A cohort study on workers exposed to trichloroethylene
Tola, S.; Vilhunen, R.; Järvinen, E.; Korkala, M.L.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association 22(11): 737-740
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-1736 PMID: 7441393 Document Number: 167342
The mortality of 2,117 workers exposed to trichloroethylene sometime between 1963 and 1976 was studied. Their names were collected from the files of one biochemical laboratory performing urinary trichloroacetic acid determinations and from the Occupational Disease Register of Finland. Both the total mortality (SMR 69) and the cancer mortality (SMR 77) were lower than expected. Because of the young age structure and the brief follow-up time the results should be interpreted with caution. They suggest, however, that given as short a latency period as 6 to 13 years, trichloroethylene is not a strong human carcinogen. The present material provides a cohort with defined exposure for further follow-up.