MORTALITY OF A COHORT OF US WORKERS EMPLOYED IN THE CRUSHED STONE INDUSTRY, 1940-1980

The mortality of 3,246 males who had been employed 1 or more years dur ing 1940-1980 at 20 crushed stone operations was evaluated for possibl e association between employment and death from lung cancer, pneumocon iosis, and other respiratory diseases. Four deaths were attributed to pneumoconiosis. Based on available work histories, at least two of the se deaths were probably due to dust exposures in the crushed stone ind ustry. Mortality attributed to pneumoconiosis and other nonmalignant r espira tory diseases, including chronic obstructive lung disease, was significantly increased overall (SMR: 1.98; 95%CI: 1.21-3.05), and esp ecially so for a subcohort of crushed stone workers that processed gra nite (SMR: 7.26; 95%CI: 1.97-18.59). With regard to lung cancer, overa ll SMRs were elevated (although not statistically significant). Analyz ed by rock type, there was a significantly elevated lung cancer SMR am ong granite workers with at least 20 years latency (SMR: 3.35; 95%CI: 1.34-6.90). Although not definitive, results of this study are consist ent with the hypothesis that exposure to respirable silica dust is a r isk factor for lung cancer. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.