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Approximately 1,701,500 people were employed as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the United States in 2012. The majority of them were long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs). There are limited data on occupational injury and safety in LHTDs, which prompted a targeted national survey. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health conducted a nationally representative survey of 1265 LHTDs at 32 truck stops across the contiguous United States in 2010. Data were collected on truck crashes, near misses, moving violations, work-related injuries, work environment, safety climate, driver training, job satisfaction, and driving behaviors. Results suggested that an estimated 2.6% of LHTDs reported a truck crash in 2010, 35% reported at least one crash while working as an LHTD, 24% reported at least one near miss in the previous 7 days, 17% reported at least one moving violation ticket and 4.7% reported a non-crash injury involving days away from work in the previous 12 months. The majority (68%) of non-crash injuries among company drivers were not reported to employers. An estimate of 73% of LHTDs (16% often and 58% sometimes) perceived their delivery schedules unrealistically tight; 24% often continued driving despite fatigue, bad weather, or heavy traffic because they needed to deliver or pick up a load at a given time; 4.5% often drove 10 miles per hours or more over the speed limit; 6.0% never wore a seatbelt; 36% were often frustrated by other drivers on the road; 35% often had to wait for access to a loading dock; 37% reported being noncompliant with hours-of-service rules (10% often and 27% sometimes); 38% of LHTDs perceived their entry-level training inadequate; and 15% did not feel that safety of workers was a high priority with their management. This survey brings to light a number of important safety issues for further research and interventions, e.g., high prevalence of truck crashes, injury underreporting, unrealistically tight delivery schedules, noncompliance with hours-of-service rules, and inadequate entry-level training.

Background Cancer and chronic disease are leading causes of death in the US with an estimated cost of $46 billion. Methods We analyzed 11 million cause-specific deaths of US workers age 18–64 years in 30 states during 1985–1999, 2003–2004, and 2007 by occupation, industry, race, gender, and Hispanic origin. Results The highest significantly elevated proportionate leukemia mortality was observed in engineers, protective service, and advertising sales manager occupations and in banks/savings l and wholesale farm supplies, agricultural chemical, synthetic rubber, and agricultural crop industries. Conclusions Significantly elevated risks for acute myocardial infarction and leukemia were observed across several occupations and industries that confirm existing reports and add new information. Interested investigators can access the NOMS website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/NOMS/. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:123–137, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background Drivers of heavy and tractor-trailer trucks accounted for 56% of all production and nonsupervisory employees in the truck transportation industry in 2011. There are limited data for illness and injury in long-haul truck drivers, which prompted a targeted national survey. Methods Interviewers collected data during 2010 from 1,670 long-haul truck drivers at 32truckstopsacrossthe48contiguousUnitedStatesthatwereusedtocomputeprevalence estimates for self-reported health conditions and risk factors. Results Obesity (69% vs. 31%, P

Purpose: There is a growing body of evidence that the built environment influences diet and exercise and, as a consequence, community health status. Since long-haul truck drivers spend long periods of time at truck stops, it is important to know if this built environment includes resources that contribute to the emotional and physical well-being of drivers. Setting: The truck stop environment was defined as the truck stop itself, grocery stores, and medical clinics near the truck stop that could be accessed by a large truck or safely on foot. Design: Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed and utilized a checklist to record the availability of resources for personal hygiene and comfort, communication and mental stimulation, health care, safety, physical activity, and nutrition at truck stops. Subjects: The NIOSH checklist was used to collect data at a convenience sample of 16 truck stops throughout the United States along both high-flow and low-flow truck traffic routes. Measures: The checklist was completed by observation within and around the truck stops. Results: No truck stops offered exercise facilities, 94% lacked access to health care, 81% lacked a walking path, 50% lacked fresh fruit, and 37% lacked fresh vegetables in their restaurant or convenience store. Conclusion: The NIOSH found that most truck stops did not provide an overall healthy living environment.

