Mortality from multiple myeloma among North Carolina furniture workers

The risk of multiple myeloma among furniture workers was investigated in a case-control study with the use of death certificate statements on occupation in North Carolina counties with heavy employment in furniture-manufacturing industries. From computerized mortality listings, 301 male deaths from multiple myeloma were identified, and 858 controls were selected from deaths due to other causes; controls were matched by sex, race, county of usual residence, age at death, and year of death. Employment in the furniture industry was associated with a nonsignificant excess risk of multiple myeloma [relative risk (RR) = 1.3], particularly among subjects who died before age 65 (RR = 1.7) and among those born before 1905 (RR = 1.5). A significantly elevated risk (RR = 5.4) was seen for furniture workers who were born before 1905 and died prior to age 65. Unexpectedly, farmers were found to have a significantly decreased risk of multiple myeloma (RR = 0.6). The finding of an elevated risk of myeloma in earlier cohorts of furniture workers may be a clue to the nature of the environmental exposure.