MORTALITY AMONG NEW-YORK-STATE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKERS - 1958-1980

The mortality profile of 9585 male New York State Department of Transp ortation (NYSDOT) highway maintenance workers was examined by calculat ing age-era standard mortality ratios (SMRs), using the general male p opulation of upstate New York as a reference group, for the period 195 8-1980. The SMR for all workers was 1.14 (95% CI = 1.09, 1.18), with t he greatest all-cause mortality among laborers (SMR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1 .16, 1.29). The major contributors to this increase among laborers wer e circulatory system diseases (SMR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.10; 1.27), disea ses of the respiratory system (SMR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.64), diges tive system diseases (SMR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.26, 1.94), genitourinary system diseases (SMR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.41) and accidents, poiso n, and violence (SMR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.19, 1.74). Some of the elevate d risks observed may be attributed to cigarette smoking and other life style factors that could not be assessed with the data available. Howe ver, the mortality risks for laborers increased with length of employm ent and latency, suggesting that occupational exposures may be contrib uting to the elevated risk in this cohort. Further studies should incl ude information on life-style variables and other confounders as well as more detail on specific occupational exposures.