A prospective cohort study on effects of occupational dust exposure on mortality

Abstract

Objective To study the effect of occupational dust exposure on mortality and to provide scientific evidence for formulat-ing policies,laws and regulations for modern occupational health and related work.Method Based on the data from Occupational Health Surveillance Record System in Guangzhou established in1989～1992,80987employees occupationally exposed or not exposed to dust,aged≥30,were included in a prospective cohort study.Result(1)The cohort mainly included married workers,with an average education level of high school and a mean age of43.5years.Among them,16.3%had ever exposed to dust,43.7%smok-ers,and33.5%alcohol-drinkers.(2)The cohort was followed-up for eight years in average,with35lost to follow-up and1539deaths mainly of cancer.Overall rude death rate was380.14/100000and314.56/100000in men and95.72/100000and98.33/100000in women,for those exposed and not exposed to dust,respectively.(3)Relative risks of death were1.24,1.34and2.41for all-cause,malignant neoplasm and respiratory diseases,respectively,in those exposed to dust,adjusted for other confounding factors,with1.57,1.61and5.72,respectively,in men exposed to silica dust,all with statistical significance atα=0.05,as com-pared to those not exposed to dust.(4)Attributable risk proportion(AR%)and population attributable risk proportion(PAR%)for those exposed to dust were19.5%,3.8%,25.4%and5.3%,for all-cause and cancer-cause-specific death,respectively,adjust-ed for related confounding factors.Conclusion Occupational dust exposure could increase the risk of death of all-cause,especially death of malignant neoplasm and respiratory diseases.