Document EvpDLr2VV1kDd0qvDwZjjrqqg

FILE NAME: RT Vanderbilt (RTV) DATE: 1990 DOC#: RTV210 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: NIOSH Report RE RTV Mine Exposure and Occupational Disease CatnOttnlJ'A#HttTiiMt*ltw<ri<Qia*MEIAL* 1M4MDIVUtnMiiMiivHftt*VtDCIJw**nru*i U5*tM<fytfW*w Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2024 HETA 90-590-2065 MHETA -012-2065 R.T. VANDERBILT COMPANY GOUVERNEUR, NEW YORK 2025 PREFACE Hie Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch of fUOSH conducts field investigations of possible health hazards In the workpiece. These investigations are conducted under the authority of Section 20{a){6i of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. 29 U.5.C. 669(a){61 which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Hunan Services, following a written request from any enpioyer or authorized representative of employees, to determine whether any substance normally found la the place cf employment has potentially toxic effects in such concentrations ns used or found. The Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch also provides, upon request, medical, nursing, and industrial hygiene technical and consultative assistance <TA) to Federal, state, and local agencies; labor; Industry and other groups or individuals to control occupational health hazards and to prevent related trauma and disease. Mention of company names or products does not constitute endorsenent by the national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. HETA 90-390-2Q6S HHETA 86-0X2-2065 SEPTEHBER 1990 R.T. VAHDERBILT COKTAliy GGUVEJUfEUR, JtEW YORK HIOSH IHVESTICATORS: David P. Brown, H.P.HWsyne Sanderson, C.I.H Laurence J. Fine, H.fl. I. StimARY The study conducted for this health hazard evaluation adds eight years of observation to the mortality study of miners and millers at the Gouvemeur Talc Company (CTC) that was published by HIGSH researchers in 1980. The current study via baaed on 710 white male workers who were employed any time at GTC between 1997 and 1978 and wheat vital status was determined as of 1983. When compared to U.S. white male mortality rates, there were statistically significant increases in all causes combined {SKH=128, 161 obs.), all non-malignant respiratory disease {KR=251, 17 obs.j, and lung cancer (SHHnZ07, 17 obs.). The SHE for lung cancer was slightly higher for the workers with tenure of employment less than 1 year (SKB=222, Cl 56, 9381 compared to workers with tenure greater than one year (SHR=194, Cl 89, 369). The lung cancer risk wss higher In those with 20 or more years of latency (SMRs258, Cl 137, 941) than in those with less than 20 years of latency <SHH126, CX 39, 322). The 5MR for non-oalignant respiratory disease was sigttiftcanciy elevated among those with more than one year of tenure (SK8=29Q, Cl 199, 518). The magnitude of the risk for both lung cancer and non-malignant respiratory disease indicate that the workplace exposures at GTC are, in part, associated with these excesses In mortality. Feasible confounding factors, such as cigarette smoking and other occupational exposures from employment elsewhere, may have contributed to these risks as well. Although the contribution of these confounding factors could not be totally quantified in this study, it is unlikely that they, alone, could account for the observed excess risks. The principal limitations in this study are; (1) the size of the cohort (especially for those workers with long tenure), (2) the inability to precisely characterize past occupational exposures at GTC or occupational exposures from employment elsewhere, and (3) the lack of reliable smoking data. The elevated risks observed in thl3 study