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French cohort of the uranium processing workers: mortality pattern after 30-year follow-up

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate mortality among nuclear workers with potential internal exposure to uranium.

Methods

The cohort included 2,709 workers employed at the AREVA NC Pierrelatte plant for at least 6 months (72,787 person-years). This plant processed uranium enrichment during the period 1960–1996 and chemical conversion since 1980. Mortality was compared to the national and regional mortality rates available for the period 1968–2005. For causes of death of interest with respect to occupational exposure, mortality trends according to occupational characteristics were assessed.

Results

As expected, an important healthy worker effect (all causes SMR = 0.55 (95% CI: 0.50–0.61), n = 411; all cancers SMR = 0.70 (95% CI: 0.60–0.81), n = 193) was observed. Among cancer sites a priori related to uranium exposure, only mortality for lymphatic cancer was increased among potentially exposed workers (SMR = 1.49 (95% CI: 0.68–2.82); n = 9). An important increase in mortality from pleural cancer was observed (SMR = 2.85 (95% CI: 0.93–6.66), n = 5); none of the deceased workers were exposed to radiation whereas all handled asbestos.

Conclusion

In spite of limited statistical power, results show consistency with previous studies of nuclear workers potentially exposed to uranium. Further investigation based on more precise uranium exposure data should allow the estimation of uranium hazard effects among this cohort.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the help of Mr Régis Colin from the INRS in gathering regional statistics. This work was performed as a part of a Ph.D. graduate study financially supported by IRSN and AREVA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, Service de Radiobiologie et d’Epidémiologie, BP 17, 92262, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

    Irina Guseva Canu, Camille Metz-Flamant, Sylvaine Caër-Lorho, Dominique Laurier & Margot Tirmarche

  2. Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona, Spain

    Elisabeth Cardis

  3. Etablissement AREVA NC de Pierrelatte, Service Santé au Travail, Pierrelatte, France

    Bernard Auriol

  4. PW Statistical Consulting, Laxou, France

    Pascal Wild

Authors
  1. Irina Guseva Canu
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  2. Elisabeth Cardis
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  3. Camille Metz-Flamant
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  4. Sylvaine Caër-Lorho
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  7. Dominique Laurier
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  8. Margot Tirmarche
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Correspondence to Irina Guseva Canu.

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Guseva Canu, I., Cardis, E., Metz-Flamant, C. et al. French cohort of the uranium processing workers: mortality pattern after 30-year follow-up. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 83, 301–308 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-009-0455-0

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