Mortality among workers exposed to coal tar pitch volatiles and welding emissions: an exercise in epidemiologic triage.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Maizlish N ; Mirer F ; Park R ; Silverstein M
• Description:
  A survey of mortality in workers exposed to coal-tar-pitch (61789604) volatiles and welding fumes was conducted. The cohort consisted of all members of a United Automobile Workers union local ever employed at a metal stamping factory near Kalamazoo, Michigan, who died between January 1, 1966 and December 31, 1982. The number of deaths was determined by a procedure that linked union pension records with the State of Michigan computerized death registry. Standardized proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were calculated. Company air monitoring data was reviewed. Personnel records were obtained for some of the deceased subjects. Ninety eight deaths were found. Death certificates were found for 94. Of these, 91 were white males, 2 black males, and 1 white female. The overall mortality due to cancer was nearly twice that expected, PMR 189. Two to 5 fold excess proportional mortality from cancer of the digestive organs, lung cancer, and leukemia accounted for most of the overall cancer excess. Strong associations were found between lung and digestive organ cancer and employment as maintenance welders or millwrights. High concentrations of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, on the order of 1 to 500 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3), were found during coal-tar application to wood block floors. These were substantially reduced when new tar pots were introduced, the concentrations now ranging from nondetectable to health decision making is discussed. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Lung Lung Diseases Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Toxicology
• Keywords:
  Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Gas-detectors Health-standards Industrial-hazards Lung-irritants Lung-lesions Occupational-exposure
• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  75
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00161394
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 1985 Nov; 75(11):1283-1287
• Contact Point Address:
  Michael Silverstein, MD, MPH, UAW Health and Safety Department, 8000 E. Jefferson, Detroit, MI 48214
• CAS Registry Number:
  Pitch (CAS RN 61789-60-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1986
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:573dbf33d51787385fb741420daebc148855e35f217fa3bb62098c4e8362ec7e7953fc7beaf8a5a8b3a7ec6fdb399d35670791880a5a2e88e91f38c2dad2d432
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/184975/cdc_184975_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.03 MB ]