Mortality in Underground Miners in a Former Uranium Ore Mine

• DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0001
• Publication Date: 2021-01-21T09:53:01Z
• Authors: Michaela Kreuzer; Veronika Deffner; Maria Schnelzer; Nora Fenske
• Keywords: Pneumoconiosis; Silicosis; Standardized mortality ratio

From 1946 to 1990, more than 400 000 people were employed by Wismut AG, a Soviet/Soviet-German corporation (German abbreviation: SAG/ SDAG), in the East German states of Saxony and Thuringia. In early years particular, employees exposed large amounts radon respirable crystalline silica.In cohort 35 204 former underground mortality was analyzed comparison general male population Germany, pertaining standardized ratios (SMRs) calculated.18 510 persons study died follow-up period 1960-2013. Mortality from lung cancer 2.36 higher (95% confidence interval, [2.28; 2.45]); associated SMRs rose markedly with increasing exposure. silicosis other types pneumoconiosis elevated factor 22.62 [21.20; 24.11], exponentially exposure silica. both these causes still 20 after AG had ceased its activities. wide range diseases as well, following SMRs: stomach cancer, 1.28 [1.17; 1.40]; liver 1.34 [1.15; 1.55]; all tumors 1.06 [1.02; 1.09]; infections, 1.18 [1.01; 1.38]; cerebrovascular diseases, 1.33 [1.26; 1.41]; influenza/pneumonia, 1.13 1.27]. small number found be lowered (mental illness, renal nervous system diseases). The role occupational risk factors, lifestyle differences reasons for latter results is unclear.Underground miners displayed marked excess due silicosis/other cancer. contribution individual factors death increased SMR are being further investigated analyses within cohort.