Cancer Incidence among Oil Refinery Workers in SwedenAbstract Number:2508 Ralph Nilsson, Gerd Sallsten, Magnus Akerstrom, Eva M Andersson, Lars Barregard*, and Bengt Järvholm Ralph Nilsson Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg , Sweden, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Gerd Sallsten Occupational and environmental medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Magnus Akerstrom Occupational and environmental medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Eva M Andersson Occupational and environmental medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Lars Barregard* Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Bengt Järvholm Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractBackground: Refinery workers are exposed to hydrocarbons, including benzene, which could cause leukemia. They are also exposed to other carcinogenic substances, such as asbestos. The risk of leukemia at low exposure levels of benzene is unclear. In an earlier study, we found an excess incidence of leukemia in refinery operators when they were followed up until 1991. The objective of the present study was to extend the follow-up until 2008 to see if there were excess incidences of different forms of cancer.Methods: The employees at three oil refineries on the West coast of Sweden were followed up 1961 - 2008. The work force today consists of about 1300 persons, including about 500 employed after 1991. In total the cohort consisted of 2548 persons employed at least one year. The type of job and employment time was collected from personal files. Cases of cancer were found by a linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register. The incidence rates were compared to national incidence rates in stratified analyses and standardized incidence rates (SIR) and Poisson-based 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were calculated.Results: There were 10 cases of leukemia. All of these had worked as refinery operators (SIR 2.4; 95 % CI 1.3 – 4.5). There was no significantly increased risk in the other occupational groups. There were four cases of mesothelioma (three in the pleura and one in the peritoneum), probably caused by previous asbestos exposure. We did not find any statistically increased risks for other types of cancer.Conclusion: Workers in the refineries had an excess incidence of leukemia and mesothelioma probably due to exposure to benzene and asbestos respectively.