Document MGBZ8gGyjjL6dxMKqb7pEmoBy

Science Chemists score wed in new cancer epidemiology study Among the worries about potential hazards in the workplace, there has been a particular concern about chem ists because of the nature of their jobs. Some epidemiological studies in the U.S., Sweden, and the U K. have sug gested that chemists are at a pester risk from certain types of cancer than are others. A new study has been made that at tempts to avoid some of the sources of possible inaccuracy in previous studies. The study was made by Shelia K. Hoar, now of the environmental epidemiology branch at the National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, Md., and Sidney Pell of the epidemiology section in the medical di vision at Du Pont, WHmington [ J. Occtp. Med. 25, 485 (1981)]. What the study finds is that for the chemists and the period studied, male chemists at Du Pont experienced lower overall mortality than did nonchemist workers at the same company who were at relatively the same socioeconomic level. There were large deficits in num bers of deaths from lung cancer and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The male chemists appear to be at slightly higher risk for death from malignancies of the colon and from cerebrovascular disease. The incidence rates of melanoma and of cancer of the prostate are slightly higher than ex pected. Among female chemists, deaths from all causes combined and from suicide occurred more frequently than expected. in devising their study. Hoar and Pell noted that the designs of some previous studies had some limitations. They note that the populations studied weren't re stricted to persons employed as chem ists. American and British studies of chemical society members, they point out, may include persons who weren't occupationally exposed to chemicals, in addition, several of the studies were based on proportional mortality rates and not on absolute mortality rates, so that apparent excesses in proportional mortality from cancer may reflect defi cits in other causes of death. Also, they point out, the Swedish study, which was based on absolute mortality and at tended to identify subjects who worked in a laboratory, included too few deaths to be conclusive. To better zero in on the issue. Hoar and Pell turned to Du Pont records. Du Pont maintains a computerized per sonnel file that includes records of all salaried persons who were active em ployees on or after Jan. 1, 1864. It contains demographic information and work histories retroactive to 1959. Using the file, Hoar and Pelt identified 3713 men and 75 women who were employed in 1959 as chemists, chemi cal engineers, or research associates, Or in occupations with similar titles. Nonwhites were only a small number, so the two researchers restricted their cohort to 3686 male and 75 female white chemists. For comparison, 19,262 male and 673 female white nonchemists who were active salaried employees in 1959 were identified in the same file. The re searchers excluded from the non chemist group any persons ever em ployed by Du Pont as chemists. Hoar and Pell point out that the low overall mortality rate among the male chemists resulted in a larger than ex pected proportion of deaths due to cancer. They note that the cancer ex cesses in the previous proportional mortality reports on chemists also may reflect low absolute mortality and not absolute excesses. Anticipated excesses of certain types of cancers weren't observed, they say. possibly because of the use of absolute mortality rates, inadequate length of followup, exposure to hazardous chemicals by the comparison group, or restriction of case identification to active employees. Deficits in overall mortality rates and in lung cancer rates may have been due, they say, to lower prevalence of smoking among the chemists, or to Jsparate socioeconomic status or other factors. SI-- l owicw DibIMwcb AMdHm uecel cavity Stomach Small and large intestine Rectum Liver and Mtary passages Pancreas Lung Melanoma Prostate osd--d SI 1 2 7 3 1 2 8 8 7 lerriiif f 86.5 2.1 2.4 11.6 4.4 0.9 1.1 20.0 8.3 4.5 112.0 8.5 3.8 B.9 5.7 1.6 3.7 28.4 3.3 5.6 an* of eMM SwMmm Oh--d ripTimr Madder Kidney rein Bdocrlis glands, exekidkig thyroid Lymphosarcoma Hedgkto's (Bseaea Other tymphomao Multiple myetoma Leukemia AI ether altee* 3 4 2 1 3 2 1 1 3 2 2.0 3.7 3.0 0.5 2.1 1.6 1.5 0.9 3.5 -- 6.6 3.8 3.4 0.3 2.7 2.1 1.0 1.2 3.3 17.1 o Bmoi on nonetemift cohort Mi. * BoooO on lw 7h >Udone Cmom Bw*r. itrtft itri r fHiio iai1 InrhUnn li Tii mhar nufilaama ir* fi limn" npr'itlr irfli~ and eompam to 0.4 aipaetad baaad on nonchanval cchert raaaa lad atm %tm ma Mg BSrmed. 0. and Dip--d. 12V NMk Cm* an lor ob--ri'd mU cancor cm--, --dudSig nownaMwMc a* iee. among mala chanw ai Du Pont, agad 20 Id S4, iSagnnaad In 1M4 id 1S77. industrial products and of medicines, contribute relatively little to the total picture. "That does not, of course, imply that some of them are not of immense importance to sections of the popu lation on whom the risks are concen trated, but it does mean that their control will have relatively little effect on the total incidence of cancer in the whole country," they say. "Once rec ognized, occupational hazards usually can be reduced or eliminated by im mediately practicable means, which makes their identification particu miologic approach, of course, should larly valuable." be influenced by laboratory discov Thus they recommend that more eries," they say, "but the dangers of effort be put into systematically ob too peat a commitment to a mecha serving workers who are being ex nistic approach are obvious, espe posed to potential risks. They suggest cially since the mechanisms under that such observation might be of lying the international and other more value than the current emphasis differences between populations in on laboratory testing of chemicals. -today's common cancers may not yet That recommendation grows nat be understood." They argue that the urally out ofDoll and Petos admitted epidemiologic approach is advanta preference for the epidemiologic ap geous because its starting point is proach over what they call the more relevant: a look at deaths from "mechanistic" strategy. "The epide cancer in the human population. 