MORTALITY FROM PANCREATIC AND LYMPHOPOIETIC CANCER AMONG WORKERS IN ETHYLENE AND PROPYLENE CHLOROHYDRIN PRODUCTION

Objectives-A previous study reported a fivefold increase in mortality from pancreatic cancer and a threefold increase in lymphopoietic and h aematopoietic cancer among 278 men who were assigned to a now dismantl ed Union Carbide chlorohydrin unit in the Kanawha Valley of West Virgi nia. There were also significant trends with duration of employment. T he purpose of this study was to determine whether a comparable increas ed risk in mortality from pancreatic cancer and lymphopoietic and haem atopoietic cancer occurred among male employees assigned to the Dow Ch emical Company's ethylene and propylene chlorohydrin production proces ses. Methods-The cohort consisted of 1361 male employees who worked at the company's Freeport, Texas, Plaquemine, Louisiana or Midland, Mich igan plants. Subjects were considered to have had a minimum of 30 days of workplace experience in 1940-92, in the ethylene chlorohydrin and propylene chlorohydrin process areas. These process areas were located within the ethylene oxide and propylene oxide production plants. A to tal of 300 deaths was observed to 31 December 1992. Results-The standa rdised mortality ratio (SMR) for all malignant neoplasms was 94 (95% C I 74 to 118). There was one pancreatic cancer death compared with 4.0 expected (SMR 25, 95% CI 1 to 140). There were 10 lymphopoietic and ha ematopoietic cancer deaths compared with 7.7 expected (SMR 129, 95% CI 62 to 238). Additional analyses, which examined location, production process, duration of employment, and a 25 year induction latency perio d, were not significant. Conclusions-The results provide some assuranc e that the Dow Chemical cohort, to date, has not experienced increased risks of pancreatic cancer and lymphopoietic and haematopoietic cance r as previously reported in a different cohort of chlorohydrin workers . Possible reasons are discussed for the inconsistent findings between the two cohorts.