Lung cancer risk among textile workers in Lithuania

Altogether 14650 textile workers were included in this retrospective study and were followed from 1978 to 2002. Lung cancer risk was analyzed using the standardized incidence ratios (SIR) calculated by the person-years method. The expected number of cases was calculated by indirect methods using Lithuanian incidence rates.During the period of 25 years 70 cancer cases for male and 15 for female were identified. The SIR for male was 0.94 (95% CI PI 0.73–1.19), for female 1.36 (95% CI 0.76–2.25). The lung cancer risk for male in the cotton textile production unit was significantly lower after 10 years of employment (SIR = 0.34; 95% CI 0.12–0.73). The lung cancer risk decreased with level of exposure to textile dust (p for trends was <0.05): the SIR for the low, medium, high and very high level of cumulative exposure were 1.91 (95% CI 0.92–3.51), 1.30 (95% CI 0.52–2.69), 0.77 (95% CI 0.21–1.96), and 0.24 (95% CI 0.03–0.86) respectively.In our study the exposure to cotton textile dust at workplaces for male is associated with adverse lung cancer risk effects. High level of exposure to cotton dusts appears to be associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer in cotton textile workers.The textile industry is one of the largest employers in Lithuania. The textile includes spinning, weaving, knitting and finishing all types of natural and artificial (synthetic) fibers. IARC monograph concludes that working in the textile manufacturing industry entails exposures that are possibly carcinogenic to humans [1]. During spinning, weaving and knitting operations, exposure to chemicals is generally limited. Exposure to natural organic (cotton) fibers in textile industry is usually characterized as cotton dust [2]. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to organic dust, especially that having endotoxin, results in lower rates of lung cancer [3-7]. Several recent investigations have reported decreased risks of lung cancer among workers in the cotton textile industry [8-10]. A several