Characteristics of oncologic morbidity of workers engaged in the production of hot-lay asphalt concrete

The studies aimed at the analysis of carcinogenic risk of the production of hot-lay asphalt concrete were carried out at 11 Estonian plants. Epidemiologic survey of a group of male workers with the length of employment of 3 and more years was carried out during 1974-1984 by the surveillance person/year-related technique. The results suggested that more than a half of all registered malignant neoplasms (54.9%) was attributed to three main types of cancer, i.e., lung, stomach, and skin cancers. The findings of the study indicated higher incidence of cancer diseases in general and especially of lung cancer among the above workers and the younger age at the onset of lung cancer. One of the possible causes for high cancer morbidity can be explained by the content of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, primarily of benz(a)pyrene, in the work zone air.