Objective This study evaluates the mortality experience of 6,157 chemical laboratory workers employed at United States Department of Energy facilities. Methods All cause, all cancer and cause-specific standardized mortality ratios were calculated. Cox regression analyses were conducted to further evaluate the relation between chemical exposure and mortality risk due to selected cancers. Results The mortality due to all causes combined and all cancers combined were below expectation for the cohort. There were no statistically significant elevations reported among males for any specific cancer or non-cancer outcome. There no statistically significant elevations among females for any specific non-cancer and most specific cancers;however,multiplemyelomadeathsweresignificantlyelevated(SMR ¼3.56;95% CI ¼1.43‐7.33; number of observed deaths, n ¼7). Statistically significant elevations were seen among workers employed 20þ years for leukemia using both 2- and 5-year lag periods. Also, a statistically significant positive trend of elevated lung cancer mortality with increasing employment duration was seen using both 5- and 10-year lags. A similar trend was seen for smoking related cancers among men. Conclusion Whilelymphaticandhematopoieticcancermortalitywasbelowexpectation, a significant elevation of multiple myeloma deaths among females and an elevation of leukemia among workers employed 20þ years (possibly due to radiation and benzene exposure) were observed. A NIOSH case‐control study is underway to examine more closely the relation between multiple myeloma and a variety of chemical exposures among workers employed at the Oak Ridge K-25 facility. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the United States in 2012, accounting for 25% of deaths. Truck drivers accounted for 46% of these deaths. This study estimates the prevalence of seat belt use and identifies factors associated with nonuse of seat belts among long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs), a group of workers at high risk for fatalities resulting from truck crashes. Methods CDC analyzed data from its 2010 national survey of LHTD health and injury. A total of 1,265 drivers completed the survey interview. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between seat belt nonuse and risk factors. Results An estimated 86.1% of LHTDs reported often using a seat belt, 7.8% used it sometimes, and 6.0% never. Reporting never using a belt was associated with often driving ≥10 mph (16 kph) over the speed limit (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.9), working for a company with no written safety program (AOR = 2.8), receiving two or more tickets for moving violations in the preceding 12 months (AOR = 2.2), living in a state without a primary belt law (AOR = 2.1); and being female (AOR = 2.3). Conclusions Approximately 14% of LHTDs are at increased risk for injury and death because they do not use a seat belt on every trip. Safety programs and other management interventions, engineering changes, and design changes might increase seat belt use among LHTDs. Implications for Public Health Primary state belt laws can help increase belt use among LHTDs. Manufacturers can use recently collected anthropometric data to design better-fitting and more comfortable seat belt systems.

OBJECTIVE: To compare selected health behaviors and body mass index (modifiable risk factors) of US long-haul truck drivers to the US working population by sex. METHODS: The National Survey of US Long-Haul Truck Driver Health and Injury interviewed a nationally representative sample of long-haul truck drivers (n = 1265) at truck stops. Age-adjusted results were compared with national health surveys. RESULTS: Compared with US workers, drivers had significantly higher body mass index, current cigarette use, and pack-years of smoking; lower prevalence of annual influenza vaccination; and generally lower alcohol consumption. Physical activity level was low for most drivers, and 25% had never had their cholesterol levels tested. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions common to long-haul trucking may create significant barriers to certain healthy behaviors; thus, transportation and health professionals should address the unique work environment when developing interventions for long-haul drivers. Language: en

Cancer and chronic disease are leading causes of death in the US with an estimated cost of $46 billion.We analyzed 11 million cause-specific deaths of US workers age 18-64 years in 30 states during 1985-1999, 2003-2004, and 2007 by occupation, industry, race, gender, and Hispanic origin.The highest significantly elevated proportionate leukemia mortality was observed in engineers, protective service, and advertising sales manager occupations and in banks/savingsloans/credit agencies, public safety, and public administration industries. The highest significantly elevated smoking-adjusted acute myocardial infarction mortality was noted in industrial and refractory machinery mechanics, farmers, mining machine operators, and agricultural worker occupations; and wholesale farm supplies, agricultural chemical, synthetic rubber, and agricultural crop industries.Significantly elevated risks for acute myocardial infarction and leukemia were observed across several occupations and industries that confirm existing reports and add new information. Interested investigators can access the NOMS website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/NOMS/.

