CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY AMONG SWEDISH LEATHER TANNERS

Objectives-The aim was to study the incidence of cancer among Swedish leather tanners. Methods-A cohort of 2026 subjects who had been employ ed for at least one year between 1900 and 1989 in three Swedish leathe r tanneries, was established. The cancer incidence and mortality patte rns were assessed for the periods 1958-89 and 1952-89 respectively, an d cause-specific standardised incidence and mortality ratios (SIRs and SMRs) were calculated. Results-A significantly increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas (SIR 4.27, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.39 -9.97) was found, based on five cases. Excesses, (not statistically si gnificant) was also found for multiple myelomas (SIR 2.54, 95% CI 0.93 -5.53), and sinonasal cancer (SIR 3.77, 95% CI 0.46-13.6). Conclusions -The increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas adds support to previ ous findings of an excess mortality in this diagnosis among leather ta nners. A plausible cause is exposure to chlorophenols, which had occur red in all three plants. The excess of multiple myelomas may also be a ssociated with exposure to chlorophenol. The association between incid ence of cancer and specific chemical exposure will be elucidated in a cohort-based case-referent study.