84 CAEN Aug. 17. 19S1 S3J.V1S OBlINn 3HANI 03HVW 31 AdVSS303N 39VlSOd ON t06Z0 rNiiwwns 133U1S 31dVW IP MlieaH pue aouaios uo ipunoo ueouaiuv dOlOBUia dlHSd38IN3IN 33SS3daaV A8 aiVd 38 TIIAA 30VlSOd TN HWWflS `Z02 ON HWd3d SSVIO ISdld HVW Ald3d SS3NISH8 UJOJJ American Council I Aon Science and Health 47 Maple Street Summit. NJ 07901 An Educational Association Promoting Scientifically Balanced Evaluations of Chemicals, the Environment and Human Health. American Council on Science and Health 1995 Broadway (r>ear 68th Street) New York, NY 10023 Telephone: 212 362 7044 1111 191h Street. N.W Suite 301 Washington, D C 20036 Telephone: 202 659 8978 47 Maple Street Summit; NJ 07901 Telephone: 201 277 0024 When useful, safe products are banned, we consumers suffer. Either we do without something that makes our lives more enjoyable and convenient, or we pay more for an alternative, if there is one. The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH)js working to bring some common sense back to the evaluation of food additives, pesticides, and other aspects of our contemporary lifestyle. Saccharin, for example, has been one recent focus of our attention. The Food and Drug Administration has recommended that this popular artificial sweetener be banned. ACSH analyzed all the information on the health effects of saccharin and concluded that there was no scientific evidence to ban it. And we made our findings known to the American consumer, the scientific community, the media, and our government representatives and regulators. When there is a serious environmental threat to your health--you'll hear about it from us. But we, unlike others who claim to represent the consumer, will not call for a ban "at the drop of a rat." Wfe need your help. We speak out for the con sumer, not for any self-interest group. For these reasons we encourage membership participation from foundations, corporations, institutions, and individuals Hke you. Tou mean they've banned everything?" URL 05184 ACSH members receive: ACSH NEWS A VIEWS, a bi-monthly publication with scientific articles on health and safety; book reviews; guest editorials; and updates on current issues being investigated by ACSH. Copies erf latest position papers, annual reports; media updates and other materials. I Information on national and focal conferences and seminars. Open exchange by direct communication with headquarter office. Future research will focus on: "Filth" Levels in Food Gerovitaf Laetrile Safety of Baby Foods Oral Contraceptives Aldrin and Dieldrin Salt in the Human Diet Oietary Aflaloxins Toxic Substances Control Act "Junk Food" Over-nutrition and Cancer Asbestos Kepone Vinyl Chloride and Plastic Wrap Microwave Ovens PCB's and PBB's Hair Dyes Fluoridation Toxins in Natural Foods "Cancer Ousters'' Nitrates and Nitrites Vitamin Supplements Red Dye #4 Over-trie-Counter Drugs Aerosol Sprays Water Pollution Sugar and Sugar Products Tobacco and Cancer Alcohol and Disease MSG Safety/Risk Assessment Food Additives Cydamates The Delaney Clause OSHA Carcinogen Standards Full-length technical versions of ACSH reports are also available for purchase. f DETACH ALONG PERFORATION-- SEAL A MAIL-- NO POSTAGE NECESSARY Application and Return Envelope *Yes, I/We will join ACSH. Annual Membership Rate*: Benefactor: $3,000 Patron: $1,000 Sponsor: $ 500 institutional: Individual: Student: $175 $35 $ 15 f wish to contribute $ ---------------in addition to membership dues. The greater your contribution, the more rapidly we will accomplish our goals. Please make all checks payable to American Council on Science and Health and enclose in the envelope provided. PLEASE PRINT Name____________ ___ _______ ______ Address ____________ - ---------- City____________ _____ __ ____ _______ State- _____________ - Zip............. Telephone_________ ____ Affiliation-. ------------ ----------------------- All new members receive the foliowing current reports from ACSH free, ($5.00 each for non members). Saccharin is a review of the scientific and popular literature on the relationship between saccharin and health. Cancar In the United States: Is Thera an Epldamlct (Updated and revised). A straight forward examination of the facts as they exist today. New Jersey: Garden State or Cancer Al< ley? (Updated and revised). An objective overview pf the cancer issue in that state. Met and Hyperactivity: Is There a Rela tionship? A review of the scientific and popular literature on this subject. Post-menopausal Estrogen Therapy. A review of the risks and benefits of this widely prescribed drug therapy. Alcohol Use During Pregnancy: Its Effects on the Unborn Child. A review of the scientific and popular literature on this important maternal and child health issue. Met ModHIcatlon: Can It Reduce the Risk of Heart Dlsaase? A review of the complex rela tionship between dietary habits and coronary heart disease. 2,4,5-T. A review of the scientific and popular literature on the herbicide and its relationship to human health. The Health Effects of Caffeine: A review of the scientific knowledge of this widely used chemical. HELP A FRIEND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND HEALTH Simply note an associate or friend's name(s) and address(es). We ll be happy to send him or her a FREE copy of our current issue of ACSH NEWS & VIEWS and membership information. Name_____________________________________ Address________________ _________________ City__________________________________ State_______________ _____ Zip Telephone _ ________ ________________________ Affiliation_________________ ________ Name_________ - ...................... _ Address_____ _ ______________ City _______________ ______ State. _______________ _ Zip ____ Telephone___ ___________________ Affiliation___________________ ______ Name ______________ ________ ____ _ Address City_____ _____________ ______ _______ State___________ Zip Telephone Affiliation___________ ______________ Name __________ ____________________________ Address_____ ...._.. _______ ________ City _ ___ ______ State Zip- Telephone. _____________ ... Affiliation__________ _______________ (Additional names can be enclosed) 'All contributions are tax deductible as provided by law.