Magnesium thiosulphate

Epidemiological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

epidemiological data

Type of information:

other: human data

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

other: reliable report, however not rated according to Klimish

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Well reported cohort study, but no exposure levels available.

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to same study

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Cancer incidence of sulfite pulp workers in Denmark.

Author:

Rix, B.A.; et al.

Year:

1997

Bibliographic source:

Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 23, 458-461

Materials and methods

Study type:

cohort study (retrospective)

Endpoint addressed:

carcinogenicity

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

Principles of method if other than guideline:

A retrospective cohort study of cancer risk in the Danish sulphite pulp industry was conducted. Cancer incidence was evaluated for 2 Danish sulphite mills. 2238 persons (only 102 women) employed in 1955-1990 were included in a historic cohort and followed until December 1993. National cancer rates were uses to calculated expected cancer cases.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

sulfite / sulfur dioxide

IUPAC Name:

sulfite / sulfur dioxide

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): sulphite

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

HYPOTHESIS TESTED (if cohort or case control study): Studies have indicated an excess risk of stomach cancer, pancreas cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for sulfite pulp mill workers, and therefore cancer incidence was evaluated for 2 Danish sulfite mills.

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
- Type: Record review
- Details: Cancer incidence was evaluated for 2 Danish sulphite mills. 2238 persons (only 102 women) employed in 1955-1990 were included in a historic cohort and followed until December 1993

STUDY PERIOD: 1955 - 1990, follow up until 1993

SETTING: 2 Danish sulphite mills

STUDY POPULATION
- Total population (Total no. of persons in cohort from which the subjects were drawn): 2238 persons (102 women) were included and followed up to 1993
- Selection criteria: availability of personal identification number for vital status, date of death in the National Mortality Register
- Total number of subjects participating in study: 2198 persons
- Other: For each person, the person-years at risk were calculated from start of employment until death or end of follow-up.

COMPARISON POPULATION
- Type: National registry
- Details: National cancer rates were uses to calculated expected cancer cases.

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Statistical methods:

The standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated by dividing the observed number of cancer cases in a given group by the expected number, and the 95 % confidence intervals were calculated using Byar's approximation.

Results and discussion

Results:

FINDINGS
- The overall cancer risk for all male workers was close to the expected, the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) being 1.01.
- The risk of stomach cancer (10 observed) and pancreatic cancer (7 observed) was doubled (SIR 1.99 and 1.88, respectively).
- For the men with known pulp exposure, lung cancer was slightly increased (SIR 1.53).
- Other cancers with elevated risks were leukaemia (7 cases; SIR 1.84) and soft-tissue sarcomas (4 observed; SIR 2.37).
- The excess risk of stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer found in this study was in accordance with that of other studies from sulphite pulp mills.

Confounding factors:

smoking or possibly asbestos used in the industry

Strengths and weaknesses:

no exposure level could be derived

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

This retrospective cohort study in Danish sulphite pulp mill workers had a 2-fold increased risk for stomach cancer and pancreatic cancer (Rix et al., 1997). Other cancers with elevated risks were leukaemia (SIR 1.84) and soft-tissue sarcomas (SIR 2.37). The increased risk for stomach cancer found in this study was in accordance with that of other studies from sulphite pulp mills.