Titanium tetrachloride

Epidemiological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

epidemiological data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

other information

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Meets generally accepted scientific standards, well documented and acceptable for assessment

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Epidemiologic Study of Lung Cancer Mortality in Workers Exposed to Titanium Tetrachloride

Author:

Fayerweather WE, Karns ME, Gilby PG, Chen JL

Year:

1992

Bibliographic source:

J. Occup. Med. 34(2): 164-169

Materials and methods

Study type:

cohort study (retrospective)

Endpoint addressed:

carcinogenicity

Principles of method if other than guideline:

A study was done to examine whether workers exposed to titanium tetrachloride had significantly higher risks of lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease, pleural thickening/plaques, or pulmonary fibrosis than referent groups. A total of 2477 employees from two titanium dioxide plants were studied. Of that group, 969 employees exposed to titanium tetrachloride were observed from 1956 through 1985 for cancer and chronic respiratory disease incidence and from 1935 through 1983 for mortality. A cross-sectional sample of 398 employees was evaluated for chest roentgenogram abnormalities.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Titanium tetrachloride

EC Number:

231-441-9

EC Name:

Titanium tetrachloride

Cas Number:

7550-45-0

Molecular formula:

Cl4Ti

IUPAC Name:

titanium tetrachloride

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not applicable

Details on study design:

A study was done to examine whether workers exposed to titanium tetrachloride had significantly higher risks of lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease, pleural thickening/plaques, or pulmonary fibrosis than referent groups. A total of 2477 employees from two titanium dioxide plants were studied. Of that group, 969 employees exposed to titanium tetrachloride were observed from 1956 through 1985 for cancer and chronic respiratory disease incidence and from 1935 through 1983 for mortality. A cross-sectional sample of 398 employees was evaluated for chest roentgenogram abnormalities.

Exposure assessment:

not specified

Details on exposure:

TYPE OF EXPOSURE: occupational

Results and discussion

Results:

Cohort analyses showed that the risk of developing lung cancer and other fatal respiratory diseases was not statistically significantly higher for the titanium tetrachloride-exposed workers than for the referent group. Nested case-control analyses found no statistically significant association between titanium tetrachloride exposure and risk of lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and chest roentgenogram abnormalities. No cases of pulmonary fibrosis were observed among titanium tetrachloride-exposed employees. Smoking was found to be a strong predictor of lung cancer mortality in the nonexposed employees with an increased risk of dying from lung cancer up to 7-fold higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers.