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E Lynge

Publications and source records attributed to E Lynge.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Legislation by the European Community on carcinogens.

A brief overview is given of the legislation in the European Community concerning the classification and labelling, marketing and use, occupational exposure, etc. of carcinogenic agents. This includes data on the regulation of 739 agents which have been evaluated for carcinogenicity by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and/or the European Community. These data have been collected in a computerized data base. Although no comprehensive evaluation of the legislation is attempted, it is suggested that a number of carcinogenic agents still need attention, and that the labelling requirements should be supplemented with more restrictive legislation.

Carcinogens↗

Incidence of lung cancer by histological type among asbestos cement workers in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: A significant twofold increased risk of lung cancer was found among 8000 men employed in the Danish asbestos cement industry between 1928 and 1984. The histological pattern of 104 lung cancer cases was studied with the aim of evaluating a relation between specific morphological types, duration of employment, and time since first employment. METHODS: Age, sex, and calendar time specific incidence of morphological subtypes of lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma, and unspecified malignant tumour) for all Danish men were computed from 1943 to 1984, from data routinely collected by the Danish Cancer Registry. Person-years of observation were counted from 15 years after the date of first employment until date of diagnosis of cancer, death, emigration, or the end of follow up on 31 December 1984. Expected numbers of cases were computed by applying person-years at risk to the appropriate incidence rates. Observed numbers were distributed accordingly and the relative risk calculated. RESULTS: The relative risk for adenocarcinoma was 3.31 (observed (O) 24, expected (E) 7.26), for squamous cell carcinoma 1.67 (O, 37, E, 22.12), for anaplastic carcinoma 1.58 (O, 23, E, 14.53), and for unspecified malignant tumour 1.57 (O, 18, E, 11.46). An increased risk by duration of employment and time since first employment was most pronounced for adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: The link between adenocarcinoma and asbestos was confirmed in this, the first study of risk of lung cancer by histological category based on incident cancer cases for a whole population during a 50 year period.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Incidence of cancer in persons with occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields in Denmark.

Several studies suggest that work in electrical occupations is associated with an increased risk of cancer, mainly leukaemia and brain tumours. These studies may, however, not be representative if there is a publication bias where mainly positive results are reported. To study an unselected population the incidence of cancer was followed up over a 17 year period (1970-87) in a cohort of 2.8 million Danes aged 20-64 years in 1970. Each person was classified by his or her industry and occupation in 1970. Before tabulation of the data on incidence of cancer, each industry-occupation group was coded for potential exposure to magnetic fields above the threshold 0.3 microT. Some 154,000 men were considered intermittently exposed and 18,000 continuously exposed. The numbers for women were 79,000 and 4000 respectively. Intermittent exposure was not associated with an increased risk of leukaemia, brain tumours, or melanoma. Men with continuous exposure, however, had an excess risk of leukaemia (observed (obs) 39, expected (exp) 23.80, obs/exp 1.64, 95% CI 1.20-2.24) with equal contributions from acute and other leukaemias. These men had no excess risk of brain tumours or melanoma. A risk for breast cancer was suggested in exposed men but not in women. The risk for leukaemia in continuously exposed men was mainly in electricians in installation works and iron foundry workers. Besides electromagnetic fields other exposures should be considered as possible aetiological agents.

Adult↗

Lung cancer among butchers and slaughterhouse workers.

The following three questions are examined in this critical evaluation of the literature on lung cancer among butchers: (i) do butchers have an excess risk of lung cancer, (ii) if yes, is this excess possibly caused by exposures in the work environment, and (iii) if yes, what then are the possible etiologic exposures? It was concluded that butchers probably have an excess risk of lung cancer. This excess risk can be explained partly, but not entirely, by tobacco smoking. The following four possible etiologic exposures are introduced: human papilloma viruses, nitrite, incomplete combustion products, and fumes from meatpacking materials. Three of these possible explanatory factors (nitrite, combustion products and fumes from packing) are not, or only to a limited extent, substantiated by the empirical data. It was recommended that the hypothesis concerning human papilloma viruses and also the possible role of work stress be tested in future studies.

