Revision of an investigation of a cluster of lymphohaematological cancer among previous employees and students at the laboratories of the University of Trondheim, NTNU, Rosenborglaboratoriene

In 1997 a cluster of lymphohaematopoietic cancer was identified among earlier employees and students serving duties or taking courses at the Rosenborglaboratoriene part of the NTNU University of Trondheim.
The cluster received a lot of public attention, and a series of medical investigation was performed in order to come to conclusions about causality.

Employess and students were identified by their personal identification number and linked to the Cancer Registry of Norway, in order to obtain a complete coverage of such cancers in the cohort. Indicators of historical exposures were established (exposure in different courses and tasks) and a SIR of lymphohaematological cancers of 1,8 (95 % confidence 0.6-4.2) of the total group was identified, as well as increased risks linked to certain courses where carcinogenic substances had been in use. The Ministry of Education and Health appointed an advisory group to evaluate the report of this linkage, and a new linkage updating cancer incidence in the cohort after an additional period of 5 years was suggested.
The Ministry in 2014 commisioned STAMI and the Cancer Registry to perform this new update including 5 years of extended follow-up time. STAMI leads this work.

Project page in Norwegian