Previous research suggests that there is an elevated risk of suicide among workers within law enforcement occupations. The present study examined the proportionate mortality for suicide in law enforcement in comparison to the US working population during 1999, 2003-2004, and 2007, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health National Occupational Mortality Surveillance data. We analyzed data for all law enforcement occupations and focused on two specific law enforcement occupational categories-detectives/criminal investigators/ police and corrections officers. Suicides were also explored by race, gender and ethnicity. The results of the study showed proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for suicide were significantly high for all races and sexes combined (all law enforcement--PMR = 169, 95% CI = 150-191, p0.01, 264 deaths; detectives/criminal investigators/police--PMR = 182, 95% CI = 150-218, p0.01, 115 deaths; and corrections officers-PMR = 141, 95% CI = 111-178, p0.01, 73 deaths). Detectives/criminal investigators/police had the higher suicide risk (an 82% increase) compared to corrections officers (a 41% increase). When analyzed by race and sex, suicide PMRs for Caucasian males were significantly high for both occupations-detectives/ criminal investigators/police (PMR = 133; 95% CI = 108-162, p0.01; corrections officers--PMR = 134, 95% CI = 102-173, p0.01). A significantly high (PMR = 244, p0.01, 95% CI = 147-380) ratio was found among Hispanic males in the law enforcement combined category, and a similarly high PMR was found among Hispanic detectives/criminal investigators/police (PMR = 388, p0.01, 95% CI = 168-765). There were small numbers of deaths among female and African American officers. The results included significantly increased risk for suicide among detectives/criminal investigators/police and corrections officers, which suggests that additional study could provide better data to inform us for preventive action.

Background Studies of electrical workers in the utility and manufacturing industries have reported excess site-specific cancer. No previous studies of electrical workers in the construction industry have been conducted. Methods Our study evaluated the mortality patterns of 31,068 U.S. members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who primarily worked in the construction industry and died 1982–1987. Results Comparison to the U.S. population by using the NIOSH life table showed significantly elevated proportionate mortality for many causes. Excess mortality for leukemia (proportionate mortality ratio (PMR)=115) and brain tumors (PMR=136) is similar to reports of electrical workers with occupational exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the electric utility or manufacturing industry. Excess deaths due to melanoma skin cancer (PMR=123) are consistent with findings of other PCB-exposed workers. A significantly elevated PMR was observed for the diseases caused by asbestos: lung cancer (PMR=117), asbestosis (PMR=247), and malignant mesothelioma (PMR=356) and from fatal injuries, particularly electrocutions (PMR=1180). The findings of statistically significant excess deaths for prostate cancer (PMR=107), musculoskeletal disease (PMR=130), suicide (PMR=113), and disorders of the blood-forming organs (PMR=141) were unexpected. Conclusions Results suggest that more detailed investigations of occupational risk factors and evaluation of preventive practices are needed to prevent excess mortality in this hazardous occupation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:630–637, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Background Nearly one million U.S. women are employed as health or science technicians with various chemical and biological exposures, but few studies have looked at their health outcomes. Methods Using 1984–1995 mortality data with coded occupation information, we calculated race- and age-adjusted proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs) and 95% confidence intervals for two age groups for black and white women with occupations of clinical laboratory (CLT), radiologic, and science technician. Results For CLTs, the PCMRs for breast cancer were borderline significantly elevated. The PCMRs for leukemia were significantly elevated, particularly for myeloid leukemia. Radiologic technicians had no significantly elevated PCMRs. Science technicians had significantly elevated PCMRs for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma in the younger age group. Discussion The elevated risks for lymphatic and hematopoietic neoplasms in CLTs and science technicians may be associated with occupational exposures. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:155–158, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley–Liss, Inc.

Our study examined cancer mortality before the age of 65 for women employed in the fastest growing and/or traditionally female occupations. Analysis of mortality data from 28 U.S. states for 1984-1995 revealed elevated proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs). The highest PCMRs observed were thyroid cancer among health aides, lymphatic and multiple myeloma among computer programmers, and brain cancer among actresses and directresses. Some of the excess mortality occurred for occupations that have been previously cited. These included elevated breast and ovarian cancer among teachers, Hodgkin's disease among hairdressers and cosmetologists, and thyroid cancer among health aides and therapists. A few of the associations were new, i.e., had not been previously observed. These included cancer of the connective tissue and lymphatic system among computer programmers, ovarian cancer and leukemia among secretaries, and lymphatic cancer and multiple myeloma among child care workers. These findings should be further investigated with epidemiologic and environmental studies.

Drivers of heavy and tractor-trailer trucks accounted for 56% of all production and nonsupervisory employees in the truck transportation industry in 2011. There are limited data for illness and injury in long-haul truck drivers, which prompted a targeted national survey.Interviewers collected data during 2010 from 1,670 long-haul truck drivers at 32 truck stops across the 48 contiguous United States that were used to compute prevalence estimates for self-reported health conditions and risk factors.Obesity (69% vs. 31%, P 0.01) and current smoking (51% vs. 19%, P 0.01) were twice as prevalent in long-haul truck drivers as in the 2010 U.S. adult working population. Sixty-one percent reported having two or more of the risk factors: hypertension, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, no physical activity, 6 or fewer hours of sleep per 24-hr period.Survey findings suggest a need for targeted interventions and continued surveillance for long-haul truck drivers.

