Merlo D F, Garattini S, Gelatti U, Simonati C, Covolo L, Ceppi M, Donato F
Environmental Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy.
Occup Environ Med. 2004 Feb;61(2):e9. doi: 10.1136/oem.2003.009357.
Graphite electrode manufacturing workers are exposed to coal tar and its volatiles containing a variety of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), silica and graphite dusts, and asbestos.
To investigate mortality from cancer and other diseases among workers in a graphite electrode production plant in Italy.
A total of 1291 males actively employed between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1989 who had worked at the plant for at least one year were studied. The follow up extended from 1950 to 1997. Standardised mortality ratios (SMR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using mortality rates for the Italian and regional male population.
Excess mortality was observed for all causes (SMR 1.44, CI 1.32 to 1.56), all cancers (SMR 1.27, CI 1.07 to 1.50), liver cancer (SMR 4.19, CI 2.68 to 6.23), silicosis (SMR 66.39, CI 52.56 to 82.7), and cirrhosis and other chronic diseases of the liver (SMR 1.87, CI 1.31 to 2.59) in comparison with the national male population. When regional rates were used to calculate the number of expected deaths, SMRs remained higher for silicosis (SMR 57.32, 42.11 to 76.22), and liver cancer (SMR 2.57, 1.57 to 3.97). Mortality from silicosis was increased in workers hired at young ages (<25 years, SMR 81.79; 25-34 years, SMR 82.73), and in workers aged <45 at death (SMR 333.3, CI 159.8 to 613). Mortality from liver cancer increased threefold (SMR 3.11, CI 1.78 to 5.05) in workers with more than 10 years of employment at the plant during the manufacture of Karbate products.
Results support the association between excess mortality from silicosis and occupational exposure to siliceous sands experienced during graphite electrode manufacturing. The observed excess mortality from liver cancer is compatible, to some extent, with exposures that may have occurred during the manufacture of phenolic and furfuryl resins treated products, although a role of lifestyle factors and viral infections cannot be excluded.
石墨电极制造工人会接触煤焦油及其含有多种多环芳烃（PAH）的挥发物、二氧化硅和石墨粉尘以及石棉。
调查意大利一家石墨电极生产厂工人的癌症及其他疾病死亡率。
对1950年1月1日至1989年12月31日期间在该厂积极工作且至少工作一年的1291名男性进行了研究。随访时间从1950年至1997年。使用意大利和地区男性人口的死亡率计算标准化死亡比（SMR）及其95%置信区间（CI）。
与全国男性人口相比，观察到所有原因（SMR 1.44，CI 1.32至1.56）、所有癌症（SMR 1.27，CI 1.07至1.50）、肝癌（SMR 4.9，CI 2.68至6.23）、矽肺（SMR 66.39，CI 52.56至82.7）以及肝硬化和其他肝脏慢性病（SMR 1.87，CI 1.31至2.59）的死亡率过高。当使用地区死亡率计算预期死亡人数时，矽肺（SMR 57.32，42.11至76.22）和肝癌（SMR 2.57，1.57至3.97）的SMR仍然较高。年轻时（<25岁，SMR 81.79；25 - 34岁，SMR 82.73）受雇的工人以及死亡时年龄<45岁的工人中矽肺死亡率增加。在制造卡尔贝特产品期间在该厂工作超过10年的工人中，肝癌死亡率增加了三倍（SMR 3.11, CI 1.78至5.05）。
结果支持矽肺过高死亡率与石墨电极制造过程中职业接触硅质砂之间的关联。观察到的肝癌过高死亡率在一定程度上与酚醛和糠醇树脂处理产品制造过程中可能发生的接触相符，尽管不能排除生活方式因素和病毒感染的作用。
