Document QgoR151ovd2w2ZqRb7NgJorjL

TABER5HAW/COOPER STUDY 5/74 EPWKMIOLOCICAI STUDY OF VlMYl.'CHLORIDE WORKERS Final Report Hay- 2, 1974. . I. SUTOARY Eight thousand three hundrtd and eighty four man who had had at least one year of occupational exposure to vinyl chloride before December 31, 1972, were followed in a historical prospective mortality study. The e* major findings of the study are: . * * 1. The overall mortality of the study population was approximately 75 percent of what would be expeeted In a comparable population of 0. S, males. 2. Ho cause of death shoved a statistically significant excess over vhat would be expected in a comparable V. S. ale population. 3. Ho new deaths Identified as angiosarcoma of the liver were found. 4. All previously known Angiosarcoma deaths in the study ,e population during the study period were found as part * of the routine study procedure. . t 5. Cancers of the liver (primarily angiosarcoma), respiratory system, brain, and cancers of unknown primary site, as well as lymphosarcoma, occurred more often* than expected in . those members of the study population with the greatest exposure. Even though tha excesses were not statistically significant, the findings warrant further study* 4.. Other cancers occurred at lower levels than in the general male population, with the exception of caneers of the buccal cavity and pharynx. There was an excess of these Ucc 085644 / -2- n cancers, which however was Inversely related to exposure. 4 ** * ' * * The explanation for this fiodine Is not'apparent. * II. mROOUCTIOM * The study vaa begun by Tabershav/Cooper, Associates, Inc. on June 15, 1573, under contract from the Manufacturing Chenlsts Association. ' *. * *' ** 4 , 4 The original eight month period of the contract was later extended by two nonths, la consideration of logistical, problems arising fron the nunber of * plants which participated in the study. The objectives of the study are; (1) To compare the mortality of individuals who have worked in vinyl * chloride planes with that of the general population; (2) To compare mortality patterns within the population of . vinyl chloride workers, based upon estimated occupational exposure; and (3) To compare mortality among vinyl chloride vorkers with the mor tality of other groups which TCA, Inc. has studied. The seudy took the fora of a historical prospective mortality study. e The study population consisted of individuals who had worked for at least one year In a job involving exposure to vinyl chloride before December 31, 1972, and included retired and terminated as well as active vorkers. Tor each such worker the date of birt# h and an employment history were obtained, * and the . vital status of the worker as of December 31, 1972, was ascertained. Tor those found to have died, those death certificates* thae warp availae ble were obtained and the cause of death determined. The observed mortality was eompersd with that of tho United States male population. UCC 085645