JOURNAL DESCRIPTION
The Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety journal ISSN 1024-6177 was founded in January 1956 (before December 30, 1993 it was entitled Medical Radiology, ISSN 0025-8334). In 2018, the journal received Online ISSN: 2618-9615 and was registered as an electronic online publication in Roskomnadzor on March 29, 2018. It publishes original research articles which cover questions of radiobiology, radiation medicine, radiation safety, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and scientific reviews. In general the journal has more than 30 headings and it is of interest for specialists working in thefields of medicine¸ radiation biology, epidemiology, medical physics and technology. Since July 01, 2008 the journal has been published by State Research Center - Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency. The founder from 1956 to the present time is the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, and from 2008 to the present time is the Federal Medical Biological Agency.
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Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2023. Vol. 68. № 4
DOI: 10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-4-43-50
A.N. Koterov, L.N. Ushenkova, M.V. Kalinina, A.P. Biryukov
The ‘Healthy Worker Effect’ on Indexes of Total Mortality
and Malignant Neoplasms Mortality for Nuclear and Chemical Workers: Meta-Analysis
A.I. Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center, Moscow, Russia
Contact person: Alexey N. Koterov, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
A meta-analysis of studies of the ‘Standardized mortality ratio’ (SMR, in % compared with the general population) indexes of overall mortality and mortality from all malignant neoplasms for nuclear workers (NW) from 15 countries (for 2007), as well as for workers dealing with the most toxic heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu) and beta-naphthylamine (a carcinogenic antioxidant previously used in the manufacture of paints) was carried out. For NW, a ‘Healthy worker effect’ (HWE) was found for both indexes (SMR = 62 (95 % CI: 56; 69) and 74 (95 % CI: 69; 78), respectively). The obtained SMR values for NW were compared with data for other professional groups (the results of meta-analyses and individual studies with maximum and minimum SMR values: from cosmonauts/astronauts, pilots and athletes, to work with chemical compounds in general or with their individual types (solvents, heavy metals, beta-naphthylamine), as well as with asbestos. It was found that the level of HWE for NW is comparable to that for one group of athletes and is significantly (1.30–1.45 times) higher than for chemical production personnel, although the combined data for NW is not final.
For workers in the chemical industry as a whole, according to published meta-analyses, HWE was also found in SMR, but weak: the value for total mortality was 90 (95 % CI: 87; 92). At the same time, mortality from all malignant neoplasms compared with the population did not reveal a clear HWE, but was not increased either. The most harmful types of employment are, on the rise, work with heavy metals, in coal mines, with beta-naphthylamine and with asbestos.
The data obtained eliminates the prevailing stereotypes and can improve the image of employment in the nuclear and chemical industries in general.
Keywords: standardized mortality ratio, healthy worker effect, nuclear industry, chemical industry, heavy metals, beta-naphthylamine, meta-analysis
For citation: Koterov AN, Ushenkova LN, Kalinina MV, Biryukov AP. The ‘Healthy Worker Effect’ on Indexes of Total Mortality and Malignant Neoplasms Mortality for Nuclear and Chemical Workers: Meta-Analysis. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2023;68(4):43–50. (In Russian). DOI:10.33266/1024-6177-2023-68-4-43-50
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PDF (RUS) Full-text article (in Russian)
Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Financing. The study had no sponsorship.
Contribution. Article was prepared with equal participation of the authors.
Article received: 20.02.2022. Accepted for publication: 27.03.2023.