are similar to those In one other study of talc miners in Ifev York State. In summary, the results of this updated study support the findings of an excess risk for lung cancer'ana non-mslTgtiant respiratory disease which was fibaerved in tnese workers by KIOSK researching'Tn'TSrgD'T' The reccasnendstionsfor control of exposure made in the"I960 report remain appropriate. It is recomnended that this cohort be updated and reanalyzed after ten more years of observation. Keywords: (SIC 1999) talc, amphiboles, cohort mortality study, mining, lung cancer, nan-malignant respiratory disease. 2(127 Page 2 - Health Hazard Evaluation Report Ho. 90-390 and HfETA fc~052 n . nrr.BODiicrioff Researchers from the national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (HIQSH) have previously conducted studies of mortality and morbidity patterns and occupational exposures among talc miners and millers,d-B) j n February 1980, HIQSH researchers published a Technical Report entltfed "Occupational Exposure to Talc Containing A s b e s t o s " ' , vhich dealt specifically with talc ore mined bv the Gouvemeur Talc Company (GTC) in the Gouvemeur Taic District In upper Hew York. This report was divided Into three sections (1. Environmental, 2. Cross-sectional morbidity, and 3. Re. spectlve cohort mortality!, which were subsequently published elsewhere (2-a,6)_ Additionally there have been three other mortality studies of JTC workers, all of which were based on the same basic data set.9-11) The interpretation of the epidemiologic findings of these studies; and the controversy about the mineralogicai composition of the talc and its contaminants at this mine has been the subject of numerous publications.(12-233 Authors of the previous mortality studies differ in their conclusions about the excess risk of lung cancer observed in the GTC workers. The_ 1980 cohort mortality study published by BXOSH-resesrchers conclude^ ""TCeZfftnnTi-pe t-rj "ashemti form tremollte and anthophyilite stand out as the prime suspect etioio^ic factors"associated with the observed increase ln~bronchogenic cancer and non-sal tenant respiratory disease among this study cohort. " ^ Brown et al., also concluded that "exposures to talcs from the Gouven.eur raining area are associated with an increased risk of bronchogenic cancer and non-malignant.diseases of the respiratory system."*) Stille and Tabershaw concluded there were "elevated mortalities but no significant increases in the numbers of deaths from lung cancer, from non-malignant respiratory disease, and from all c a u s e s , L a m m concluded that the increased lung cancer risk "Is most likely due to risk acquired elsewhere, such as prior employments, or to differences in smoking experience or other behavioral characteristics.'^^ On November 9, 1985, R.T, Vanderbilt, Inc., requested that NIOSR conduct a Health Hazard Evaluation (IflfE) to update the 1980 NIOSR study of employees at their Gouvemeur Talc Company in Baimat, New York, particularly rhat portion of the study that dealt with the mortality experience of the cohort. In response to this request NIQ5H updated the vital status of the cohort through 1983; and evaluated exposure-response by latency using tenure as a surrogate of exposure. 