Abstract
Purpose
To analyse the mortality and its causes, especially cancer, among French cement production workers.
Methods
A cohort of all workers employed at least 1 year in one of the main four cement companies in France was assembled (9,118 workers, 122,124 person-years of follow-up between 1990 and 2005). A common job titles classification was used to analyse occupational risk factors. We conducted a standardized mortality ratio analysis based on age, gender and calendar-period-specific national mortality rates and explored the combined effect of job titles and duration through an internal Cox regression analysis.
Results
The number of deaths during the follow-up period was 430 (4.7%). Malignant neoplasm was the cause of 48.1% of deaths. Overall, a deficit in all-causes mortality (standardized mortality ratio (SMR): 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–0.74) and in cancer mortality (SMR: 0.80, CI 0.69–0.92) was observed. Working in the quarry, yard and shipping sectors was associated with a 50% higher all-causes mortality risk in comparison with the administrative sector.
Conclusions
This cohort study does not support previous observations that cement workers are at higher risk of cancer mortality than the general population. The length of follow-up should be increased, and specific exposures deserve analysis.
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Acknowledgments
We thank A Capmas, the General Delegate of ATIHL, J Duron (Holcim France), JF Jacquet (Lafarge Ciments), J Lumineau (Holcim France), J Prével (Ciments Calcia), A Romi (SFIC), G Rusaouen (Vicat). The study was sponsored by Association technique de l’industrie des liants hydrauliques (ATILH, Technical Association of Hydraulic Binder Industry) that covered the costs of the study, facilitated the work with the human resources department and the industrial hygienists and attended as an observer to the meetings of the scientific committee. It did not interfere in the writing of the protocol, neither in the analysis of data nor in the writing of this article.
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Dab, W., Rossignol, M., Luce, D. et al. Cancer mortality study among French cement production workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 167–173 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0530-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0530-6