This study evaluated the mortality of 27,362 members of the U.S. Carpenters' Union who died in 1987-1990. Age-adjusted proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) and proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs) were computed using the U.S. age-, gender-, and race-specific proportional mortality for the years of the study. For white male carpenters who were last employed while in construction industry locals, raised mortality was observed for lung cancer (PCMR = 107, CI = 103, 111), bone cancer (PMR = 181, CI = 107, 286), asbestosis (PMR = 283, CI = 158, 457), emphysema (PMR = 115, CI = 102, 130), transportation injuries (PMR = 121, CI = 109, 135), and falls (PMR = 122, CI = 104, 142). For white male carpenters who were last employed while in industrial wood products locals, significantly raised mortality occurred for stomach cancer (PMR = 187, CI = 136, 250), male breast cancer (PCMR = 469, CI = 128, 720), and transportation injuries (PMR = 136, CI = 110, 173). Excess breast cancer was associated with last employment inn wood machining trades. Nasal cancer mortality was not elevated. A total of 121 mesotheliomas were observed. Contributing cause of death analyses revealed raised mortality for these and additional causes; 4,594 (18%) death certificates mentioned occupational and other lung disease as a contributing factor, resulting in significantly elevated mortality. These data show that construction carpenters have moderately elevated mortality for the diseases caused by asbestos (lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma) and from traumatic injuries. The finding of elevated mortality for stomach, bone, and breast cancer was unexpected and requires further evaluation of possible occupational factors. This study confirms that construction carpentry is an extremely hazardous trade. The data suggest that additional preventive action guarding against asbestos exposure and occupational injury is urgently needed in this occupation.

In 1990, the US construction industry employed 7.6 million workers, of whom 8% were women. Only one epidemiologic study for women employed in the construction industry was previously published. We analyzed usual occupation and industry codes on death certificates from 28 states between 1979 and 1990 to evaluate mortality patterns among both black and white female construction industry workers. Proportionate mortality for cancer and several other chronic diseases was significantly elevated among 2,273 white female and 197 black female construction workers. White women younger than age 65 at death had significantly elevated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for all cancer, lung cancer, and traumatic fatalities. Black women younger than age 65 at death had a significantly elevated PMR for traumatic fatalities. Elevated mortality for specific cancer sites and other diseases was observed for white and black women employed in construction trades. These results suggest that more detailed investigations that include women and other minorities should be undertaken.

Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in US women, accounting for 72,130 deaths in 2006. In addition to smoking cessation, further reduction of the burden of lung cancer mortality can be made by preventing exposure to occupational lung carcinogens. Data for occupational exposures and health outcomes of US working women are limited. Methods Population-based mortality data for 4,570,711 women who died between 1984 and 1998 in 27 US States were used to evaluate lung cancer proportionate mortality over time by the usual occupation and industry reported on death certificates. Lung cancer proportionate mortality ratios were adjusted for smoking, using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II. Results Analyses revealed that 194,382 white, 18,225 Black and 1,515 Hispanic women died 1984–1998 with lung cancer reported as the underlying cause of death. Following adjustment for smoking, significant excess proportionate lung cancer mortality was observed among US women working in the US manufacturing; transportation; retail trade; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; and nursing/personal care industries. Women employed in precision production, technical, managerial, professional specialty, and administrative occupations experienced some of the highest significantly excess proportionate lung cancer mortality during 1984–1998. Conclusions The results of our study point to significantly elevated risks for lung cancer after adjustment for smoking among women in several occupations and industries. Because 6–17% of lung cancer in US males is attributable to known exposures to occupational carcinogens, and since synergistic interactions between cigarette smoke and other occupational lung carcinogens have been noted, it is important to continue research into the effects of occupational exposures on working men and women. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:102–117, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The objective of this study was to update rate files for the NIOSH Life Table Analysis System for Personal Computers (PC LTAS) reflecting the newly adopted tenth revision changes to the International Classification of Diseases.PC LTAS allows researchers to conduct comparative mortality and morbidity analyses for the purpose of identifying disease-exposure associations using person-time-at-risk for age, race, sex, and calendar time-specific reference rates from 1940. Previously available through 1998, files for the United States and individual states were updated through 2004 using uncensored population data. Tenth revision causes were added if compatible with earlier NIOSH death categories, based on revisions 5 through 9. A few new cause categories were added.The resulting NIOSH categories are described for two new U.S. rate files: 1960 through 2004 and 1940 through 2004.The new U.S. rate files are available online or on request.

