Mortality among workers at a plastics manufacturing and research and development facility: 1946-1988

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• A cohort of 5,932 male employees from a New Jersey plastics facility (1946-1967) was studied for mortality through 1988.
• Potential exposures included asbestos, formaldehyde, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• The cohort was followed for an average of 32 years, with 1,859 deaths recorded.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate mortality patterns among male workers at a plastics manufacturing and R&D facility.
• To assess cancer risks associated with specific potential exposures like asbestos and PVC.
• To compare cohort mortality rates with U.S. and state general population rates.

Main Methods:

• Mortality follow-up through 1988 for 5,932 male employees.
• Comparison of observed deaths to expected deaths based on U.S. and state rates.
• Analysis of mortality by duration of employment and job assignment (hourly vs. R&D).

Main Results:

• Overall cancer mortality was similar to expected for hourly workers (SMR 102).
• Excess mortality observed for pancreatic cancer (SMR 146) and pleural mesothelioma (SMR 373) among hourly workers.
• Significantly elevated leukemia mortality (SMR 265) among research and development workers, linked to process development.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms excess pancreatic cancer risk and identifies increased mesothelioma risk due to asbestos exposure.
• Leukemia excess in process development workers suggests potential occupational links.
• Findings highlight the importance of monitoring long-term health outcomes in industrial settings.