Characteristics of Occupational Lung Cancer from 1999 to 2005 / 대한산업의학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of occupational lung cancer. METHODS: We analyzed the characteristics of 53 occupational lung cancer cases among 128 lung cancer cases applied for industrial accident compensation insurance benefits and referred for the decision of work-relatedness between 1999 and 2005. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test on 128 lung cancer cases. RESULTS: The age of diagnosis, smoking history, and cell type of lung cancer cases were not significantly different between 53 cases of occupational lung cancer and 75 cases of non-occupational lung cancer (p>.05). Here is a list of occupational lung cancer case numbers associated with certain carcinogens were 33(62.3%) cases with asbestos, 23(43.4%) cases with polycyclic aromatic hydro carbon (PAH), 17 cases(32.1%) with chromium VI (Oxidation state), 14 cases(26.4%) with crystalline silica, 12 cases (22.6%) with nickel compounds, 2 cases(3.8%) with radon daughters, and 1 case(1.9%) with arsenic. Eighteen cases(34.0%) of occupational lung cancer had exposures to a single carcinogen, and 35 cases (66.0%) had exposures to more than 2 carcinogens. Job types associated with occupational lung cancer cases were 16 cases(30.2%) with maintenance, 13 cases(24.5%) with welding; 6 cases(11.3%) with grinding; 4 cases(7.5%) with foundry; 3 cases(5.7%) with driving, casting, and painting' and 14 cases (26.4%) with 'other'. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the characteristics of occupational lung cancer through the analysis of the age of diagnosis, smoking history, cell type, job, and carcinogen. There is no difference between occupational lung cancer and non-occupational lung cancer except exposure to the carcinogens. these results indicate that past exposure to occupational carcinogens remains an important determinant of occupational lung cancer occurrence.