Document zzxVDXpL272bML2qr70230pw0

\ RECEIVED NOV 1 8 1982 /V Letters to HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, U.S.A. the Editor /<?/ A?/h Readers are invited to submit tetters forpub lication in this deportment. Submit to Doris Flournoy, Publisher, journal of Occupation al Medicine, 1845 W. Morse, Chicago, IL 60626. Letters should be typewritten, double spaced and should be designated "For Publication." Cancer Mortality of Canadian Workers Exposed to VCM: A Three Year br*' 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 to vinyl chloride monomer (JOM 23: 671-676, 1981). Liver cancers were found to be in excess, but neither brain nor lung cancers were higher 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: T< r. IORKELSON reported could be questioned. We would like to report the results of a 1803 Building 517/638-8197 three year foliow-up of this study conducted in 1981. pnysicai agents; and, instru 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: Transactions of 1982 Meeting Volume 5: A Look at the Field of Industrial Hygiene--Past, Present, Future 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 for technical reference literature unexposed cohort was done as pre library discounts offered subscription agency inquiries invited viously, not considering the exposure during the last three years. Of the PUBLICATIONS SECTION. ACGIH Dept. G. 6500 Glenway Ave.. Bldg. 0-5. Cincinnati. OH 45211 (513) 661-7881 1,310 men who constituted the origi nal study population, 38 could not be Send me___ copies of Volume 1 @ $90.00 ea. * --_ copies of Volume 2 <8 $60.00 ea. $_ ___ copies of Volume 3 fi $85.00 ea. $_ Ohio residents add applicable sales tax $. Payment enclosed Bill me (amount) $. .total Charge: MasterCard O Visa Card No_____________ . Exp. Date. Signature______________________________________ .Date. Also send more information on: Vol. 4 O Vol. 5 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 follow-up (three cancers: lung, stomach and larynx). Meanwhile, 66 men died in the unex posed cohort (10 cancers). Table 1 Name___ Affiliation-- Address-- City_____ 730 _StateZip_______ PS0TCJ?NOTICE) THIS MATERIAL MAY BE rateHI IAW (TITLE 17 U.S. CODE). ^ COPYRIGHT LAW ( shows the deaths observed in the VCM-exposed and unexposed cohorts, age-adjusted relative risks, and con rfidoence intervals* uoif mthe relative risk J, tPc&vr AfroM , CMA 006091 / as of Jan. 31, 1981. The excess of mortality due to cancers of the diges tive system in the exposed group persisted (RR 3.10,confidence interval 1.61-5.96) whereas there is no excess in the other causes of death. Table 2 shows the standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for the ex posed workers in comparison with the entire population of the Province of Quebec. Again, a significant excess is noted for cancer of the digestive sys tem only. No other cancers are in excess. The expected numbers of lung cancers was 7.05, the number observed was three (SMR 42.55). Even though this follow-up study covers an observa tion period three years longer than the previous one, the number of person- 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 association with VCM exposure. Giles Theriault, M.D., Or. Ph. Department de Medecine Sociale et Preventive Universite Laval Cite Universitaire Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4 AOMA/AAOM New Address The address of the head quarters office of the American Occupational Medical Associa tion/American Academy of Oc cupational Medicine is now 2340 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 Cases Exposed Unexposed Relative Risk 95S Confidence Interval of the Relative Risk All cancers (140-209) 23 64 1.01 1.00-1.02 Mouth and pharynx (140-149) 0 2-- - Digestive (150-159) 15 14 3.10 1.61 -5.96* Respiratory (160-163) 4 24 0.49 0.12-1.93 Bone, skin, connective (170-173) 2 3 1.13 0.38-3.36 Urogenital (185-189) 1 8 0.57 0.10-3.10 Eye, CNS (190-192) 0 2- - Leukemia (200-209) 1 . 4 1.15 0.07 - 26.13 Others cancers 0 7-- Cardiovascular (390-458) 30 150 0.72 0.49-1.05 Respiratory (460-519) 7 21 1.97 0.51-7.65 Digestive (520-577) 4 12 1.27 0.29-5.49 Accidents and violence (800-999) 2 15 0.83 0.68-1.02 Others (3 age unknown) 7 37 0.94 0.69-1.27 TOTAL 73 299 0.92 0.80-1.06 * p 0.05 Table 2 - Observed end Expected Numbers of Deaths in the VCM-Exposed Cohort end Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) Cause of Death Obsorvtd Expocted SMR All cancers (140-209) 23 21.47 107.13 Mouth and pharynx Oigestive Respiratory Bono, skin, connective Urogenital Eye, CNS Leukemia Others cancers (140-149) (150-159) (160-163) (170-173) (185-189) (190-192) (200-209) 0 15 4 2 1 0 1 0 0.81 0 7,17 20961* 7.69 52.02 0.50 400.02 1.90 100.53 067 0.0 2.07 4861 0.71 06 Cardiovascular (390458) 30 4163 71.72 Respiratory (460-519) 7 468 15962 Digestive (520-577) 4 463 8262 Accidents and violence (800-999) 2 11.69 17.11** Others 7 665 102.19 TOTAL 73 91.09 80.14 * p < 0.05 p < 0.01 Letters to the Editor CMA 006092 731