Mortality patterns among electrical workers employed in the US construction industry, 1982-1987

Background Studies of electrical workers in the utility and manufacturing i ndustries have reported excess site-specific cancer. No previous studies of electrical workers in the construction industry have been conducted. Methods Our study evaluated the mortality patterns of 31,068 U.S. members o f the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who primarily worked in the construction industry and died 1982-1987. Results Comparison to the U.S. population by using the NIOSH life table sho wed significantly elevated proportionate mortality far many causes. Excess mortality far leukemia (proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) = 115) and brai n tumors (PMR = 136) is similar to reports of electrical workers with occup ational exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the electric utility or manufacturing industry. Excess deaths due to melanoma skin cancer (PMR = 1 23) are consistent with findings of other PCB-exposed workers. A significan tly elevated PMR was observed for the diseases caused by asbestos: lung can cer (PMR = 117) asbestosis (PMR = 247), and malignant mesothelioma (PMR = 3 56) and from fatal injuries, particularly electrocutions (PMR = 1180). The findings of statistically significant excess deaths for prostate cancer (PM R = 107), musculoskeletal disease (PMR = 130), suicide (PMR = 113), and dis orders of the blood forming organs (PMR = 141) were unexpected. Conclusion Results suggest that more detailed investigations of occupationa l risk factors and evaluation of preventive practices are needed to prevent excess mortality in this hazardous occupation. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc(dagger).