Cancer mortality among workers exposed to formaldehyde

Abstract

Proportionate mortality among workers exposed to formaldehyde was analyzed among employees of a large chemical plant in Western Massachusetts. Twenty-four such decedents, all males, were identified through union records, reports of former coworkers, and a systematic review of obituaries in local newspapers. Work histories were obtained from seniority lists. Race-age-sex-adjusted proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were significantly elevated for cancer of the colon based on United States. county, and county cancer mortality proportions (PMR = 702, 424, 333, p ≤ 0.05). as were PMRs for the category buccal and pharyngeal cancer (PMR = 870, 952, 833. p < 0.05). This study provides evidence of formaldehyde's carcinogenicity. These findings are at variance with a previous report of the mortality experience of workers at the same plant from an earlier period.