Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare lung cancer risk in workers with acknowledged form of silicosis and non-exposed general population of the CR. The study sample included 797 males registered with silicosis in the National Registry of Occupational Diseases in 1992-2001.
The basic data on study sample obtained from the National Registry of Occupational Diseases were combined with data from the National Cancer Registry and the National Population Registry. Carcinogenic risk of the study sample in comparison with Czech male population was evaluated by calculation of Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR) in 1992-2006.
The average age of the study sample in time of diagnosed silicosis was 60.4 years; the average exposure was 24.2 years. In 1992-2006, 61 workers developed lung cancer.
Significantly higher lung cancer risk (SIR = 2.81; 95% CI 2.1-3.6) was confirmed in workers with silicosis compared to the general Czech male population. The highest lung cancer risk was identified in ore-miners and breakers, metal workers, and metallurgist-founders.
Significantly higher proportion of lung cancer was found in a group of smokers and ex-smokers in comparison with non-smokers (p < 0.01). No significant relationship was identified either between lung cancer incidence and estimated lifetime exposure to silica dust or between lung cancer incidence and degree of severity of silicosis by the ILO classification in the study sample.