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The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of being hospitalized due to prolapsed cervical interverteral disc among male professional drivers in Denmark. A cohort consisting of all economically active persons in Denmark, identified January 1981, gives information on the most important occupation during 1980. The cohort was followed for ten years. Additional data on occupational exposures were extracted from a national survey. Occupational groups such as bus and taxi-cab drivers were found to have an increased risk, of cervical prolapse as did the group of professional drivers as a whole.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of lung cancer for women occupationally exposed to cobalt-aluminate spinel., Methods: A retrospective cohort of 874 women occupationally exposed to cobalt in two Danish porcelain factories and 520 women not exposed to cobalt were identified from personnel files. Vital status was assessed in the national population register, and incident cancer cases were traced in the national cancer register. Thirteen women (0.92%) were lost to follow-up. The observed deaths and incident cancer cases were compared with the expected number based on rates for all Danish women., Results: The total mortality of the cohort was the same as for all Danish women. The incidence of all cancer was slightly elevated among the exposed women (67 observed, 55.8 expected) and equal to the expected in the reference group (60 observed, 60.6 expected). An increased lung cancer incidence was found both in the exposed group [8 cases, standardized incidence rate (SIR) 2.35, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01-4.6] and in the reference group (7 cases, SIR 1.99, 95% CI 0.8-4.1). The exposed group had a relative risk ratio of 1.2 (95% CI 0.4-3.8) when compared with the reference group., Conclusions: Both the cobalt-exposed group and the reference group had an increased lung cancer risk compared with all Danish women, but the risk was only slightly higher for the exposed group than for the reference group. The study was based on few persons, and we recommend a follow-up after five years.

Study Design: This study of professional drivers is a part of a longitudinal record linkage study of all economically active men in Denmark, identified on January 1, 1981. Information about the main occupation was identified in 1980. The cohort was followed for first hospitalization with prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc until December 31, 1990., Objectives: To examine the risk of prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc in all Danish professional drivers, and to analyze exposures of the male drivers in a sample of all Danish male drivers., Summary of Background Data: Only a few studies on occupation and prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc have been published. These studies suggest that professional driving may be a risk factor for development of prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc. Drivers are exposed to whole-body vibrations, heavy lifting, and a sedentary position. Other potential exposures are accelerations and decelerations and whiplash accidents. Such exposure may be involved in the causation of prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc., Methods: A standardized hospitalization ratio was calculated for each subgroup of drivers using all economically active people as the standard. Additional exposure information was extracted from a national survey on work environment., Results: Almost all men in occupations involving professional driving had a statistically significant elevated risk of being hospitalized with prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc., Conclusions: Professional driving is a risk factor for prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc.

All Danish occupational groups were screened for an increased risk of hospitalization due to a prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) (ICD-8: 725.11). A cohort of all gainfully employed Danes aged 20 to 59 years in 1981 was followed-up for 10 years for first hospitalization with PLID. A Standardized Hospitalization Ratio was calculated using all economically active persons as the reference group. Male groups with an elevated risk were found in building and construction, the iron and metal industry, in the food and nutrition sector and in occupational driving. Almost all groups of professional drivers had an elevated risk. Female groups with an elevated risk were mainly found in the same industries, but home helps, service workers in the private sector and sewing machine operators also had an elevated risk. We conclude that there are significant and systematic differences between occupational groups as concerns the risk of hospital admission due to PLID.