2030 Page 5 - Health Hazard Evaluation Report Ho. 90-390 and MHETA 86-012 leas than one-year tenure was significantly elevated; non-malignant respiratory disease mortality was significantly elevated among workers with greater than one-year tenure. Other increases did not achieve statistical significance. v. Discussion This is a small cohort (710 workers), of which 161 (22.751) are deceased. The SHR analysis (Table 2) indicates a statistically significant excess of lung cancer and non-mollgnant respiratory disease in this cohort. In a previous update of this cohort^), which determined vital status as of 12/31/78. ten lung cancer deaths had been Identified. Thla update adds eight new lung cancers to the study. The SMR for lung cancer was uniform across tenure strata and Increased with Increasing latency (Table 3). There was a statistically significant excess in lung cancer in those with 20 years or more latency and with less than one year employment. Those in this latency group with greater than one year duration also exhibited an increased risk but it was not statistically significant. The increased risk of lung cancer among those with short duration also was observed in the 1980 analysis^). There are several possible explanations for this observation. First, cohort members may have been employed in other Hew York State talc mines and mills where there may have been additional exposures to the same or to similar types of mineral dust. This potential confounding variable le difficult to quantify. Based on limited information fl:27) it ia known that as many as half of the lung cancer cases worked in other talc mining operations. In addition, there may have been exposure to other lung carcinogens from employment previous to GTC. Second, some of those in the short duration group may have had very high exposures, especially In the early years of the mining operation. This, too, is Impossible to quantify, especially for the oldest exposures. Third, the smoking habits among the employees may have been different from the reference population. Although several diseases associated with cigarette smoking are nonsignificantly elevated, smoking alone does not account for the excess observed in the cohort. At the time of the morbidity study by G a m b l e d ) , which was conducted in 1975, the smoking patterns among GIG workers were not much different from those of U.S. white males. Among those In the cross-sectional study the distribution was; non-smokers (217.) ex-smokers (31*) and smokers (48*). The distribution, in 1976, among white males 20 years snd over in the was: non-smokers (28.2*), ex-smokers (30*), and smokers (41.2*). For those In the sge group, 20-44 years old, which is more comparable to the cross-sectional study group, the smoking prevalence rate for U.S. white males was approximately 47*. Using an adjustment for smoking as suggested by Axelsoni2?); even if 100* of the cohort were smokers, the risk for lung cancer would have been Increased only by 60* or an SHR of 160. 2101 Page 6 - Health Hatard Evaluation Report Ho, 90-390 - M HETA 66-012 A combination of these factors, mentioned above, may account (or the lack of a positive association between lung cancer risk and duration of employment. It also should be noted that the group with less than one year duration represents half of the person-years of the cohort and although those with longer duration also had an Increased risk for lung cancer, the number of workers within each strata, by duration of employment greeter than one year, was small and the power to detect a significant risk within these strata was limited. The excess for nonmallgnant respiratory disease was more consistently associated with an occupational exposure at GTC. There was a larger excess risk in those with duration of employment over one year compared to those with less than one year. To evaluate the consistency of the results of the current analysis with prior research at GTC, SHH's for all causes and for lung cancer were compared between three previous mortality studies of this cohort and an earlier proportionate mortality study of Hew York talc workers (Table 5). The earliest report vas of talc workers with >15 years tenure in the northern part of Hew York State, presumably In tne \ Gouverneur talc district.