Abattoirs↗

Cancer incidence in the Danish reinforced plastics industry.

Increased occurrences of malignancies of the lymphatic and haematopoietic tissues have been reported from industries in which employees are potentially exposed to styrene. The aim of the study reported here was to describe cancer incidence in the reinforced plastics industry in Denmark. A total of 64,000 employees of 552 Danish companies assessed to have produced reinforced plastics at any time since the 1960s were identified from a public administrative registry of all Danish employers and wage earners. Cancer incidence in the population was compared with similar rates for the population at large. No excess risk for all neoplasms was observed. Among male employees, increased risks were found for cancer of the lung (396 cases; relative risk [RR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.27), of the pleura (20 cases; RR, 2.33; 1.42-3.60), of the nasal cavities (nine cases; RR, 1.55; 0.71-2.94), of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (61 cases; RR, 1.27; 0.97-1.63) and for leukaemia (61 cases; RR, 1.15; 0.88-1.48). Among female employees, a reduced risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was observed (one case; RR, 0.16; 0.00-0.88). Some support was thus found for previous reports of increased risk for respiratory cancers and for malignancies of the lymphatic and haematopoietic tissues. The results must be interpreted with caution, however, owing to shortcomings in the design of the study.

Denmark↗

Survival of Danish cancer patients 1943-1987. Digestive organs.

Cancers of the digestive organs and peritoneum constituted 28% of all cancers in Denmark in 1943-87. The lack of a common trend in incidence rates for the different tumour types indicates different aetiologies. Survival is worst for cancer of the oesophagus and improves gradually for cancer of the stomach, cancer of the small intestine and colorectal cancers. Survival from these tumours differ little between the sexes, but females have a slightly more favourable prognosis, which is most pronounced for sites with the best survival. The changes in survival over the study period, 1943-87, show virtually no change in the prognosis for oesophageal cancer, very slight, if any, improvement in that for stomach cancer, a detectable improvement in survival from cancer of the small intestine and substantial improvements in survival from colorectal cancer. Survival rates after colorectal cancer appear to be lower in Denmark than those seen in the USA. This finding may be due to the exclusion of certain precancerous lesions from the Danish material, which is not possible in US studies. Cancers of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas all carry extremely high mortality rates, with five-year survival rates below 5%, and one-year survival rates below 5% for cancers of the liver and pancreas.

Age Factors↗

[The significance of organized screening for uterine cervix cancer in Denmark during 1968-1987].

The policy concerning organization of screening for cervical cancer has varied in the Danish counties. Organized programmes started in the municipality of Frederiksberg in 1962, in the municipality of Copenhagen and the county of Maribo in 1967, and in the country of Copenhagen in 1968. On the other hand organized screening programmes have never existed in the counties of Vestsjaelland, Viborg, Ringkøbing and Ribe. We have used this "natural experiment" to study the influence of organized screening on the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in Denmark. Women aged 30-59 years during the period 1968-87 are included in the study. The effect of organized screening has been estimated employing multiplicative Poisson models, where age, period, region and organized screening have been considered. Women living in counties where organized screening started three or more years ago have a statistically significantly reduced risk of cervical cancer. The relative risk for the incidence in this group is 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.69-0.86), and the relative risk for the mortality is 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.61-0.92). Only a part of the decrease in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer which can be attributed to the organized screening activity. The additional decrease can be attributed to the considerable unorganized screening activity during the past 20 years, and to changes in exposure to risk factors.

Adult↗

[Screening for uterine cervix cancer in Storstrøm, Vestsjaelland and Bornholm counties during 1979-1989].

