A retrospective cohort mortality study of iron ore (hematite) miners in Minnesota
Lawler, A.B.; Mandel, J.S.; Schuman, L.M.; Lubin, J.H.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association 27(7): 507-517
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-1736 PMID: 4032088 Document Number: 252099
In a retrospective cohort mortality study of 10,403 Minnesota [USA] Fe-ore (hematite) miners no excesses of lung cancer mortality were found among either underground (Standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 100) or aboveground (SMR = 88) miners. Yugoslav-born miners incurred a 2 fold significant excess mortality for lung cancer that did not appear to be associated with their mining exposures. Significant excesses in mortality due to stomach cancer were found for both underground (SMR = 167) and aboveground (SMR = 181) miners as compared with U.S. white males. Except among Finnish-born miners, these excesses disappeared when comparisons were made with the appropriate county rate. The apparent absence of signigicant radon exposure, a strict smoking prohibition underground, an aggressive silicosis control program, and the absence of underground diesel fuel use may explain why these underground miners did not appear to incur the lung cancer risk reported in other studies.