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24/10/2005.
A study published in the last issue of the journal Occupational and environmental medicine reveals that Danish seafarers, especially men, face an increased overall cancer risk, in particular a risk for lung cancer and other tobacco associated cancers. 33 340 men and 11 291 women employed as seafarers have been examined between 1986-1999.
The Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of all cancers combined was higher than expected: 1.26 for men and 1.07 for women. This was mainly due to an excess of cancer of the larynx, lung, tongue, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney, urinary bladder, colon, and bone as well as skin melanomas among men and an excess of cancer of the lung, rectum, and cervix uteri among women. The differences in risk pattern for lung cancer between the different job categories among men ranged in terms of SIR from 1.2 (engine officers) to 2.3 (engine room crew), and 4.1 among maintenance crew. Non-officers had a 1.5 times higher lung cancer risk than officers.
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