Coronary artery disease and cancer mortality in a cohort of workers exposed to vinyl chloride, carbon disulfide, rotating shift work, and o-toluidine at a chemical manufacturing plant.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We updated through 2007 the mortality experience of 1,874 workers employed at a New York State chemical manufacturing plant between 1946 and 2006.

METHODS:

Reassessed exposures to vinyl chloride, carbon disulfide, and shift work and categories of o-toluidine exposure were based on year, department and job title. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) compared mortality to that of the US population. Internal comparisons used directly standardized rate ratios.

RESULTS:

Hepatobiliary cancer mortality was elevated among workers ever exposed to vinyl chloride (SMR = 3.80, 95% confidence interval 1.89-6.80); directly standardized rates increased with increasing vinyl chloride exposure duration. No increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma mortality was observed with vinyl chloride and shift work exposures. Internal comparisons showed increased coronary artery disease mortality among long-term workers exposed to carbon disulfide and shift work for 4 years or more.

CONCLUSIONS:

Excess coronary artery disease mortality confirms earlier results; further investigation is needed to understand risk factors.

• Authors: Tania Carreón, Misty J Hein, Kevin W Hanley, Susan M Viet, Avima M Ruder
• Journal: American journal of industrial medicine (Am J Ind Med) Vol. 57 Issue 4 Pg. 398-411 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 1097-0274 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24464642 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Toluidines
• 2-toluidine
• Carbon Disulfide
• Vinyl Chloride

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biliary Tract Neoplasms (mortality)
• Carbon Disulfide (adverse effects)
• Chemical Industry
• Cohort Studies
• Coronary Artery Disease (mortality)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (mortality)
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (mortality)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (mortality)
• New York (epidemiology)
• Occupational Diseases (mortality)
• Occupational Exposure (statistics & numerical data)
• Risk Factors
• Toluidines (adverse effects)
• Vinyl Chloride (adverse effects)
• Work Schedule Tolerance
• Young Adult