The mortality of lead smelter workers: An update

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · American Journal of Public Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.82.12.1641· OSTI ID:7183159

Steenland, K; Selevan, S; Landrigan, P ^[1]

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1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

OBJECTIVES. Mortality studies of lead workers have shown excesses of nonmalignant renal disease and cerebrovascular disease. Animal studies and one human study have shown excess kidney cancer. We have updated a mortality study of male lead smelter workers (n = 1990). METHODS. An analysis was conducted using standard life table techniques. The updated analysis added 11 years of follow-up and 363 new deaths. RESULTS. The original study had found elevated but nonsignificant risks for kidney cancer, stroke, and nonmalignant renal disease, probably attributable to lead exposure. Deaths from accidents and nonmalignant respiratory disease were significantly elevated, but probably not as a result of lead exposure. In the updated study, no new deaths from nonmalignant renal disease occurred (9 observed, standardized mortality ratio = 1.21). Three more deaths from kidney cancer were observed, yielding a standardized mortality ratio of 1.93 (9 observed, 95% CI = 0.88, 3.67), which increased for those who had worked in areas with the highest lead exposure (8 observed, standardized mortality ratio = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.71). Cerebrovascular disease remained elevated for those with more than 20 years of exposure (26 observed, standardized mortality ratio = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.92, 2.07). CONCLUSIONS. This cohort with high lead exposure showed a diminishing excess of death from nonmalignant renal disease, a continued excess from kidney cancer, and an excess of cerebrovascular disease only in those with longest exposure to lead.

• OSTI ID: 7183159
• Journal Information: American Journal of Public Health; (United States), Journal Name: American Journal of Public Health; (United States) Vol. 82:12; ISSN 0090-0036; ISSN AJHEAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION X
IDAHO
KIDNEYS
LEAD
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICS
METALLURGY
METALS
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
STATISTICS
USA
VERTEBRATES