MORTALITY FROM SCROTAL CANCER IN METAL MACHINISTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1979-80 AND 1982-90

The hazard of scrotal cancer from cutting oils was first recognized in the 1950s, and led to various control measures including the introduc tion of solvent refined oils, use of splash guards, provision of prote ctive clothing and washing facilities and education of workers to enco urage early detection and treatment of tumours. To assess how effectiv e these controls have been, we have analyzed occupational mortality fr om scrotal cancer in England and Wales during 1979-80 and 1982-90. Ove r this 11-year period 85 deaths were attributed to the disease in men aged 20-74. This represents a reduction in mortality from the 1960s. S ignificantly elevated proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) were found in press and machine tool setters (PMR 1,678, five deaths), centre lat he turners (PMR 1,099, three deaths) and machine tool operators (PMR 3 03, eight deaths), but all of the metal machinists who died of scrotal cancer had been born before 1930, and could have worked with cutting oils before controls were introduced. These findings are reassuring, b ut continued monitoring oi scrotal cancer incidence and mortality is r equired.