource
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH v.7 pp.ARTN102
Journal
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
Journal Volume
v.7
Pages
ARTN10-2
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
SUNG, TZU-I
CHEN, PAU-CHUNG
Abstract
Background: In 1994, a hazardous waste site, polluted by the
dumping of solvents from a former electronics factory, was
discovered in Taoyuan, Taiwan. This subsequently emerged as
a serious case of contamination through chlorinated
hydrocarbons with suspected occupational cancer. The
objective of this study was to determine if there was any
increased risk of breast cancer among female workers in a 23
-year follow-up period. Methods: A total of 63,982 female
workers were retrospectively recruited from the database of
the Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI) covering the period 1973
-1997; the data were then linked with data, up to 2001, from
the National Cancer Registry at the Taiwanese Department of
Health, from which standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for
different types of cancer were calculated as compared to
the general population. Results: There were a total of 286
cases of breast cancer, and after adjustment for calendar
year and age, the SIR was close to 1. When stratified by the
year 1974 (the year in which the regulations on solvent use
were promulgated), the SIR of the cohort of workers who
were first employed prior to 1974 increased to 1.38 (95%
confidence interval, 1.11-1.70). No such trend was
discernible for workers employed after 1974. When 10 years
of employment was considered, there was a further increase
in the SIR for breast cancer, to 1.62. Those workers with
breast cancer who were first employed prior to 1974 were
employed at a younger age and for a longer period. Previous
qualitative studies of interviews with the workers,
corroborated by inspection records, showed a short-term high
exposure to chlorinated alkanes and alkenes, particularly
trichloroethylene before 1974. There were no similar
findings on other types of cancer. Conclusion: Female
workers with exposure to trichloroethylene and/or mixture of
solvents, first employed prior to 1974, may have an excess
risk of breast cancer.
Subjects
CHLORINATED ORGANIC-SOLVENTS
RISK
WOMEN
MORTALITY
HYDROCARBONS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Type
journal article