CANCER RISKS AMONG IRON AND STEEL WORKERS IN ANSHAN, CHINA .1. PROPORTIONAL MORTALITY RATIO ANALYSIS

A standardized proportional mortality ratio (SPMR) study of 8,887 deat hs during 1980-1989 among male workers in a large integrated iron-stee l complex in Anshan, China, was conducted to provide clues to occupati onal risk factors. Accidents and cancer accounted for a higher proport ion of deaths among the iron-steel workers than among the general male population (SPMR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.12-1.31 and 1.14; 95% CI = 1.10-1 .18, respectively). Among all workers, SPMRs were significantly elevat ed for stomach, lung, and colorectal cancers (SPMR = 1.37, 1.37, 1.38, respectively), but not other cancers. Risks of stomach cancer appeare d to be highest among workers employed in jobs with exposure to iron a nd coal dust, whereas significant increases in colorectal cancer were seen for loading and other dusty jobs and for administrative and seden tary jobs without dust exposure. Risks of lung cancer appeared increas ed for a variety of jobs throughout the complex, especially those with probable high levels of exposure to polycyclic hydrocarbons and asbes tos. Risk of esophageal cancer was significantly elevated for fire-res istant brick makers, and risk of nonmalignant respiratory disease was significantly elevated for those employed as furnace workers, foundry workers, and fire-resistant brick makers. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.