Causes of Death Among Employees of a Synthetic Abrasive Product Manufacturing Company

Abstract

Analysis of the causes of death among workers employed in the manufacture of synthetic abrasive products was performed using data from death certificates and employment records. The subjects were 1030 white male workers employed by a single manufacturer and identified through a review of death certificates issued during 20 yr. Proportional mortality analysis revealed excess digestive cancer and respiratory disease deaths. Personnel records permitted refinement of the study population to 968 with classification of each individual into 1 of 7 employment categories. Case-control analysis of workers employed in the individual categories revealed elevated odds ratios for respiratory disease deaths among those most exposed to the synthetic abrasive dust. The excesses were greatest in those exposed .gtoreq. 20 yr. Excesses of esophageal and rectal cancers were noted in 2 manufacturing areas although the numbers were small. Review of the literature supported the finding that synthetic abrasive exposures may be associated with elevated respiratory morbidity and mortality.