ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to assess cancer risk among the workers at two Lithuanian textile mills vis-a-vis occupational hazards and professional status. Our retrospective investigation included 12,602 females who had been followed up in 1978-2002. Cancer risk was evaluated using a standardized incidence ratio and a relative one - on the basis of confidential interviews. Overall cancer risk for textile workers in Lithuania was lower than that of the general population (SIR 0.91; 95% CI 0.81-0.99). However, excess risk of thyroid cancer was reported among females at the linen finishing unit (SIR 5.85; 95% CI 1.21-17.2) cotton one (SIR 3.24; 95% CI 1.19-7.06). An inverse correlation was shown between cumulative exposure to cotton dust and risk at all occupational sites (p=0.03). Our results point to a link between probability occupational factors in a variety of textile industry jobs and risk of cancer. Further research is required to better understand the potential of professional factor influence.
Subject(s)
Cotton Fiber , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Textile Industry , Adult , Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Dust , Female , Humans , Incidence , Lithuania/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/etiology , Neoplasms/prevention & control , Occupational Diseases/prevention & control , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The four volumes of "Cancer Incidences in Five Continents" provided the data for studying the geographical differences in melanoma incidence. The cancer cumulative incidence rate was used, along with other descriptive markers: sex ratio, age group distribution and sub-site distribution. The incidence of melanoma was correlated with other sites of cancer across populations for both sexes separately, showing a high correlation with ovarian cancer. The regions used for the main comparison were Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Alberta, Canada and Norway. An answer was sought to the question as to whether or not the (basic) low incidence is mainly determined by endogenous factors while the (superimposed) high incidence arises under the influence of an environmental cause. Cohort studies and studies of migrant populations offer data which suggest that ultraviolet exposure is among the causal environmental factors. The correlation study emphasizes the importance of the endogenous factors. The observations on the behaviour of the descriptive markers are used to give an outline for further research using descriptive and analytical epidemiological methods.
