Document aL14kBErpMx539KoMZe76oaR

/ '* HEALTH * ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, U.SJL Letters to the Editor Rtaders art invited to submit letters forpub lication in this department Submit to Doris Flournoy, Publisher, Journal of Occupation al Medicine, 1845 W, Mona, Chicago, iL 60626. Letttn should be typewritten, double spacedandshould be designated "For Publication." Cancer Mortality of Canadian Workers Exposed to VCM: A Three Year Follow-up To the Editor. In a previous issue of JOM, we reported the results of a mortality study conducted in 1978 on a group of Canadian workers exposed rbcbivbp to vinyl chloride monomer (JOM 23: 671-676, 1981). Liver cancers were NOV 1 o \382 found to be in excess, but neither brain nor lung cancers were higher ILN. Wheels* !* than expected. Since the exposed workers were known to have a ciga rette smoking experience similar to those not exposed, it was concluded that the association between lung cancer and VCM exposure previously FROM: J.R.TORKELSON reported could be questioned. We would like to report die results of a 1803 Building three year follow-up of this study 617/838-6197 pnysicai agents; and, instruL_ farm structures; dusts and mentation. 351 pages. Price; allergic response; respiratory $90.00. response and control of grain Available Soon dusts. 220 pages. Price: $60.00. Volume 4: Ifenactiora of 1982 Meeting Volume 5: A Look at the Field of Industrial Hygiene-Past. Present, Ftftsv conducted in 1981. The methodology used was essen tially the same as in the 1978 study. The vital status was established through correspondence or by tele phone conversation with the men who constituted the first study population. The cause of death was certified from . the death certificates. The assignment American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists of the men into the exposed and the source torteehniaelretennoolltmVun unexposed cohort was done as pre library discounts Hared subscription agency inquirias invited viously, not considering the exposure during the last three years. Of the PUBLICATIONS SECTION, ACGIH __ Dept. G. 6500 Glenway Ave.. Bldg. D-5, Cincinnati. OH 45211 (513) 661-7881 Send me____copies of Volume 1 4 *80.00 ea. -- copies of Volume 2 4 *60.00 ea. * _ copies of Volume 3 4 *85.00 ea. S Ohio residents add applicable sales tax --------------------- Payment enclosed O Bilims (amount)* total 1,310 men who constituted the riginal study population, 38 could not be traced in the second study (11. in the exposed cohort, 27 in the unexposed one) leaving the new study population at 1,272 men. In the exposed cohort, 14 men died during the three year foil w-up (three Charge: MasterCard Visa Card No .... Exp. Date cancers: lung, stomach and larynx). ............. ........ Data Meanwhile, 66 men died in the unex Also send more information on: Vol. 4 Vol. 5 posed cohort (10 cancers). Table 1 Name-- Affiliation. Address-- City-------- - 730 .State. -Zip- CrTBOHTlAWCmUt7U.tCOW- shows the deaths observed in the VCM-exposed and unexposed cohorts, age-adjusted relative risks, and confidence intervals f the relative risk J.tPcc.vfMraW 7U-7ir(l1t). / ucc 064142 itfafe* as of Jan. 31, 1981. The excess of cancers was 7.05, the number observed mortality due to cancers of the diges was three (SMR 42.55). Even though tive system in the exposed group persisted (RR 3.10, confidence interval 1.61-5.96) whereas there is no excess this follow-up study covers an observa tion period three years longer than the previous one, the number of person- AOMA/AAOM New Address , in the other causes of death. Table' 2 shows the standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for the ex posed workers in comparison with the years of observation remained approxi mately the same due to loss to follow up. Nevertheless, the lung cancer rates are still low and seem to negate its The address of the head quarters office of the American Occupational Medical Associa tion/American Academy of Oc entire population of the Province of association with VCM exposure. cupational Medicine is now 2340 Quebec. Again, a significant excess is noted for cancer of the digestive sys tem^ only. No other cancers are in excess. 3 -i The expected numbers of hirig " a Giles Theriault, M.D., Dr. Ph. Department de Medecine Soctale et Preventive Universlte Laval Cite Univenitaire Quebec, Canada G1K7P4 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Ar lington Heights, IL 60005; tele phone: 312/228-6850. Table 1 - Deaths Observed in the VCM Exposed and Unexposed Cohorts, Age-Adjusted Relative Risks and Confidence Intervals of the RR Cause of Death -- No. of Casas Exposed Unaxposad Rtlltivt Risk 95% Confidence Interval of the Relative Risk All cancan (14Q-20S) 23 64 1.01 150-152 Mouth and pharynx (140-149) 0 2- - 1i Digestive (150-159) Respiratory (160-163) 15 4 5 Bone, skin, connective (170-173) 2 14 3.10 151-556* 24 0.49 0.12-193 3 1.13 058-356 Urogenital (185-189) a** Eye, CNS (190-192) * Leukemia (200-209) ] Others cancan 5 Cardiovascular (390458) 1 8 057 0.10-3.10 0 2-- -- * 1 .. 4 1.15 057 - 26.13 0 7-- -- 30 150 0.72 0.49-155 Respiratory (460-519) 7 21 157 051-755 i Digestive (520-577) 4 12 127 029-5.49 f Accidents and violence (800-999) 1 Othen (3 age unknown) 2 7 15 053 058 -152 37 094 0.69-127 - TOTAL 73 -299 052 050-156 i 1 i, p - 0.05 _ ',, ,, '` Table 2- Ibserved and Expected Nomben of Deaths in the VCM-Exposed Cohort and Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) Causa of Oaatb -* -.- Observed Expected -- - - -. _ ; -- - _ ------ All cancers " Mouth and pharynx . Digestive Respiratory. - - ... Bone, skin, connective .. Urogenital Eye, CNS Leukemia Othen cancen Cardiovascular Respiratory --------- ' Digestive --- Accidents and violence Othen TOTAL , (140-209) (140-149) 23 0 (160-163) (170-173) 1185-189) -- - (190-192)--- (200-209) -- -- * - -- (390458) - (460-519) (520-577) ---------------- (800-999) 4 2 1 0 1 0 30 7 4 2 7 73 21.47 051 7.17 759 050 150 057 257 0.71 4153 459 453 1159 655 9159 __ ..... ....... *p<055 "><001 Letters to the Editor -- ucc 064143 SMR 107.13 0 20921* 5252 40052 10053 05 4851 05 71.72 15952 8252 17.11** 102.19 80.14 731