RETROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF FOUNDRY AND ENGINE PLANT WORKERS

A retrospective follow-up study of 21,013 workers employed at a foundr y and two engine manufacturing plants was conducted to determine if th ese workers had an unusual mortality experience. A total of 2,235 deat hs occurred during the follow-up period of 1970-1987. Mortality from a ll causes was lower than expected. Men experienced a 6-13% excess of l ung cancer deaths, depending on the choice of the comparison group. Th e data displayed evidence of a positive trend between lung cancer mort ality and increasing duration of employment (p = 0.008). White men exp erienced a statistically significant excess of deaths from stomach can cer (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 158; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 101-234). Black men had increased mortality from pancreatic ca ncer, especially among engine plant workers (SMR = 303; CI = 121-624), and an excess of prostate cancer, concentrated among foundry workers (SMR = 234; CI = 112-430). (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.