OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential cancer risks in the US semiconductor wafer fabrication industry. METHODS: A cohort of 100,081 semiconductor workers employed between 1968 and 2002 was studied. Standardized mortality ratios and relative risks (RRs) were estimated. RESULTS: Standardized mortality ratios were similar and significantly low among fabrication and nonfabrication workers for all causes (0.54 and 0.54) and all cancers (0.74 and 0.72). Internal comparisons also showed similar overall cancer risks among fabrication workers (RR = 0.98), including process equipment operators and process equipment service technicians (OP/EST) employed in cleanrooms (RR = 0.97), compared with nonfabrication workers. Nonsignificantly elevated RRs were observed for a few cancer sites among OP/EST workers, but the numbers of deaths were small and there were no trends of increasing risk with duration of employment. CONCLUSIONS: Work in the US semiconductor industry, including semiconductor wafer fabrication in cleanrooms, was not associated with increased cancer mortality overall or mortality from any specific form of cancer. However, due to the young average age of this cohort and its associated relatively low numbers of deaths, regular mortality updates of this semiconductor worker cohort are warranted.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential cancer risks in the US semiconductor wafer fabrication industry. METHODS: A cohort of 100,081 semiconductor workers employed between 1968 and 2002 was studied. Standardized mortality ratios and relative risks (RRs) were estimated. RESULTS: Standardized mortality ratios were similar and significantly low among fabrication and nonfabrication workers for all causes (0.54 and 0.54) and all cancers (0.74 and 0.72). Internal comparisons also showed similar overall cancer risks among fabrication workers (RR = 0.98), including process equipment operators and process equipment service technicians (OP/EST) employed in cleanrooms (RR = 0.97), compared with nonfabrication workers. Nonsignificantly elevated RRs were observed for a few cancer sites among OP/EST workers, but the numbers of deaths were small and there were no trends of increasing risk with duration of employment. CONCLUSIONS: Work in the US semiconductor industry, including semiconductor wafer fabrication in cleanrooms, was not associated with increased cancer mortality overall or mortality from any specific form of cancer. However, due to the young average age of this cohort and its associated relatively low numbers of deaths, regular mortality updates of this semiconductor worker cohort are warranted.
Authors: Rachael M Jones; Linda Dell; Craig Torres; Catherine E Simmons; James Poole; Fred W Boelter; Paul Harper Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Sangjun Choi; Chungsik Yoon; Seungwon Kim; Won Kim; Kwonchul Ha; Jeeyeon Jeong; Jongcheul Kim; Jungah Shin; Donguk Park Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-06-03 Impact factor: 3.390