Lung cancer mortality and carbon black exposure: a nested case-control study at a German carbon black production plant.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to conduct a case-control study of lung cancer nested within a cohort of 1528 German carbon black workers, 1976-1998. The authors conducted risk-set sampling of two controls matched on year of birth and conditional logistic regression modeling of cumulative carbon black exposure, duration of work in different departments, feedstock contact, asbestos exposure, smoking, age at hire, exposures before the carbon black job, and serving as a soldier in World War II or being a prisoner of war. Analyses were performed with both the full cohort and members of an inception cohort subset. Exposures were lagged by 10 years. Analysis of 50 lung cancer deaths showed no association to carbon black exposure. Carbon black exposure was not linked to lung cancer risk. Suggestions of positive associations with asbestos exposure, feedstock contact, and work in specific departments are inconclusive due to small numbers.