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Biomedical subjects

Tor Haldorsen

Publications and source records attributed to Tor Haldorsen.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Pregnancy outcome among offspring of airline pilots and cabin attendants.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the occurrence of perinatal death, low birthweight, preterm birth, and birth defects (total, major, neural tube defects, total cleft, cleft palate, hypospadias, and Down syndrome) in the offspring of airline pilots and cabin attendants. METHODS: A cohort of offspring of airline pilots and cabin attendants was established and characterized in terms of parental exposure to cosmic radiation the year before birth or ever. Pregnancy outcome was derived from the Medical Birth Register of Norway. The reference group comprised offspring of parents without occupational exposure to cosmic radiation. RESULTS: No deviant risks were observed for the offspring of male pilots, either for the year preceding birth (N=2,111) or ever (N=2,356). Specific birth outcomes were fewer for the pilots than for the referents (N=1,621,186), except for Down syndrome, which was more frequent [odds ratio (OR) 1.41, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.53-3.76]. For exposure the year preceding birth (N=2,512), the risk of low birthweight was lower for the female cabin attendants than for the referents (adjusted OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69-1.00), while Down syndrome was more frequent (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.60-3.47). For exposure ever (N=3346), the risk of low birthweight was lower (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70-0.96) for the cabin attendants, while hypospadias (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.61-3.04) and Down syndrome (OR 1.79, 95% CI 0.03-3.45) were more frequent CONCLUSIONS: In general, offspring of air pilots and cabin attendants do not seem to be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Aircraft↗
PubMed2003

Cancer incidence among 10,211 airline pilots: a Nordic study.

BACKGROUND: Commercial airline pilots are exposed to cosmic radiation and other potentially carcinogenic elements during work and leisure activities. HYPOTHESIS: Work-related factors affect cancer pattern of the pilots. METHODS: A cohort of 10,051 male and 160 female airline pilots from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden was followed for cancer incidence through the national cancer registries. There were 177,000 person-years at follow-up, 51,000 of them accumulated after 20 yr since the time of first employment. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were defined as ratios of observed over expected numbers of cases based on national cancer incidence rates. Dose-response analyses were done with Poisson regression method. RESULTS: Among male pilots, there were 466 cases of cancer diagnosed vs. 456 expected. The only significantly increased SIRs concerned skin cancer: melanoma 2.3 (95% CI 1.7-3.0), squamous cell cancer 2.1 (1.7-2.8), and basal cell carcinoma 2.5 (1.9-3.2). The relative risk of skin cancers increased with the time since first employment, the number of flight hours, and the estimated radiation dose. There was an increase in the relative risk of prostate cancer with increasing number of flight hours in long-distance aircraft (p trend 0.01). No increased incidence was found for acute myeloid leukemia or brain cancer which were of interest a priori based on earlier studies. CONCLUSIONS: This large study, based on reliable cancer incidence data, showed an increased incidence of skin cancer. It did not indicate a marked increase in cancer risk attributable to cosmic radiation although some influence of cosmic radiation on skin cancer cannot be entirely excluded.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Exposure to different forms of nickel and risk of lung cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified nickel compounds as carcinogenic to humans, but it is still not known with certainty which forms of nickel pose the risk. In a case-control study of Norwegian nickel-refinery workers, the authors examined dose-related associations between lung cancer and cumulative exposure to four forms of nickel: water-soluble, sulfidic, oxidic, and metallic. A job-exposure matrix was based on personal measurements of total nickel in air and quantification of the four forms of nickel in dusts and aerosols. Data on smoking habits were collected for 213 cases identified in the Cancer Registry of Norway between 1952 and 1995 and 525 age-matched controls (94% participation rate). The nickel exposures were moderately to highly correlated. A clear dose-related effect was seen for water-soluble nickel (odds ratio = 1.7 per unit in the log(e)-transformed exposure, ln[(cumulative exposure) + 1], originally given in (mg/m(3)) x years (95% confidence interval: 1.3, 2.2)). A general rise in risk from other types of nickel could not be excluded, but no further dose-dependent increase was seen. Smoking was a weak to moderate confounder. The study suggests an important role of water-soluble nickel species in nickel-related cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Incidence of cancer among Nordic airline pilots over five decades: occupational cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of cancer among male airline pilots in the Nordic countries, with special reference to risk related to cosmic radiation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study, with follow up of cancer incidence through the national cancer registries. SETTING: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 10 032 male airline pilots, with an average follow up of 17 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standardised incidence ratios, with expected numbers based on national cancer incidence rates; dose-response analysis using Poisson regression. RESULTS: 466 cases of cancer were diagnosed compared with 456 expected. The only significantly increased standardised incidence ratios were for skin cancer: melanoma 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 3.0), non-melanoma 2.1 (1.7 to 2.8), basal cell carcinoma 2.5 (1.9 to 3.2). The relative risk of skin cancers increased with the estimated radiation dose. The relative risk of prostate cancer increased with increasing number of flight hours in long distance aircraft. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not indicate a marked increase in cancer risk attributable to cosmic radiation, although some influence of cosmic radiation on skin cancer cannot be entirely excluded. The suggestion of an association between number of long distance flights (possibly related to circadian hormonal disturbances) and prostate cancer needs to be confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Aircraft accidents and other causes of death among Norwegian commercial pilots.

BACKGROUND: When entering the profession, pilots need to be in better health than the general population. During their careers they are under close medical supervision, which could influence their life-long mortality. METHODS: The cohort was established from the files of the Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration and included people who had valid licenses as commercial pilots between 1946 and 1994. Basic data about their flight careers were recorded. The cohort was linked to the Cause of Death Registry. The observed number of deaths was compared with those expected, based on national rates. RESULTS: A group of 3707 male pilots was followed over 70,832 person-years. There were 342 deaths vs. 362.8 expected, with a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 0.94, and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 0.85-1.05. Aircraft accidents with 97 deaths had a major influence on total mortality and the SMR for all other causes was 0.68 (95% CI 0.59-0.77). The SMR for cancer was 0.89 (95% CI 0.71-1.11) and for circulatory diseases 0.53 (95% CI 0.42-0.67). The highest SMR for total mortality in pilots < 30 yr old was 3.52 (95% CI 2.54-4.76). For this age group 38 of a total of 42 deaths were caused by aircraft accidents. It was indicated that almost half the deaths of aircraft accidents took place in private aircraft. CONCLUSIONS: Due to aircraft accidents young pilots have a higher mortality rate than the general population; other harmful effects on the mortality of pilots in their workplace were not found. At all ages pilots have a better life expectancy than the general population.

Accidents, Aviation↗