Cancer of the larynx and other occupational hazards of mustard gas workers

Abstract

An attempt was made to trace 511 men and women who manufactured mustard gas during the 1939-1945 war. Despite limitations in the identifying data available, 428 (84%) were traced to the end of 1974. The numbers of deaths from all neoplasms combined (45) and from all other causes (136) were slightly greater than those expected from national death rates, but not significantly so. Two deaths were attributed to carcinoma of the larynx and one to carcinoma of the trachea, compared with an expected number of 0.40 (P < 0.02). Carcinoma of the larynx was also mentioned on the death certificate of another man. Seven subjects developed cancer of the larynx, compared with 0.75 expected (P < 0.001). Excess mortality was also observed from cancer of the lung, pneumonia and accidents, but the excesses were small and difficult to interpret.