Publication Date |
1989 |
Personal Author |
Matanoski, G. M. |
Page Count |
34 |
Abstract |
A study was conducted to determine if pathologists with exposure to formaldehyde (50000) demonstrate an excess risk of cancer, particularly cancers of the nasopharyngeal and pharyngeal areas. A population of 6411 physicians with occupational formaldehyde exposure participated in the study. The occurrence of these types of cancers was 4.7 times higher in these persons than in a comparable sized group of psychiatrists, but even so it is difficult to determine the importance of the increased risk as being directly tied to formaldehyde exposure. Pathologists and other members of the study group were exposed to other chemicals and infectious agents as well as formaldehyde. There was an apparent excess of mortality from pancreatic cancer and brain cancers as well as leukemia. The study indicates that it is difficult to see how a large dose of the agent could be absorbed and reach these areas of the body since formaldehyde is such an irritating substance. |
Keywords |
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Source Agency |
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NTIS Subject Category |
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Corporate Authors |
Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD. Dept. of Epidemiology.; National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH. |
Supplemental Notes |
Sponsored by National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH. |
Document Type |
Technical Report |
Title Note |
Final rept. |
NTIS Issue Number |
199114 |