Korean J Occup Environ Med.
2006 Mar;18(1):53-58.
Epidemiologic Characteristics of Occupational Lung Cancer in the Busan area
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Korea. kimji@dau.ac.kr
- 2Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Koshin University, Korea.
- 3Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, In-Je University, Korea.
- 4Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
- 5Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
- 6Department of Preventive Medicine and The Research Society of Environmental Genetic Epidemiology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to estimate the proportion of occupational lung cancer in the Busan area.
METHODS
Occupational physicians of four university hospitals operating an occupational disease surveillance system in the Busan area actively interviewed all of the newly diagnosed, lung cancer cases about their characteristics and occupational histories through a survey questionnaire and chart review. To evaluate and agree on the work-relativity, the cases were presented in periodic meetings.
RESULTS
A total of 301 lung cancer cases were interviewed, of which 50 (16.6%, all male, 27 probable and 23 possible) were related to occupational exposure. The exposure materials were asbestos, Cr, PAH etc. Pathologic findings included squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma.
CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of occupational lung cancer cases above the probable level was 9% and above the possible level was 17%. To develop the public health policy and to prevent further cancer death, the meaningful data from occupational cancer surveillance systems should be collected continuously for ongoing monitoring.