Mortality among male rubber workers in Finland

The deaths of male rubber workers in two processing departments and a tire and tube manufacturing department of a Finnish rubber plant were studied. The number of person-years at risk was 7,049. Follow-up continued for 24 yr, from January 1, 1953 to December 31, 1976. The total number of deaths was 29 compared with 43 expected (relative risk = 0.7). Only 5 deaths from cardiovascular diseases were found vs. 17.9 expected. The relative risk of death from cancer was 1.0 (7/6.8) and 1.7 (5/2.9) for workers who were exposed for more than 10 yr. For other causes of death the relative risk was not dependent on the length of exposure.