OBJECTIVETo investigate the occupational health risk level of workers exposed to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in arms industry, so as to provide basis for revising the standard of diagnosis for chronic TNT poisoning, and making protective measures for workers.

METHODSThe retrospective study about the morbidity of total malignant tumor was taken on the male workers exposed to TNT over one year from eight military factories during 1970 to 1995.

RESULTSThe morbidity of total malignant tumor in male TNT exposed workers were markedly higher than that of controls, and the relative risk (RR) was 2.32. Compared with the total malignant tumor mortality of male populations in large and medium cities in 1973 to 1975 and 1990 to 1992, the standardized mortality ratio(SMR) were 71.8 and 179.6 respectively, the CI of 99% was 71.8-144.2, indicating that the morbidity of malignant tumor of male workers exposed to TNT was higher than that of normal populations. Liver cancer morbidity was 31.91% of the total malignant tumor, and its mortality was 3.97 times of the controls. Compared with the liver cancer mortality of male populations in large and medium cities in 1973 to 1975 and 1990 to 1992, SMR were 150.5 and 381.6 respectively, these data were significantly different, and CI of 99% was 59.3-184.0. The average death age of the TNT exposed workers (51.7 years old) was younger than that of the same factory control(54.1 years old) and male populations(55.6 years old) in large and medium cities. The incidence of liver cancer was closely related to the length of service, the kinds of job in a factory and the level exposed to TNT, and alcohol consumption was synergistic with TNT carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSIONThe morbidity of malignant tumor of male workers exposed to TNT was markedly higher than that of normal populations. Liver cancer was the most remarkable malignancy, and its incidence was closely related to the length of service and the kinds of job and the level exposed to TNT.