E. Rapiti et al., MORTALITY AMONG WORKERS AT MUNICIPAL WASTE INCINERATORS IN ROME - A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY, American journal of industrial medicine, 31(5), 1997, pp. 659-661
A retrospective mortality study of a cohort of 532 male subjects emplo
yed at two municipal plants for garbage recycling and incinerating has
been conducted. All workers ever employed at the plants since 1962 we
re enrolled and followed up from January 1, 1965 to December 31, 1992.
Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) and 90% confidence intervals (90
%CI) were calculated using regional population mortality rates. The st
udy yielded a total of 8,585 person-years of observation. Mortality fr
om all causes was significantly lower than expected (observed [obs] =
31; SMR = 0.71; 90%CI = 0.51-0.95). All cancer mortality was comparabl
e with that of the general population (obs = 15; SMR = 0.95; 90%CI = 0
.58-1.46). Mortality from lung cancer was reduced (obs = 3; SMR = 0.55
; 90%CI = 0.15-1.42). Increased risk was found for gastric cancer (obs
= 4; SMR = 2.79; 90%CI = 0.94-6.35). Analysis by latency indicated th
at the excess risk of gastric cancer was confined in the category with
more than 10 years since first exposure. Our results for gastric and
lung cancers indicate the need to further investigate the role on canc
er of occupational exposure to organic dust and bacterial endotoxins i
n the waste management. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.