(30,31) The-*talt contained asbestos amphibole and serpentine minerals.(32) ^The proportionate mortality ratio (FfiR> for lung cancer was aijout 3f times expected. The remaining SHR studlesi* ^ i n v o l v e d essentially the same cohort as in this study, i.e. white mole employees who ever worked at GTC since it began operations. The results are consistent across studies in that both overall mortality and lung cancer mortality were elevated; the SftR for lung cancer in the 20 or more year latency group was 2.6 to 0.6 times expected. Among employees with greater than 20 years latency, the lung cancer SHR was about 2 times greater for employees with less than one-year tenure compared to those with greater than one-year tenure. However, these differences are based on small numbers. In conclusion, the results of this updated study support the findings of an excess risk for lung cancer and non-mallgnant respiratory disease which waa observed in these workers by HIOSH rFsearchers in 19B0. The recommendations for control of exposure made in the 1980 report remain appropriate. REFERENCES 1. Dement JH, 2umwalde HD, Gamble JF, Fellner V, BiMeo HJ, Drown DP, vfagoner JK. Occupational exposure to taic containing asbestos-morbidity, mortality and environmental studies of miners i and millers. Cincinnati, Ohio: national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1980; DKEW (HIOSH) Publication 1 B0-115. 2032 Page 7 - Health Hazard Evaluation Report Ho. 90-390 and HHETA 86-012 Z . Dement JM, Zumvalde RD. Occupational exposures to talcs containing asbestiform minerals. In: Lemen R, Dement JM, eds. Dusts and disease. Park Forest: Pathotox Publishers Inc., 1979:307-16. 3. Gamble J, Fellner W, DlMeo KJ. An epidemiologic study Of a gr-.>up of talc workers. Am Rev Reap Dis 1979119:741-53. 4. Gamble JR, Creife A, Hancock J. An epidemiologic-industrial hygiene study of talc workers, Ann Occup Hyg 1982; 26:841-59. 5. Gamble Jr, Grelfe A. Health studies of miners and millers exposed to talc. In: Wagner WW, Rom WH, Merchant JA, eds. Health Issues related to metal and non-metalllc mining. Boston: Buttervorth Publishing, 1983. d. Brown DP, Dement JM, Wagoner Jtf, Mortality patterns among miners and millers occupationally exposed to asbestlform talc. In: Lemen R, Dement JM, eds. Dust and disease. Park Forest: Pathotox Publishers Inc,, 1979:317-24. 7. Selevan SG. Dement JM, Wagoner JK, Frolnea JR. Mortality patterson >~mong miners and millers of non-asbestlform talc: preliminary report. In: Lemen R, Dement JM. eds. Dust and disease. Park Forest: Pathotox Publishers Inc., 1979:379-388, 8. Wegaan PH, Peters JM, boundy MG, Smith TJ. Evaluation of respiratory effects in miners and millers exposed to talc free of asbestos and silica. Brit J Ind Med 1982;39:233-8. 9. Stille WT, Tabershaw JR. The mortality experience of upstate Hew York talc workers. J Occup Med 1982;24:480-4. Id. Lamm SH, Starr JA. Analysis of epidemiologic mortality study: Hew York talc workers at Gouvemeur Talc Company, Presented to 0SHA. April 30, 1984, 11. Lamm 5, Levine H, Starr J, and Tirey S. Analysis of excess lung cancer risk in short-tena employees. Am J Epid 19B8;127:1202-1209. 12. Brown DP, Beaumont JJ, Dement JM. The toxicity of upstate Re York talc. [Letter to the editor]. J Occup Med 1983;25j!7B-9. 13. Tabershaw IR, Thompson CS. Authors response [Letter to the editor). J Occup Hed 1983;25-179-8l. 14. Dement JH, Brow: DP, The forum [Letter to the editor], Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1982;43;A25-A25.  