A cohort mortality study of four plants of the Allied Corporation.

A historical cohort mortality study of Allied production workers at four plants who were employed between 1955 and 1961 for at least one year was conducted. This study was undertaken to determine whether mortality patterns in production facilities were similar to those of a separately studied group of research laboratory personnel working with similar materials. White male production workers from all plants combined experienced lower mortality for all causes of death combined than would be expected on the basis of the US population. Cancer of the rectum was significantly elevated among white males and cancer of the stomach was significantly elevated among black males at one plant. There were significant deficits among all white males for nonmalignant digestive system diseases and all external causes of death.

An historical cohort study of mortality among salaried research and development pensioners of the Allied Corporation.

An historical cohort study was conducted among salaried pensioners alive and receiving benefits on Dec 31, 1974, and followed for vital status through Dec 31, 1980. For all causes combined, this cohort experienced mortality levels at or below that of the US population. For all malignant neoplasms combined, workers with plant experience only showed a statistically significant excess (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 1.34). This may have been largely due to a significant excess of lung cancer in the same group (SMR = 1.90). Individuals with some plant experience exhibited a significant excess of lung cancer (SMR = 1.48). These findings were not detected among active workers in the same company. There were no causes of death for which the SMR deviated significantly from unity among individuals with research experience.

An historical cohort study of mortality among salaried research and development workers of the Allied Corporation.

An historical cohort mortality study of research and development personnel (primarily chemists) actively employed on Dec 31, 1961, with at least 1 year of service with the Allied Corporation was carried out. These employees experienced lower mortality for all causes of death combined and all cancer causes combined than would be expected on the basis of the general US population. The degree of deficit in all causes of death combined was below the healthy worker effect usually associated with occupational mortality studies of production workers. There was one statistically significant excess, that for cancer of the prostate among research laboratory personnel who worked during the period 1945 to 1955, a period during which researchers may have been exposed to insecticides or fluorine derivatives. Substantial deficits were observed for causes of death known to be related to life-style, suggesting that mortality among Allied's salaried employees, including research and development workers, may have been influenced more by these factors than by occupational factors.

Mortality among automobile assembly workers. II. White males.

The objective of this study was to examine the cause-specific mortality experience of white male employees from 10 assembly plants of five participating companies. Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) analyses carried out using both national and local standards of comparison yielded similar results. Statistical significance of PMRs was assessed using the Mantel-Haenszel procedure. Statistically significant PMRs were observed for several causes of death when results for all plants were combined. However, the pattern of significant PMRs observed when results were analyzed separately by company and plant suggests that potential increases in risk for any individual cause of death are limited to no more than two companies and are not observed throughout the industry.

Mortality among PVC-fabricating employees.

The results of a cross-sectional mortality study of 3847 deaths occurring among current and former (white) employees of 17 PVC fabricators during 1964-1973 are presented. Sex-race-cause-specific proportionate mortality ratios (PMR's) were computed by using two separate standards: one, the U.S. mortality in 1968; the second, U.S. mortality for the individual years 1964-1973. In addition, a case-control analysis, based upon 44 breast cancer deaths among white female employees, is presented. PMR's are significantly different from unity for all cancers, and for cancers of the digestive system among both white males and white females. Although observed deaths significantly exceeded expectations for cancer of the breast, a subsequent case-control analysis reveals no statistically significant relative risks for breast cancer.

Breast cancer mortality among PVC fabricators.

A case-control analysis of breast cancer deaths among PVC fabricators is presented. This study is an extension of a cross-sectional mortality study of deaths occurring among 17 PVC fabricators during the years 1964 to 1973. Relative risk estimates were derived and tested using the Mantel-Haenszel procedure. Although no statistically significant relative risks were found, a least significant relative risk analysis indicated that the underlying relative risk would have to be on the order of three to one in order to be detected. There does seem to be reasonable assurance that very large increases in risk for breast cancer do not exist among these PVC fabricators.

Mortality among automobile assembly workers. I. Spray painters.

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether there was an increased mortality, especially with respect to cancer of the lung, among spray painters in the automobile manufacturing industry. The study was carried out at ten assembly plants from five participating companies and utilized both proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) and case-control analyses. Among workers with spray-painting experience, there were no statistically significant PMRs for lung cancer, either for all companies combined or for any company individually. In addition, the case-control analyses did not demonstrate a statistically significant excess risk for lung cancer mortality, adjusting for length of employment and duration in spray painting. The case-control analysis was large enough to detect approximately a two-fold increase if, in fact, an increase that large actually existed.