Purpose Lung cancer accounts for 29% of cancer deaths among U.S. women, i.e., 162,460 estimated deaths in 2006. Between 2–20% of lung cancer deaths in women are estimated to be due to classic industrial lung carcinogens, or workplace exposure to side-stream smoke or radon. There are a limited number of studies of occupational lung cancer in women. Our aim was to identify occupations and industries with elevated proportionate lung cancer mortality among working women, and to focus attention on preventable occupational risk factors for lung cancer. Methods We reviewed the scientific literature on risk factors for occupational lung cancer in women, and undertook a race-specific proportionate mortality (PMR) analysis of nearly 4 million deaths among women who died from 1984–1998 in the 28 U.S. states that code industry sector and occupation on death certificates. Results Industries with significantly elevated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) accounting for the largest number of lung cancer deaths among white working women during the 15-year period were eating and drinking places (PMR=136; n=7783 deaths), hotels and motels (PMR=135; n=1422), several wholesale and retail trades (PMRs range 126–145; n=1405 deaths), several manufacturing sub-sectors (PMRs range 126–142; n=2108), real estate (PMR=137; n=1863), and construction (PMR=125; n=940). Industries accounting for excess lung cancer deaths among white and black women were entertainment and recreation services (PMR=136 white women, PMR=143 black women; n=1209), beauty and barber shops (PMR=124 white women, PMR=122 black women; n=2274), and among black women, public administration (PMR=147; n=718). Focusing on occupation, our analysis revealed significant excess proportionate lung cancer mortality among white women working as waitresses (PMR=152), in sales (PMR=139), as legislative and public administrators (PMR=130), and as managers or administrators (PMR=130). Among black women, financial officers (PMR=175) and receptionists (PMR=183) also experienced excess lung cancer deaths. Conclusion Women experience significant excess lung cancer mortality associated with occupation. Review of potential exposures in the occupations and industry sectors with elevated lung cancer PMRs suggested several potential lung carcinogens. Workplace exposure to cigarette smoke is a risk factor in some of these industries and occupations, e.g., occupations in the hospitality industry. Other possible explanatory factors in some work environments include a number of known occupational carcinogens. Our findings suggest a need for additional research on occupational risk factors for lung cancer among women working in a wide range of industrial and white collar settings.

Construction laborers have some of the highest death rates of any occupation in the United States. There has been very little systematic research focused exclusively on "laborers" as opposed to other workers in the construction industry. We reviewed the English language literature and various data bases describing the occupational tasks, exposures, and work-related health risks of construction laborers. The sources of information included 1) occupational mortality surveillance data collected by the states of California and Washington and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); 2) National Occupational Exposure Survey; 3) national fatality data; 4) cancer registry data; and 5) case reports of specific causes of morbidity. While the literature reported that construction laborers have increased risk for mesothelioma, on-the-job trauma, acute lead poisoning, musculoskeletal injury, and dermatitis, the work relatedness of excess risks for all-cause mortality, cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and leukemia is less clear. Furthermore, while laborers are known to be potentially exposed to asbestos, noise, and lead, and the NIOSH Job Exposure Matrix describes other potential hazardous exposures, little research has characterized other possible exposures and no research has been found that describes the exposures associated with specific job tasks. More advanced study designs are needed that include a better understanding of the job tasks and exposures to construction laborers, in order to evaluate specific exposure-disease relationships and to develop intervention programs aimed at reducing the rate of work-related diseases.

Automotive wood model makers have been reported to be at excess risk for colon and other cancers in recent epidemiologic studies. To further explore these risks, we conducted a retrospective cohort mortality study, with follow-up from 1940 through 1984, of 2294 white male wood model makers employed at any time until 1980 by three US auto makers. Using US mortality rates for comparison, we found elevated standardized mortality ratios of 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.9) for colon cancer and 1.6 (95% CI, 0.9-2.6) for stomach cancer. We also conducted nested case-control studies for 20 colon and 17 stomach cancer cases and 543 age-matched controls. We found no trend of increased risk for colon or stomach cancer mortality with increased exposure to wood dust or to duration employed in wood model making.

