A retrospective mortality study of substituted anthraquinone dyestuffs workers

• Published in: British Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 355 - 360
• Main Authors: Gardiner, J S, Walker, S A, Maclean, A J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.11.1982; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age groups; Aged; Anthraquinones; Anthraquinones - adverse effects; Cancer; Cardiovascular Diseases - chemically induced; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Cerebrovascular Disorders - chemically induced; Cerebrovascular Disorders - mortality; Chemical hazards; Chemical Industry; Coloring Agents - adverse effects; Death; Factories; Female; Humans; Life tables; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Mutagens; Neoplasia; Neoplasms - chemically induced; Neoplasms - mortality; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - mortality; Retrospective Studies; Scotland; Scotland
• ISSN: 0007-1072; 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.39.4.355

ABSTRACT Because short-term bacterial tests have previously shown that about one-third of substituted anthraquinones tested are capable of causing reverse mutation, and two-year feeding studies of three such dyestuffs in rats have shown an excess of hepatocellular carcinomas, a retrospective cohort mortality study was carried out on a population of 1975 male workers employed in a dyestuffs manufacturing plant in Scotland. The population was identified as having worked for more than six months within the factory during the decade 1 January 1956-31 December 1965, and their mortality experience was followed up to 30 June 1980. Age-standardised mortality rates did not show any excess in total or cancer-related mortality.