Mortality of United Kingdom oil refinery and petroleum distribution workers, 1951–1998

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) Vol. 52; no. 6; pp. 333 - 339
• Main Authors: Sorahan, T., Nichols, L., Harrington, J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.09.2002; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cancer mortality; Cause of Death; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Cohort Studies; Extraction and Processing Industry - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Occupational Diseases - mortality; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; oil refinery workers; Petroleum; petroleum distribution workers; Toxicology; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Various organic compounds; United Kingdom; Europe; Human; Standardized mortality ratio; Toxicity; Leukemia; Mortality; Mesothelioma; Malignant hemopathy; Refinery; Malignant tumor; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Petroleum; Oil industry; Occupational medicine
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/52.6.333
• ISSN: 0962-7480

The mortality experienced by cohorts of 28 630 oil refinery workers and 16 480 petroleum distribution workers has been investigated. Study subjects were all those male employees first employed in the period 1946–1974 at one of eight UK oil refineries or at one of 476 UK petroleum distribution centres; all subjects had a minimum of 12 months employment with some employment after 1 January 1951. The observed numbers of cause‐specific deaths were compared with expectations based on national mortality rates. The resultant standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were significantly below 100 for all causes, in both oil refinery workers (observed, 9341; expected, 10 649.7; SMR = 88) and petroleum distribution workers (observed, 6083; expected, 6460.3; SMR = 94). Significantly elevated SMRs were shown in oil refinery workers for cancer of the gall bladder (observed, 24; expected, 14.0; SMR = 172), cancer of the pleura (observed, 38; expected, 15.0; SMR = 254) and melanoma (observed, 36; expected, 22.2; SMR = 162). Significantly elevated SMRs were not found in petroleum distribution workers for any site of cancer. SMRs for selected causes of death were calculated by period from commencing employment, by year of hire and by job type. The only findings that suggested the presence of an occupational cancer hazard were an excess of mesothelioma in oil refinery workers and an excess of leukaemia in petroleum distribution workers, both excesses occurring in long‐term follow‐up for workers first employed >30 years ago.