MORTALITY AMONG EMPLOYEES AT A PLASTICS AND RESINS RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

Objectives-The study was undertaken to update a previous study of empl oyees from a resins and plastics research and development facility and to further examine the mortality of these employees with particular e mphasis on deaths due to pancreatic cancer. Methods-This retrospective cohort study examined mortality from 1962 to 1992 for 257 men who wer e employed for at least one year during a 14 year period from 1962 to 1975 at a plastics and resins research and development facility. Durin g the operative period, the primary activities involved applications a nd process development for polypropylene, polystyrene, epoxy resins, a nd to a lesser extent high density polyethylene. Results-The cohort wa s young and was followed up for an average of 26 years. Although morta lity for all causes among employees who worked at least one year at th is facility was low (standardised mortality, ratio (SMR) 0.74), the de ath rate from cancer was moderately higher than that of the general po pulation (14 observed and 9.4 expected deaths), There were four observ ed and 0.5 expected deaths from pancreatic cancer among men who worked at this facility for at least one year, which resulted in a statistic ally increased SMR of 8.88 (95% confidence interval 2.42-22.74). All c ases of pancreatic cancer had ''laboratory') jobs, and their ages at d eath were relatively young compared with deaths in the general populat ion from pancreatic cancer. Lung cancer mortality was high but not sig nificant with seven observed and 3.5 expected deaths. There were no de aths due to non-malignant respiratory disease (1.9 expected). Conclusi ons-The increased cancer mortality was entirely due to excess deaths f rom pancreatic and lung cancers, No causative agent or process for the se-cases of pancreatic cancer has been identified. This study shows no increased colorectal cancer mortality as was found among another grou p of workers involved in the manufacture of polypropylene.