We studied the use of Pap smears in three counties in Denmark, where the screening activity has been organized in different ways. The county of Storstrøm had an organized screening programme in 1979-82. Women aged 30-50 years were invited personally, and 91% participated. The same response rate is seen in the county of Bornholm today, where women aged 25-54 years are invited. No invitations are sent in the counties of Storstøm and Vestsjaelland today, and only 66%-69% of the 30-50 year old women are screened. The Danish National Board of Health recommends commencement of screening at the age of 23 years. However, 53%-57% of the women aged 15-22 years are screened in Storstrøm and Vestsjaelland counties today. The percentages of women screened in the older age groups are, on the other hand, low. Only 10%-17% of women aged 60-75 years were screened in 1985-89. The Danish National Board of Health recommends that women aged 23-75 years should be screened once every third year and that positive, atypical and unqualified smears should be followed-up. The county of Bornholm has an organized screening programme, but 21% of the Pap smears are nevertheless used outside the national recommendations. The county of Vestsjaelland has no organized screening programme and 42% of the Pap smear are used outside the national recommendations. It would be possible to screen a considerably higher percentage of the women aged 23-75 years if the screening activity was well organized.

Adult↗

[Status of preventive examinations against uterine cervix cancer in Denmark].

In 1986, The Danish National Board of Health published guidelines for cervical cancer screening. These guidelines recommend organized screening with personal invitations every three years to women in the age group 23-59 years, and in the years to come also invitations to women aged 60-74 years. Five years have now elapsed since publication of these guidelines, and we have therefore studied the present organization of cervical cancer screening in Danish counties. Organized screening programmes are now, medio 1991, running in 11 out of the 16 "counties" (this includes the municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg). One county follows the national guidelines entirely. Six counties follow these guidelines in general, but they do not invite women over the age of 60 years. In all, 45% of women aged 25-74 years are at present invited for cervical cancer screening in Denmark. Two counties have decided to start organized screening programmes in 1992.

Adult↗

Case-control study of risk factors for cervical neoplasia in Denmark. II. Role of sexual activity, reproductive factors, and venereal infections.

Sexual, reproductive and venereal risk factors for cervical neoplasia were investigated in a population-based case-control study of 586 women with histologically verified, cervical squamous-cell carcinoma in situ, and 59 women with invasive squamous-cell cervical cancer, diagnosed from 1985 to 1986 in Copenhagen. Cases were identified from the computerized Danish Cancer Registry. An age-stratified control group (n = 614) was drawn at random from the female population in the study area by means of the Danish Central Population Register. A structured questionnaire was mailed to cases as well as controls. Increasing number of sexual partners exerted a significant effect on the risk both for carcinoma in situ, and invasive cancer, independently of age at first intercourse and other potential confounders. Conversely, the association with early age at first intercourse became statistically insignificant after allowance for other risk factors, although an increasing risk was still observed with decreasing age at sexual debut. Early age at first episode with genital warts was a significant risk factor for carcinoma in situ, perhaps indicating a possible increased susceptibility of the cervix epithelium during adolescence. A history of genital warts was a good predictor of risk for carcinoma in situ, whereas a history of previous gonorrhea was associated with an increased risk for invasive carcinoma. Women with multiple births had a significantly increased adjusted risk, especially for carcinoma in situ, although some association was also observed with invasive cervical cancer. The study supports the hypothesis of cervical neoplasia being a sexually transmitted disease, and that carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical carcinoma, to a high degree, have similar patterns of risk factors.

Adult↗

Leukaemia and reproductive outcome among nurses handling antineoplastic drugs.

