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Mortality among shipyard Coast Guard workers: a retrospective cohort study
S Krstev1, P Stewart, J Rusiecki
1Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|September 21, 2007
Summary
Workers at a US Coast Guard shipyard experienced increased mortality from all causes, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. These findings suggest a probable link to asbestos exposure during employment.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- A cohort of 4702 civilian workers (4413 men, 289 women) from a US Coast Guard shipyard was studied.
- The study evaluated the mortality experience of these workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the mortality patterns among civilian workers at a US Coast Guard shipyard.
- To identify potential links between occupational exposures and specific causes of death.
Main Methods:
- Workers employed between 1950 and 1964 were followed until 2001.
- Mortality data were analyzed using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) compared to the general state population.
- Workers were classified based on potential hazardous substance exposure and job groups.
Main Results:
- An excess mortality was observed for all causes (SMR 1.08), respiratory cancers (SMR 1.29), lung cancer (SMR 1.26), and mesothelioma (SMR 5.07).
- Elevated lung cancer risk was noted in machinists and shipfitters, welders, and cutters.
- Significantly higher oral and nasopharyngeal cancer rates were found in wood workers (SMR 6.20).
Conclusions:
- Employment in this shipyard is associated with a significant excess mortality from all causes, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
- Asbestos exposure is the likely primary contributor to the observed excess mortality.
- Specific occupations showed elevated risks for certain cancers, highlighting the need for targeted occupational health interventions.
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