Mortality among employees engaged in chemical manufacturing and related activities

A retrospective cohort mortality study was conducted among men employed for one or more years, between 1940 and 1969, at an operating division of a large chemical company. Vital status follow-up for the cohort of 1,919 men was determined through 1979 and identified 390 deaths. Overall mortality in the study group and in each of eight employment subgroups was less than that of the corresponding United States white male population. Additionally, standardized mortality ratios were not significantly elevated for any of the examined cause-of-death categories. Cause-specific mortality comparisons were also made among the employment subgroups and by duration of employment in the company division using an internal analysis method. There were no relationships observed for employment duration. Several significant differences (p less than 0.05) by employment subgroup were noted; however, neither the decreases nor increases presently could be ascribed to identifiable environmental factors.