Does uranium induce circulatory diseases? First results from a French cohort of uranium workers
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_41DCA7D1355F
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Does uranium induce circulatory diseases? First results from a French cohort of uranium workers
Journal
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
ISSN
1470-7926 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1351-0711
Publication state
Published
Issued date
06/2012
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
69
Number
6
Pages
404-409
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Increased risk of circulatory system diseases (CSDs) was observed in nuclear workers handling uranium and plutonium in Russia and the UK. This work examines the CSD mortality after chronic intake of uranium among 2897 workers (79,892 person-years) at a uranium processing plant (1960-2006) in France.
Cumulative exposure to different uranium compounds, classified by their isotopic composition and solubility type, was quantified on the basis of a plant-specific job-exposure matrix and individual job histories. HRs and associated 95% CI for CSD (n = 111) and specific CSD categories were estimated using Cox regression models, stratified on sex and birth cohort and adjusted for potential confounders. The effect of smoking was analysed among 260 smokers (42 CSD deaths).
Compared to unexposed workers, CSD mortality was increased among workers exposed to slowly soluble reprocessed uranium (RPU) (HR = 2.13, 95% CI = 0.96 to 4.70) and natural uranium (HR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.11 to 2.69). The risk increased with cumulative exposure and exposure duration. In the subgroup of smokers, the risk estimates were higher but with larger CIs: HR=1.91 (95% CI = 0.92 to 3.98) for natural uranium and HR = 4.78 (95% CI = 1.38 to 16.50) for RPU.
The authors observed that exposure to slowly soluble uranium, namely RPU, may increase the risk of CSD mortality. However, these results are preliminary since the study is lacking statistical power and many other biological and lifestyle-related factors may cause CSD. More detailed investigations are necessary to confirm these findings and analyse in depth the effects of internal radiation exposure on the circulatory system.
Cumulative exposure to different uranium compounds, classified by their isotopic composition and solubility type, was quantified on the basis of a plant-specific job-exposure matrix and individual job histories. HRs and associated 95% CI for CSD (n = 111) and specific CSD categories were estimated using Cox regression models, stratified on sex and birth cohort and adjusted for potential confounders. The effect of smoking was analysed among 260 smokers (42 CSD deaths).
Compared to unexposed workers, CSD mortality was increased among workers exposed to slowly soluble reprocessed uranium (RPU) (HR = 2.13, 95% CI = 0.96 to 4.70) and natural uranium (HR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.11 to 2.69). The risk increased with cumulative exposure and exposure duration. In the subgroup of smokers, the risk estimates were higher but with larger CIs: HR=1.91 (95% CI = 0.92 to 3.98) for natural uranium and HR = 4.78 (95% CI = 1.38 to 16.50) for RPU.
The authors observed that exposure to slowly soluble uranium, namely RPU, may increase the risk of CSD mortality. However, these results are preliminary since the study is lacking statistical power and many other biological and lifestyle-related factors may cause CSD. More detailed investigations are necessary to confirm these findings and analyse in depth the effects of internal radiation exposure on the circulatory system.
Keywords
Adult, Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology, Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality, Female, Follow-Up Studies, France, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nuclear Power Plants, Occupational Diseases/etiology, Occupational Diseases/mortality, Occupational Exposure/adverse effects, Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data, Proportional Hazards Models, Radiation Injuries/etiology, Radiation Injuries/mortality, Risk Factors, Uranium/adverse effects, Uranium Compounds/adverse effects
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
12/09/2017 13:20
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:42