Table 3.
Epidemiologic cohort studies of medical radiation workers
| Authors, Year | Study Population (no. workers) | Years 1st worked | Follow-up years | Total mortality SMRa (no. deaths) comparison group | Total cancer mortality SMRa (no. deaths) comparison group | Leukemia SMRa (no. deaths) comparison group | Skin cancer SMRa (no. deaths) | Other cancers SMRa (no. deaths) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berrington et al., 2001 | U.K. radiologists, all males (2,700) | 1897–1979 | 1897–1997 | 0.92 (1042) MDs |
1.16 (228)b MDs |
6.15 (4) b 1897–1920 1.54 (4) 1921–54 Social class I |
7.79 (6)b 1897–1920 1.96 (2) 1921–54 |
Lung 2.18 (8)b† 1897–1920 Pancreas 3.23 (6)† 1897–1920 |
| Matanoski et al., 1987 | U.S. radiologists, all males (6,500) | 1920–1969 | 1920–1969 | NA | 1.38 (NA)b† MDs |
2.01 (NA)b 1920–1939 1.00 (NA) 1940–69 MDs |
3.38 (NA)b 1920–1939 2.41 (NA) 1940–69 |
Lung 1.22 (NA)b 1940–1969 Lymphoma 2.73 (NA)† 1920–39 |
| Mohan et al., 2003 | U.S. technologists, 106,800 females, 39,200 males (146,000) | 1926–1982 | 1926–1997 | 0.76 (5057)b Male 0.76 (7567) Female U.S. population |
0.73 (1137)b† Male 0.86 (2558) Female U.S. Population |
1.26 (16) 1926–1939 1.00 (22) 1940–49 0.71 (22) 1950–59 0.97 (43) 1960–82 |
NA | Breastc 1.53 (78) 1926–39 1.06 (97) 1940–49 0.91 (127) 1950–59 0.83 (123) 1960–82 |
| Jablon & Miller, 1978 | U.S. Army technologists, all males (6,600) | Early 1940s | 1946–1974 | 1.06 (289) lab techs |
1.05 (55) lab techs |
1.25 (8) lab techs |
NA | |
| Total Incidence SIRa | Total Cancer Incidence SIRa (no. cancers) | Leukemia SIRa (no. leukemias) | Skin Cancer SIRa (no. skin cancers) | Other Cancers SIRa | ||||
| Yoshinaga et al., 1999 | Japanese technologists, all males (12,200) | 1918–1971 | 1969–1993 | 0.88 (1097)b prof & tech workers |
0.98 (435)b prof & tech workers |
1.75 (20)b prof & tech workers |
1.58 (2) 1897–1933 0.00 (0) 1934–150 |
|
| Wang et al., 2002 | Chinese x-ray workers, 21,600 males, 5,400 females (27,000) | Before 1950–1980 | 1950–1995 | Not available | 1.24 (679)b Male 1.02 (157) Female |
2.37 (33)b before 1970 1.73 (11) 1970–80 |
4.31 (16)b before 1970 2.74 (2) 1970–80 |
Lung 1.57 (43)b 1970–80 Stomach 1.63 (36)b 1970–80 1.39 (115)b before 1970 |
| Andersson et al., 1991 | Danish RT workers, 800 males, 3,400 females (4,200) | 1954–1982 | 1968–1985 | Not available | 1.07 (163) | 0.70 (2) | NA | |
| Zielinski et al., 2009b | Canadian radiation workers, 23,600 males, 43,900 females (67,500) | 1969 – 1987 | 1969–1987 | Not available | 0.54 (213)b Male 0.57 (185) Female Canadian population |
0.66 (11)b, Male 0.43 (6)b Female Canadian population |
NA | Thyroid 1.74 (65)b 1969–87 |
| Total | 272,700 |
Modified from Yoshinaga S et al. Radiology 2004;233:313–21 & Zielinski JM et al Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2009;22:149–56.
a
Abbreviations: SMR=standardized mortality ratio; SIR=standardized incidence ratio; NA=not available;
b
Significantly increased or decreased risks p<0.05
c
Significantly increased p value for trend (p trend = 0.018) for breast cancer risks according to number of years worked before 1950