AI Article Synopsis

  • The study examined the link between pharyngeal/tonsillar cancer and carcinogen exposure at an asphalt roll company in Italy that used asbestos until 1979.
  • Researchers analyzed workers from both the original factory (1964-1979) and the new factory (1980-1997) to assess health outcomes related to their exposure.
  • The findings showed a significantly high mortality rate from pharyngeal/tonsillar carcinoma in the earlier group, suggesting that asbestos and other carcinogens may have contributed to the increased cancer risk before the factory changed its production process.

Article Abstract

Background: We investigated a possible association between pharyngeal/tonsillar carcinoma and mixed carcinogen exposures in an asphalt roll company in Italy that used asbestos until 1979, when a new factory was built using a different production process.

Methods: We evaluated all workers involved in the entire production history of the company, divided into two subcohorts based on exposure status (workers in the original factory, 1964-1979, and those who worked only in the new factory, 1980-1997). We ascertained the vital status of the study population in February 2001.

Results: Among the subset of workers in the earlier subcohort, there were five deaths from pharyngeal/tonsillar carcinoma for a standardized mortality ratio of 21 (95% confidence interval = 8.8-51). No cases were recorded among workers hired after 1979.

Conclusion: The increased standardized mortality ratio for this relatively rare cancer among workers exposed before 1979 may have been due to carcinogenic exposures at the plant.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0b013e318276cc95DOI Listing

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