Causes of death among employees of a synthetic abrasive product manufacturing company

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-198111000-00008· OSTI ID:5361614

Wegman, D H; Eisen, E A

Analysis of the causes of death among workers employed in the manufacture of synthetic abrasive products was performed using data from death certificates and employment records. The subjects were 1,030 white male workers who had been employed by a single manufacturer and who were identified through a review of death certificates issued during a 20-year period. Proportional mortality analysis revealed excess digestive cancer and respiratory disease deaths. Personnel records permitted refinement of the study population to 968 with classification of each individual into one of seven employment categories. Case-control analysis of workers ever employed in the individual categories revealed elevated odds ratios for respiratory disease deaths among those most exposed to the synthetic abrasive dust. The excesses were greatest in those exposed 20 or more years. Excesses of esophageal and rectal cancers were noted in two manufacturing areas although the numbers were small. Review of the literature further supports the findings that synthetic abrasive exposures may be associated with elevated respiratory morbidity and mortality.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Division of Occupational Hygiene, Boston, MA
• OSTI ID: 5361614
• Journal Information: J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Vol. 23:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ABRASIVES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
DUSTS
CARCINOGENESIS
DEATH
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
PERSONNEL
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
INDUSTRY
PATHOGENESIS
SAFETY
560306* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)
552000 - Public Health
551000 - Physiological Systems