A job exposure matrix has been developed based on potential exposure data collected during the 1972-1974 National Occupational Hazard Survey (NOHS). The survey sample was representative of all U.S. non-agricultural businesses covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and employing eight or more employees. Potential worker exposure to all chemical, physical, or biological agents was recorded during the field survey if certain minimum guidelines for exposure were met. The job exposure matrix (JEM) itself is a computerized database that assists the user in determining potential chemical or physical exposures in occupational settings. We describe the structure and possible uses of the job exposure matrix. In one example, potential occupational exposures to elemental lead were grouped by industry and occupation. In a second example, the matrix was used to determine exposure classifications in a hypothetical case-control study. Present availability as well as future enhancements of the job exposure matrix are described.

Purpose The NIOSH Life Table Analysis System for Personal Computers (PC LTAS) was recently updated to reflect changes in the newly adopted Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10). Methods Previously available only through 1998, we recently updated all reference death rate files for the United States, states and counties. These can be utilized as internal or external reference populations. Tenth revision causes of death were added after review for compatibility with PC LTAS death categories for prior ICD revisions 5 through 9. Results Several categories were revised to accommodate changes in medical nomenclature including mesothelioma, cancer of the pleura and liver, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, unintentional injuries and others. U.S. mesothelioma deaths for 1998–1999 are compared to prior years. Testing of algorithms and limitations of the conversion process are discussed. Conclusion The complex conversion process and resulting algorithms for ICD codes, categories, and ICD revisions are described for two new U.S. rate files: 1960 through 2002 and 1940 through 2002. The PC LTAS may be used by researchers to conduct comparative mortality and morbidity analyses using person-time-at-risk for corresponding age, race, sex, and calendar time-specific reference mortality rates during the period 1940 through 2002.

A proportionate mortality study of deceased white male workers in the pattern and model making trades was conducted. Death certificates were obtained for 1257 death benefit-eligible members of the Pattern Makers' League of North America who had died in the years 1972-1978, and age-adjusted proportionate mortality was calculated using 1975 United States white male death rates. For the entire nationwide union, statistically significant excess proportions of deaths were observed due to colon cancer (proportionate mortality ratio, PMR = 167) and to brain tumors (PMR = 211). A statistically significant excess proportion of deaths due to colon cancer (PMR = 163) and to leukemia (PMR = 200) were observed among the members of the predominantly wood shop locals. Nonsignificant excess proportions of cancer deaths occurred at a number of other anatomical sites. Predominant occupational exposures included wood and plastic dusts and epoxy resins in wood shops and cutting oil mists and solvent vapors in the metal shops. These results suggest the need for better work practices in this industry while more definitive studies are completed.

A suspicion of an excess cancer risk in automotive model shops prompted the Industrywide Studies Branch, NIOSH, to conduct a proportionate mortality study and an industrial hygiene characterization of operations in these shops. The mortality study showed a statistically significant excess proportion of deaths due to colon cancer and leukemia (for woodshops only). The materials used in the model shops include various natural woods, laminated woods, plastics, resins, varnishes, putties and paints. Personal breathing zone samples were collected for total and respirable dust, amines, various hydrocarbons (including styrene, and toluene), formaldehyde, and nitrosamines. Particle size distribution studies were conducted on the wood dust and bulk airborne samples of dusts were subjected to various mutagenicity test systems. Work practices, ventilation and general housekeeping were checked. Total wood dust samples ranged from 0.03 to 25 mg/m3 with an average around 1.0 mg/m3. The percent respirable dust ranged from 19 to 38% as measured with Andersen impactors. Solvent exposure samples ranged from non-detectable to about 10% of the OSHA Permissible Exposure Levels. Relevant recommendations for improvement of contaminant control were made.

A cohort of 3,572 pulp and paper mill workers employed for at least one year between 1945 and 1955 was followed through 31 March 1977. Vital status was determined for 99% of the cohort. The 915 deaths observed were 79% of the number expected on the basis of comparable United States mortality rates. Statistically nonsignificant excesses of deaths due to lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma and to stomach cancer were observed. These findings tend to corroborate reports based on state vital statistics, and preliminary case-referent and population-based studies of workers in the pulp or paper industries. No deaths due to nasal cancer were observed, but only 0.6 were expected. When process-specific analyses were conducted, the excess risk of lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma was increased only for men who worked in sulfate mills. The excess risk of stomach cancer was limited to men who worked in sulfite mills. Process-specific standardized mortality ratios for these causes were highest after 20 years since first employment in the mills.