2033 e a - Health Hazard Evaluation Report Ho, 90-390 and HliETA 86-012 15. Thompson CD. Consequences of usina Improper definition for regulated minerals. In: Levadle a, ed. Definition for asbestos and other health-related silicates. PhiUdeiphia: American Society for Testing and Haterlals. AST special technical publication no. 839:175-83. 16. Taylor LD. The forum Letter to editor!. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1981 ;92:A26. 17. Broun DP. Review of Analysis of R.. Vanderbilt Talc Employees, Memo to R.. Leaen, August 18, 1983. 18. OSilA, Post-Hearing Comments of R.T. Vanderbilt, Inc., November 1, 1969. 19. Campbell WJ, Steel B, Virta RL, Eisner HH. Characteristic of cleavage fragments and asbestiform amphibole particulates. In: Lemen 8, Dement JM, eds. Bust and disease. Park Forest: Pathotox ''ubllshers Inc., 1979, 20. Campbell WJ, Huggins CW, Wylie AG. Chemical and physical characteristics of amoslte, chrysotile, crocidolite, and nanflbrcus tressolite for oral ingestions studies by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Bureau of Mines, 1900; Research Investigation Ho. 8452. 21. Campbell WJ. Identification of selected silicate minerals and their asbestiform varieties. Proceedings of the workshop on Asbestos: definition and measurement methods held at HB5, Gathersburg: DBS Special Publication 506:1973. 22. Graf JL, Ase PK, Oraftx HG. Preparation and characterization of analytical reference materials. Cincinnati. Ohio: national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1979; DHEW (HI0SH1 publication no. 79-139, 23. HIOSH teatimony to the U.S. Department of Labor (05HA): proposed rulemaking for asbestos, June 19, 1984, 24. Henson SR. Analysis of relative survival and proportional mortality. Computers Blamed Res 1974;1:325-32. 25. Harsh GW, Privtnger H. OCMAP: A user oriented occupational cohort mortality analysis program. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.. 1981, 26. Bailer JC, and Ederer F. Significance factors for the ratio of a poisson variable to Its expectation. Biometrics 1964:20:639. 2u34 Page g _ Health Hazard Evaluation Report Ho. 90-390 and HHETA 86-012 27. Caiable J. U n p ublished data. 28. U.S. D e p artment o f Hea l t h a n d H u m a n S e r v i c e s , PHS, HCHS. H ealth United States 1981. BHHS Publication Ho. (PHS) 82-1232, Hyattsvllle, HD. December, 1981. 29. Axelson, 0. b e t t e r to the Editors Asp e c t s on confounding In occupational h e a l t h epidemiology, S c a n d Jf w o r k e nviron and health. 4:85-89, 1978. 30. Kleinfeld H, M e s s i t e J, Zaki H. M o r t a l i t y e x p eriences among talc vorkers; a follow-up study. J Occup Med 1974;16:345-9. 31. Kleinfeld M, Mes s i t e J, Kooy m a n 0, Zaki H. M o r t a l i t y among talc miners and millers In Rev York state. Arch Env Hlth 1967;14:663-7. 32. Kleinfeld H, K e s s l t e J, ba n g e r AM. A s t u d y of vo r k e r s exposed to asbeatiform minerals In commercial tale manufacture. Env Res 1972;6:132-43. vil. S H M SaiL^fffi-ASmHLEESStttmg, Report Prepared By: Originating Office: David P. Brown, M.P.H, Wayne Sanderson, C.I.H. bavrenee J, Fine, M.D. Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies The authors acknowledge Dr. John Gamble for preparation of the data. VIII. BiaBIPBTMlT AHQ,, AVAILABILITY OF REPORT Copies of this report are currently available upon request from RI05H, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, 4676 Colimbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226. After 90 days, the report will be available through the Rational Technical Information Service (HTIS), 5285 Port Royal, Springfield, Virginia 22161. Information regarding Its availability through HTIS can be obtained from HX0SB Publications Office at the Cincinnati address. Copies of this report, have been sent to: 1. R.T. Vanderbilt Company 2. United Steelworkers of America 3. 