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IS-BILAT-Mobilitet Norge-USA /Canada

Benzene-induced lymphohematopoietic cancers in Norwegian offshore oil industry workers

Awarded: NOK 91,000

The present project is a study of the relationship between benzene exposure and lymphohematopoietic cancers in male offshore oil industry workers. The study will be conducted according to a case-cohort study-design and will explore the dose-related risks of acute myeloid leukemia and other lymphohematopoietic cancers in different occupational groups of Norwegian offshore workers. Due to complete work history data on each individual, we will adjust the risk of benzene-induced cancer from offshore work for potential confounding effects from benzene exposure obtained elsewhere. Ten years of follow-up for cancer will provide the study with sufficient statistical, to determine whether the association between benzene and lymphohemtaopoietic cancers in Norwegian upstream offshore oil industry workers is statistically significant. The statistical analyses, discussion of results and writing of the scientific paper will be conducted at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health funded by the U.S. congress, and is hence completely independent from both industries and labor unions, which may be important for occupational etiologic research. In this regard, the Cancer Registry of Norway finds the U.S. National Cancer Ins titute (NCI) to be a perfect collaborative partner. Moreover, NCI is one of the world?s leading research communities regarding occupational cancer epidemiology. Hence, conducting my study on benzene-induced lymphohematopoietic cancers under supervision of the NCI-researchers Dr. Rothman and Dr. Lan, who are in the very front of the field, will lift the study scientifically. The study is planned to result in an article published together with Dr. Rothman and Dr. Lan in an international scientific journal, and in turn constitute a part of my PhD degree. Moreover, the planned stay will be scientific beneficial in terms of facilitating future collaborative efforts between the Cancer Registry of Norway and NCI.

Funding scheme:

IS-BILAT-Mobilitet Norge-USA /Canada