Mortality among rubber workers: VIII. Industrial products workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Rubber manufacturing involves exposure to various chemicals.
• Previous studies indicate potential health risks for rubber workers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare mortality rates in a specific rubber manufacturing division with general US males and other rubber workers.
• To identify any elevated cancer risks within the industrial products division.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 6,533 male workers.
• Comparison of observed deaths against expected deaths based on US male and other rubber worker populations.
• Analysis stratified by cause of death and time period.

Main Results:

• Overall mortality rates were comparable to US males and other rubber workers.
• A significant excess of deaths from lymphoma (50%) and multiple myeloma (90%) was observed.
• An excess of bladder cancer deaths (20%) was noted, but not during the most recent follow-up period (1970-78).

Conclusions:

• While overall mortality is not elevated, specific occupational exposures in the industrial products division may increase lymphoma and multiple myeloma risk.
• Further investigation into chemical exposures and their link to these hematologic malignancies is warranted.
• Bladder cancer risk appears to have decreased in recent years for this cohort.