CANCER INCIDENCE AMONG MILD-STEEL AND STAINLESS-STEEL WELDERS AND OTHER METAL WORKERS

The cancer incidence in a historical cohort of 10,059 metal workers em ployed during the period 1964-1984 was investigated. Standardized inci dence ratios (SIR) were calculated based on registry extracts from the Danish Cancer registry. Lifetime exposure data (occupational and othe r) were obtained by a postal questionnaire in living cohort members an d interviews by proxy for deceased and emigrated subjects. The inciden ce of lung cancer was increased among workers ever ''employed as welde rs'' (SIR = 1.38, 95% C.I. 1.03-1.81). There was a significant excess risk of lung cancer among ''mild steel (MS) only welders'' (SIR = 1.61 , 95% C.I. 1.07-2.33) and ''nonwelders'' (SIR = 1.69, 95% C.I. 1.23-2. 26) (indicating carcinogenic exposures other than welding), a borderli ne significant lung cancer excess among ''MS ever welder'' (SIR = 1.32 . 95% C.I. 0.97-1.76), and a nonsignificant excess risk of lung cancer among ''stainless steel (SS) only welders'' (SIR = 2.38, 95% C.I. 0.7 7-5.55). In spite of signs of inconsistency in the risk estimation by duration and latency, we find the results support the conclusions of o ther studies: employment as a welder is associated with an increased l ung cancer risk. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.