MORTALITY AMONG RUBBER WORKERS I. WHITE MALE UNION EMPLOYEES IN AKRON, OHIO

Abstract

Mortality among a cohort of 13,571 white male rubber workers in Akron, Ohio is described. Mortality from all causes was 82% of that expected on the basis of death rates for US white males. Excess deaths from cancer (observed/expected numbers) in specific sites among workers in specific work areas include stomach: processing (18/9.9); large intestine: processing (14/10.5); lung: tire curing (20/12.4); bladder: all workers (48/39.5); brain: tire building (7/3.7); lymphatic: tire building (11/7.1); and leukemia: all workers (55/43.0). In general, excess cancer deaths occurred most often among men who started working between ages 35 and 44 and prior to 1935, who worked 25–34 years and were over age 74 at death, and who died after 1954.