0SHA Region II 4. HIOSH Boston Region li F w Purpose of informing affected employees, copies of this report shall i] b e posted b y the e m p l o y e r in a prominent place a c c e s s i b l e to the employees for y a period of 30 calendar days. 2035 Age Group *t3e it Hire 2J S 1 It Otath tLS'l. <20 20-29 30-39 1*49 50-59 60-69 70-79 B0 107(151 311 (44> 184(261 64(9 ) 3 2 (4 ) 11(2 ) 1(<J) 0 (-l H-i 3(3 ) 12(B) 31(19) 52(32) 36(22) 21(13) K 3) Total 710 161 Average 30 vr* 56 yrs Tabic 1 Oestrfption of Cahert Oouverrteor jtic Coitpany KTA 86-012 19(7-59 Penan-yeara (Pn br Tine Period 1960-69 1970-79 47 1050 1302 657 165 86 12 5 3326 37 563 1446 1366 624 150 54 3 4221 41 864 1043 1605 1304 476 H9 21 5493 0 212 462 492 62 352 72 24 2256 fata! 121 2641 4273 4118 2715 1064 257 53 15294 2036 ti e Z Cute Specilli ortallty of Cehort, 1947-1983 Coutarneur Tali Conpany HHH* 86-012 fatile of Beath (ICS - flJ* ifumber Obterved A U Carnet (1*999) 161 aiplntorv Tubercuteii* (010-019) 3 iti XaKpntnt Heoptai (140-2091 36 Oljtttlve Orsini and Perltoneun (130-139) 8 Etophigut (ISO) 1 Steaich 1131) 2 llvtr (155-156) 2 Ptfieria* (157) 2 Sesplratory Sviteli (160-163) 18 Lit-yn* (1611 4uno(162-163) 17 imitate (103) 1 Utfdrr (180) 1 cidney (189) 1 ifatn and CWS (191-192) 1 lymphettreone ifld etitoiourcoioi (200) 1 Hodgkln'i piteli (201) 2 (tubini a (204-207) 2 tymphatie (202-203/020.8) 1 (Il O t l i w of circulatory S y t U a (393-458) 68 A U Hon-Kal ignint Ketplretcry pinate ((60-319) 17 Pneunonla C(ED-(Sfi) 6 Eeipbytetta ((92) 3 Oiher Hon-MaUpnint pltetory (660-479, 8 487-491, (93-519) *11 Dittate ol Dlgettlve S y i m (520-577) 8 Externel C i u m (000-998) 18 Accidente (800-949) 15 Suicide (950-959) 3 4 U Dther 11 * internationil CUttftcicion of Dlieut, Etjhth leviti cn ** 95X Con!Idtnc Intervil far sul * p*0.G5 ** P0.01 tiusber Ex&ected 125*5 0.7 24.0 6.5 0.6 1.2 0.4 1.1 0.7 ori 8.2 1.3 0.7 0.6 0.9 0.6 0.4 uo 0.6 60.7 6.0 2.5 1.7 2.7 6.7 16.7 11.2 3.0 SKft 128** 419 145* 167 167 171 500 154 207" 250 207** 77 145 167 111 167 500 200 167 112 Z5Q** 240 176 296* 119 108 134 79 u t cr* 109-150 06-1224 102-210 53-242 4-963 21-616 58-1729 18-544 123-328 7-1502 120-331 2-438 4*864 4-865 3-625 (-969 62-1857 23-699 4-911 87-142 Hfi'Ol 90-534 37-523 130-594 51-235 64-171 75-221 16-231 2037 Teert tinte dale of hire 0-<1 Table 3 luna Cancer Hartal 1ty by latency and Tenure 1947-1903 Gouverneur Talc Company KKETA 66*012 Tenure*Tear 1*9 10-19 20*36 0-*t0 ta*te 20*34 5S O/E SHI ?r an SHI pr an H* C.t. PT at. s '* 3012 0/ .6 ** 2229 B/2.2 361** ( 0 5 4 ,701) 1070 /.7 U3 3274 2/.5 400 1203 1/1.2 S3 (2,4571 821 0/0 a 1/.7 167 1247 2/. 5 4GG (34,1611) 269 o/a 0 /0 -* 3 2/1.1 162 (21,6)6) 751 Total 0/E a/3.5 K* 229 P 7711 4/2.4 167 3297 3/1.2 250 1536 2/1.1 162 751 * p * .05 * p a ,01 Hear latency: Z2.9 (rangei 5.5*34,3) Hean ternirai 0.3 transit O.OQ3-3.S) DUI 1/1.2 03 6065 3/2.0 ISO 46&Q 1/5- 260 (117,4411 3731 17/8.2 207** 15294 l i fcrtnc* e t ip a r aroun^* tin o I t l i te t10> IM 2 Ir IM I^ ^^ tm ititi studr bU i SuM**ryi Hert*Uty StVidtii o* Ktw Tori T*U Uoriors Goovtrntur T#lc Ccunptny Htu o di; Cohort Et Ig ib llt t r ; period ot capi oyarm tiy tm ur* taptoiHtiJ 19UM9A9 \f\n rn n u w tnd a i l'o tto - up S ite ol Cohort in i IH ! HO AU Ctun Mar H .tY . 01* Hit lung Tiocrr Xo rt a H t y AU >?n yr l . t w r o l i ftR O li 10S u 32* .... im m in t; m V 273* a *02** m / * B ` t2/3t/7 W /i/Ti 65S m 106 to 137 t i ti/3 1 /rr ti/ jt/ rs 60S tta U t* 12 2*0' lir a t2/3t/B3 no tai 128"* 17 207** U sa* * p* 05 ** p< 01 DOS Obirrvet* riu&er a i d d i f t t 99 i Phft or iHH