During the past decades conclusive evidence has accumulated that alkylating antineoplastic drugs (ADs) can cause cancer, most notably acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia, and that most ADs are reprotoxic. Studies on health workers handling ADs have shown significantly increased risks for miscarriages (two studies) and malformations (two studies). The present study monitored the risk for cancer and adverse reproductive outcome among Danish nurses handling ADs. No increased risks were found for miscarriages, malformations, low birth weight, or preterm birth among the offspring of nurses handling ADs during pregnancy. The sex ratio was normal. The relative risk (RR) for leukaemia was significantly increased (10.65) but based on only two cases, one of acute myeloblastic and one of chronic myeloid leukaemia. From the available exposure data occupational exposures to ADs were apparently higher in the studies that have reported increased risks for miscarriages and malformations than in the present one. Regarding reproductive outcome the study gives some confidence that the safety measures which were implemented in the oncology departments around 1980 can protect the health personnel against adverse effects of ADs on reproduction. As the study is as yet the only negative one in a well protected setting, it should be followed up by other studies of well protected health personnel handling ADs. The findings concerning the leukaemia risk, although based on small numbers, encourage larger studies.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Cancer risk among Danish and Italian farmers.

Cancer risk for farmers in Denmark and Italy was studied by linking occupational census data with incidence of cancer in Denmark and with cancer mortality in Italy. Farmers in the two countries had a consistent risk reduction for cancer of the lung, bladder, small intestine, colon, rectum, and prostate. No excess of stomach cancer was found among farmers in the two countries, which is in agreement with the most recent data from other surveys. The risk of oesophageal cancer was reduced among the Danish and increased among the Italian male farmers. This can probably be explained by differences in alcohol consumption between the Danish and Italian farmers compared with the general population. The risk of brain cancer was significantly reduced among Italian farmers. There was a significant risk reduction for Hodgkin's disease and no excess for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Denmark, whereas in Italy a statistically significant excess risk was found for the first and a slight excess risk for the second of these diseases. The per capita consumption of phenoxy-herbicides between 1950 and 1970 was lower in Italy than in Denmark but treatments were performed mainly by professional applicators in Denmark and by the farmers themselves in Italy. Risk of leukaemia among Italian female farmers was increased. In Denmark, this increase was limited to women who were themselves owners of a farm. Specific occupations in agriculture showing a high risk for cancers of the lymphopoietic system in Denmark mostly entailed contact with animals.

Adolescent↗

Sexual behaviour of women attending an inner-city STD clinic before and after a general campaign for safer sex in Denmark.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the sexual behaviour and the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among females attending an inner-city STD clinic before and after safer sex campaigns. SUBJECTS: In 1984 981 women and in 1988 684 women were interviewed immediately after the venerological examination. SETTING: Department of Dermato-Venereology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. METHODS: In a face to face interview, details of symptoms, age at coitarche, number of sexual partners (lifetime and during the last year), obstetric history, and contraceptive methods were recorded. RESULTS: A substantially higher proportion of women used condoms in 1988 than in 1984. A dramatic decrease in the prevalence of gonorrhoea occurred (from 22% in 1984 to 6% in 1988, p < 0.01), whereas an increase in the number of patients with genital warts was observed (from 4% in 1984 to 10% in 1988, p < 0.05). The prevalence of chlamydia, genital herpes, and cervical dysplasia remained unchanged. No significant changes in the number of sexual partners, or the frequency of sexual intercourse or unplanned pregnancy could be detected from 1984 to 1988. CONCLUSIONS: The safer sex campaigns have only been partly successful, as a general reduction in all sexually transmitted diseases should be expected as a result of the increased use of condoms. Future campaigns should focus on the correct use of condoms, and encourage a lifestyle with stable sexual relationship.

Adolescent↗

Cancer morbidity by occupation.

Data on cancer morbidity by occupation are available from surveillance systems, such as linkage studies based on census data and cancer register data. These data serve various purposes. First, they show the social distributions of cancer diseases. Second, they can form the background for generating hypotheses about chemical carcinogens by identifying occupations at high risk of cancer. Third, cancer morbidity data can be used in the interpretation of results from hypothesis-testing studies. Fourth, the data can facilitate the identification of cancer risks associated with new technologies and way of life in the service society. Finally, the data can be considered for inference about future trends in cancer mortality. Data from the Danish occupational cancer study are used for illustration.

Adult↗