Continued Surveillance of Cancer Incidence Among Swedish Smelter Workers

Abstract

A cohort study of workers at a smeltery in northern Sweden showed an excess mortality, mostly due to deaths in cancer (especially in the respiratory organs) and circulatory diseases. Further follow-up of the cohort showed a decreasing trend in lung cancer incidence and mortality. The cohort studied has now been expanded and comprises 6 334 blue-collar workers first employed 1928–1979. They were followed in the cancer register up to 1987-01-01 and in the cause-ofdeath register up to 1988-01-01. The decreasing trend in lung cancer incidence and mortality continued but there was still an elevated lung cancer incidence among the workers when compared with Swedish males. The cumulative occurrence of lung cancer since time of first employment was analyzed by different employment cohorts and a higher occurrence of lung cancer was found among those earlier employed.

Key Words:

• Lung cancer
• cancer incidence
• copper smeltery
• cohort study
• surveillance