Short communication, Note
Study of early appearance of skin lesions in coal gasification workers
M. Begraca
; Medical Department, Electro-Economy Kosovo, Priština, Yugoslavia
H. Ukmata
; Medical Department, Electro-Economy Kosovo, Priština, Yugoslavia
S.C. Morris
; Biomedical and Environmental Assessment Group, Brookbaoen National Laboratory, Upton, New York, USA
B. Canhasi
; Institute of Clinical Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Kosovo, Priština, Yugoslavia
M.A. Haxhiu
; Institute of Clinical Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Kosovo, Priština, Yugoslavia
Abstract
A retrospective cohort morbidity study was conducted among workers employed at the Kosovo coal gasification plant and a reference population of open-pit lignite miners. The aim was to determine the rate of early skin cancer and pre-cancerous skin lesions. In 15 years of commercial operation of the coal gasification plant, seven workers were diagnosed with benign skin tumors, six with pre-cancerous skin diseases, but none with skin cancer. The lesions were significantly fewer than were reported earlier over a shorter time period and in a smaller population at a coal hydrogenation plant. Compared to the reference population who received medical care in the same clinic, gasification workers had a lower skin cancer rate, but a higher rate of benign skin turners and potentially pre-cancerous skin diseases.
Keywords
coal gasification plant; lignite coal miners; occupational exposure; precancerous skin lesions; skin cancer
Hrčak ID:
149230
URI
Publication date:
27.12.1991.
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