Mortality patterns among workers in three Texas oil refineries

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5538261

Thomas, T L; Waxweiler, R J; Moure-Eraso, R; Itaya, S; Fraumeni, J F

The cause-specific mortality experience of 2,509 active and retired members of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union (OCAW) who worked at three oil refineries in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area of Texas was examined to determine whether there might be unusual patterns of fatal disease related to workplace exposures. Deaths that occurred between 1943 and 1979 were identified from membership records of the OCAW headquarters in Denver and from the records of union locals in Texas which represent workers at the three refineries. Death certificates were obtained from state vital records offices for the decedents. Cause-specific Proportionate Mortality Ratios (PMRs) were calculated using the mortality experience of the U.S. general population as a standard. Excess mortality from stomach cancer occurred among active union members who worked at Refinery A and among active and retired members who worked at Refineries B and C. PMRs for leukemia, multiple myeloma, and other lymphomas were elevated, especially among retired workers. Relative frequencies of brain tumor deaths were significantly elevated among active members at all three refineries and slightly elevated among retirees at Refineries A and C. Findings suggest that oil refinery workers may have elevated risks of these cancers and indicate that more definitive studies are necessary.

• OSTI ID: 5538261
• Journal Information: J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Occup. Med.; (United States) Vol. 24:2; ISSN JOCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020600* -- Petroleum-- Health & Safety
560306 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DATA
DISEASES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEMIC DISEASES
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
LEUKEMIA
LYMPHOMAS
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY