Journal article
Mortality from obstructive lung diseases and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among asphalt workers
American journal of epidemiology, v 158(5), pp 468-78
01 Sep 2003
PMID: 12936902
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Work in the asphalt industry has been associated with nonmalignant respiratory morbidity and mortality, but the evidence is not consistent. A historical cohort of asphalt workers included 58,862 men (911,209 person-years) first employed between 1913 and 1999 in companies applying and mixing asphalt in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, and Norway. The relations between mortality from nonmalignant respiratory diseases (including the obstructive lung diseases: chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma) and specific chemical agents and mixtures were evaluated using a study-specific exposure matrix. Mortality from obstructive lung diseases was associated with the estimated cumulative and average exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and coal tar (p values of the test for linear trend = 0.06 and 0.01, respectively). The positive association between bitumen fume exposure and mortality from obstructive lung diseases was weak and not statistically significant; confounding by simultaneous exposure to coal tar could not be excluded. The authors lacked data on smoking and full occupational histories. In conclusion, exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, originating from coal tar and possibly from bitumen fume, may have contributed to mortality from obstructive lung diseases among asphalt workers, but confounding and bias cannot be ruled out as an explanation for the observed associations.
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Details
- Title
- Mortality from obstructive lung diseases and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among asphalt workers
- Creators
- Igor Burstyn - Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Risk AssessmentPaolo Boffetta - Unit of Environment Cancer EpidemiologyDick Heederik - Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Risk AssessmentTimo Partanen - Unit of Excellence for Psychosocial FactorsHans Kromhout - Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Risk AssessmentOle Svane - Danish Working Environment ServiceSverre Langård - Centre for Occupational and Environmental MedicineRainer Frentzel-Beyme - Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social MedicineTimo Kauppinen - Unit of Excellence for Psychosocial FactorsIsabelle Stücker - Recherches épidémiologiques et statistiques sur l'environnement et la santéJudith Shaham - Occupational Cancer DepartmentWolfgang Ahrens - Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social MedicineSylvie Cenée - Recherches épidémiologiques et statistiques sur l'environnement et la santéGilles Ferro - Unit of Environment Cancer EpidemiologyPirjo Heikkilä - Unit of Excellence for Psychosocial FactorsMariëtte Hooiveld - Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute for Risk AssessmentChristoffer Johansen - Institute of Cancer EpidemiologyBritt Randem - Centre for Occupational and Environmental MedicineWalter Schill - Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine
- Publication Details
- American journal of epidemiology, v 158(5), pp 468-78
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000185040800011
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-0043011848
- Other Identifier
- 991014878095304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health