A preliminary investigation of mortality among workers in the pottery industry

Early studies of mortality among workers in the pottery industry indicated elevated mortality from tuberculosis and non-malignant respiratory disease. Although raw materials and production processes have changed very little some fibrous materials such as talc have been introduced into the industry during the past 20 to 30 years. This prompted a mortality study of pottery workers to examine patterns of fatal disease among individuals exposed to dust particles during the production of ceramics. Deaths among active and retired pottery workers were identified from records of the international Brotherhood of Potters and Allied Workers (IBPAW). Underlying cause of death was determined from death certificates obtained from state vital records offices for 2924 white males and 946 white females who died between 1955 and 1977. Cause-specific Proportionate Mortality Ratios (PMRs) were calculated using the total United States as a standard. PMRs fro tuberculosis and non-malignant respiratory disease were elevated among males and females, particularly those whose occupations were associated with high levels of dust exposure. A significantly elevated frequency of lung cancer occurred exclusively among white males who had been employed in the manufacture of ceramic plumbing fixtures.