Objective
The specific objectives of the study are as follows:
a) To what extent are occupational exposures to diesel fumes, and to the quartz content of coal mine dust, related to the occurrence of lung cancer in coalminers?
b) Does exposure to coalmine dust increase the risk of death from cancers of the stomach and other digestive organs? If so, by how much?
c) Is any other cancer, and specifically nasal cancer, related to occupational exposures of coalminers?
d) If occupational effects are found, to what extent are they independent of an effect of smoking?
Approximately 20 000 subjects will be selected from those who worked at 10 collieries in order to fucus the study on those parts of the data where exposure to diesels occurred, and where dust concentrations were measured most accurately.
Occupational exposures to quartz and other dust components have already been calculated. Occupational exposures to diesel fumes will be estimated, using surrogate measures based on distance travelled and time spent.
Existing data on smoking habits and radiology will be used in the analysis.
Population comparisons of mortality will be made using national data while due account will be taken of confounding factors in the statistical analysis.
METHODS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE AIMS ARE TO BE ACHIEVED
The degree and reliability of detail on time worked in occupational groups by men in this study, recorded concurrently with the men doing those jobs rather than retrospectively at interview, is perhaps unique in occupational epidemiology.
As regards the measurements of respirable dust, these are perhaps unique in scope and quality.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
EH8 9SU Edinburgh
United Kingdom