Table 4

 Lung cancer relative risks in relation to talc exposure in other industries

nLung cancer
Type of relative riskRR (exposed cases)95% CI
OR, odds ratio; RR, relative risk; SIR, standardised incidence ratio; SMR, standardised mortality ratio.
Ceramic industry, US12,132055SMR ever exposed to non-fibrous talc and high silica (US rates)—unadjusted2.54 (21)1.57–3.88
SMR exposed to 15+ years non-fibrous talc and high silica (US rates)—unadjusted3.64 (8)1.57–7.17
Rubber industry, China141624Mantel-Haenszel RR (rubber curing adjusted on smoking)Males 3.3 (7)1.3–8.2
Females 4.6 (2)0.8–28.0
Rubber industry, Germany17,188933Internal RR (high talc exposure unadjusted)2.4 (13)1.2–4.9
Internal RR (high talc or asbestos exposure adjusted on smoking and other exposures)2.0 (13)0.9–4.1
Glass fibre production, US16144 cases, 280 controlsOR (high talc exposure adjusted on smoking and other exposures)1.36 (10)0.41–4.52
Printing industry, Russia191795SMR (in press operators and in bookbinders exposed to paper dust potentially containing talc)1.0 (6)0.35–2.18
Pulp and paper mill, Norway20SIR (all workers with more than three years employment, at least 44% of which have been exposed to paper dust potentially containing talc)1.4 (14)0.70–2.16