Lung Cancer Among Welders

Abstract

Deaths from lung cancer among 3,247 welders in western Washington during the period 1950 through 79–76 were identified. Relative to those among men of comparable age and race in the population as a whole, lung cancer mortality rates among the welders were elevated by 32% (p = 0.06). When the analysis was restricted to the period beginning 20 years after first employment, the excess was 74% (p < 0.001). An excess was also found when welders were compared to nonwelders in the same union: the attributable risk was 23.1 per 100,000 per year. A review of 11 published studies showed that most demonstrate an excess risk, with 6 of the 11 showing an excess in the range of 30 to 50%.