Association between different titanium dioxide (TiO2) exposure metrics and lung cancer mortality in French TiO2 workers (1968–1997)
| TiO2 exposure metric | Observed lung cancer deaths | Model 1* | Model 2* | Model 3* |
| Binary exposed vs non-exposed | 14 | 3.75 (0.79 to 17.9) | 4.34 (0.85 to 22.15) | 3.77 (0.79 to 17.95) |
| Categorical annual average exposure vs non-exposed | ||||
| 0–0.3 mg/m3 | 7 | 4.04 (0.79 to 20.63) | 5.94 (1.07 to 32.99) | 4.15 (0.81 to 21.21) |
| 0.3–2.4 mg/m3 | 3 | 1.68 (0.26 to 10.93) | 1.64 (0.24 to 11.11) | 1.64 (0.25 to 10.67) |
| >2.4 mg/m3 | 4 | 28.28 (4.57 to 175.15) | 12.97 (1.86 to 90.74) | 27.33 (4.35 to 171.84) |
| Continuous annual average exposure (mg/m3) | 16 | 2.10 (1.37 to 3.22) | 1.70 (1.03 to 2.79) | 2.07 (1.34 to 3.20) |
| Continuous cumulative exposure (mg/m3-year), 0 lag | 16 | 1.02 (0.97 to 1.06) | – – | 1.02 (0.97 to 1.06)† |
| 5-year lag | 9‡ | 1.02 (0.98 to 1.07) | – – | 1.02 (0.98 to 1.07)† |
| 10-year lag | 5‡ | 1.03 (0.99 to 1.08) | – – | 1.03 (0.98 to 1.08)† |
| 15-year lag | 1‡ | 1.04 (0.98 to 1.11) | – – | 1.04 (0.98 to 1.11)† |
*HRs and associated 95% CIs are adjusted for calendar period in model 1; for calendar period and exposure duration in model 2; for calendar period, exposure duration and smoking status in model 3, except for cumulative exposure variable.
†Adjusted only for calendar period and smoking status in Model 3.
‡Number of observed lung cancer deaths among TiO2 exposed workers taking into account the lag time.