[Epidemiological study of mortality in a cohort of rayon industry employees]

A cohort of 166 employees in the SNIA viscosa rayon production plant in Padua was followed up for mortality up to 1989. The study detected a statistically significant increase in total mortality mainly due to an excess of deaths from ischaemic heart diseases (ICD 410-414). Workers affected by occupational disease in the age group 50-64 years had the highest risk with a threefold increase in mortality compared to the general population. An increasing pattern of lung cancer mortality with time since first exposure was observed. The SMR for lung cancer was 192 for smokers with occupational disease.