Respiratory Cancer and Inhaled Inorganic Arsenic in Copper Smelters Workers
Author Information
Author(s): Jay H. Lubin, Lee E. Moore, Joseph F. Fraumeni Jr., Kenneth P. Cantor
Primary Institution: National Cancer Institute
Hypothesis
Is there a linear relationship between cumulative inhaled arsenic exposure and respiratory cancer mortality that increases with concentration?
Conclusion
Higher concentrations of inhaled inorganic arsenic lead to a greater risk of respiratory cancer mortality for the same cumulative exposure.
Supporting Evidence
- RRs for respiratory cancer increased linearly with cumulative arsenic exposure within categories of arsenic concentration.
- The slope of the linear exposure–response relationship increased with arsenic concentration.
- SMRs for respiratory cancer increased with cumulative arsenic exposure and with arsenic concentration.
Takeaway
Breathing in more arsenic for a shorter time is worse for your lungs than breathing in less arsenic for a longer time.
Methodology
Poisson regression methods were used to analyze data from a cohort of arsenic-exposed copper smelter workers.
Potential Biases
Potential exposure misclassification due to reliance on historical data.
Limitations
The study may not account for unmeasured exposures after workers left the smelter.
Participant Demographics
Workers employed at a Montana copper smelter for at least one year before 1957.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 1.4–1.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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