A retrospective cohort mortality study among workers occupationally exposed to metallic nickel powder at the Oak...

The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (ORGDP) employed over 800 white male workers between 1 January 1948, and 31 December 1953, in the manufacture of "barrier" material that required metallic nickel powder in its production. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine whether persons working with metallic nickel powder have a higher mortality from cancers of the respiratory tract than non-nickel workers. A comparison group was defined as all white males employed at ORGDP sometime between 1 January 1948, and 31 December 1953, who had no indications of occupational involvement in barrier production. This group comprised over 7 500 workers. Vital status determination has been completed up to 31 December 1977, allowing at least 24 years of follow-up for all persons in the study. Death certificates were available for 97% of the deaths among the nickel workers and non-nickel worker groups. End-points of interest were selected site-specific cancers and the general overall pattern of disease-specific mortality. Mortality rates in the nickel workers and non-nickel worker groups were compared with those for the white male population of the United States and with each other. There was no evidence of increased mortality due to lung cancers or nasal sinus cancers in nickel workers. Increases (not statistically significant) in mortality due to cancers of the buccal cavity and pharynx, and of the digestive system were observed in the nickel worker group, compared with the non-nickel worker group.