Cancer Risk from Aflatoxins in Danish Livestock Feed Workers
Author Information
Author(s): J.H. Olsen, L. Dragsted, H. Autrup
Primary Institution: The Danish Cancer Registry, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology under the Danish Cancer Society
Hypothesis
Is there an increased cancer risk among workers exposed to aflatoxins in livestock feed processing?
Conclusion
The study found elevated risks for liver cancer and cancers of the biliary tract among workers exposed to aflatoxins.
Supporting Evidence
- Elevated risks for liver cancer and biliary tract cancers were observed among workers.
- Workers inhaled an estimated 170 ng of aflatoxin B1 per day.
- Significant increases in relative risk were observed for cancers of the salivary glands and thyroid gland.
Takeaway
Workers who handled animal feed contaminated with aflatoxins had a higher chance of getting liver cancer.
Methodology
The study linked cancer cases to employment records of workers in livestock feed processing companies from 1964 to 1984.
Potential Biases
Misclassification of exposure levels may have biased risk estimates.
Limitations
The study could not ascertain the cumulative aflatoxin exposures of individual cancer cases.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on male employees aged 16-66 years.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 107-232
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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