Mortality among Workers Engaged in the Development or Manufacture of styrene-based Products-An Update

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 145 - 154
• Main Authors: Bond, Gregory G, Bodner, Kenneth M, Olsen, Geary W, Cook, Ralph R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Helsinki Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health 01.06.1992; National Institute of Occupational Health (Sweden); Institute of Occupational Health (Finland); National Institute of Occupational Health (Denmark); National Institute of Occupational Health (Norway); Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Chemical hazards; Cohort Studies; Death; Digestive system diseases; Follow-Up Studies; Heart diseases; Hodgkin disease; Hodgkin Disease - chemically induced; Hodgkin Disease - mortality; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia - chemically induced; Leukemia - mortality; Lymphoma - chemically induced; Lymphoma - mortality; Medical sciences; Monomers; Mortality; Multiple Myeloma - chemically induced; Multiple Myeloma - mortality; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Rubber industry; Solvents; Styrenes; Styrenes - adverse effects; Toxicology; United States; North America; America; multiple myeloma; cancer; occupational disease; benzene; 1,3-butadiene; acrylonitrile; Human; Chemical industry; Toxicity; Leukemia; Mortality; Malignant hemopathy; Malignant tumor; Occupational exposure; Myeloma; Epidemiology; Organic solvent; Cohort study; Styrene derivatives; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0355-3140; 1795-990X
• DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.1594

Mortality was updated another 11 years through 1986 for a previously studied cohort of 2904 male chemical workers who were potentially exposed to styrene and related materials for a year or more between 1937 and 1971. Substantial deficits in mortality from all causes and total cancer were observed in the cohort when it was compared with white males in the United States, and also other chemical workers who were unexposed to styrene-based products. Mortality from leukemia was slightly less than expected during the updated period, in contrast to an excess of lymphatic leukemia observed in the original period. Yet small elevations in risk of other types of lymphatic cancer, particularly multiple myeloma, persisted. The risk of these cancers did not increase with estimated intensity or duration of styrene exposure.The findings are discussed in context with those of studies of similarly exposed workers in related industries.