Mortality and Cancer Incidence Among Underground Uranium Miners in the Czech Republic 1977–1992

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kelly-Reif K ; Nylander-French L ; Richardson DB ; Sandler DP ; Schubauer-Berigan, Mary K. ; Shore D ; Troester MA
• Description:
  Objectives: Uranium miners in Pøíbram, Czech Republic were exposed to low and moderate levels of radon gas and other hazards. It is unknown whether these hazards increase the risk of mortality or cancer incidence when compared with the general Czech population. Methods: A cohort of 16 434 male underground miners employed underground for at least 1 year between 1946 and 1976, and alive and residing in the Czech Republic in 1977, were followed for mortality and cancer incidence through 1992. We compared observed deaths and cancer incidence to expectation based on Czech rates. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs), standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and causal mortality ratios were calculated. Results: Underground workers in the Pøíbram mines had higher rates of death than expected due to all causes (SMR=1.23, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.27), all cancers (SMR=1.52, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.60), lung cancer (SMR=2.12, 95% CI 1.96 to 2.28) and extrathoracic cancer (SMR=1.41, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.77). Similar excess was observed in cancer incidence analyses, with the addition of stomach cancer (SIR=1.37, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.63), liver cancer (SIR=1.70, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.25) and rectal cancer (SIR=1.41, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.66). The SIR was elevated for all leukaemias (SIR=1.51, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.07) and for lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers combined (SIR=1.31, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.61), but results for specific subtypes were imprecise. Deaths due to hazardous mining conditions resulted in 0.33 personyears of life lost per miner. Conclusions: Occupational exposure to the Pøíbram mines resulted in excess cancers at several sites, including sites previously linked to radon and uranium exposure. Incidence analyses showed relative excess of several additional cancer subtypes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Men Mining Morbidity Mortality Neoplasms Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Uranium

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• Keywords:
  Cancer Exposure Levels Gases Hazards Humans Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Radon Risk Factors Statistical Analysis Underground Miners Underground Mines Uranium Miners Uranium Mining

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• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  North Carolina ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  76
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056467
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2019 Aug; 76(8):511-518
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Dale P Sandler, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology Branch Research, Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233
• Email:
  sandler@niehs.nih.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Radon (CAS RN 10043-92-2) ; Uranium (CAS RN 7440-61-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20270630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:16e8a66fb47fa907c907426e6469350ccd0fcff48138c29de730fa73adca51de2a26c5e7afcff8f139141040ac44716dc38af28e7dfcc237fe0850b87962a18a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214072/cdc_214072_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 286.21 KB ]