Cause-Specific Mortality in the Unionized U.S. Trucking Industry

Details

• Personal Author:
  Davis ME ; Garshick E ; Hart JE ; Laden F ; Smith, Thomas J. ; Davis ME ; Garshick E ; Hart JE ; Laden F ; Smith, Thomas J.
• Description:
  Background: Occupational and population-based studies have related exposure to fine particulate air pollution, and specifically particulate matter from vehicle exhausts, to cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. Objectives: We have established a large retrospective cohort to assess mortality in the unionized U.S. trucking industry. To provide insight into mortality patterns associated with job-specific exposures, we examined rates of cause-specific mortality compared with the general U.S. population. Methods: We used records from four national trucking companies to identify 54,319 male employees employed in 1985. Cause-specific mortality was assessed through 2000 using the National Death Index. Expected numbers of all and cause-specific deaths were calculated stratifying by race, 10-year age group, and calendar period using U.S. national reference rates. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the entire cohort and by job title. Results: As expected in a working population, we found a deficit in overall and all-cancer mortality, likely due to the healthy worker effect. In contrast, compared with the general U.S. population, we observed elevated rates for lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, and transport-related accidents. Lung cancer rates were elevated among all drivers (SMR = 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19) and dockworkers (SMR = 1.10; 95% CI, 0.94-1.30); ischemic heart disease was also elevated among these groups of workers [drivers, SMR = 1.49 (95% CI, 1.40-1.59); dockworkers, SMR = 1.32 (95% CI, 1.15-1.52)], as well as among shop workers (SMR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05-1.72). Conclusions: In this detailed assessment of specific job categories in the U.S. trucking industry, we found an excess of mortality due to lung cancer and ischemic heart disease, particularly among drivers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Environmental Exposure Lung Lung Diseases Men Morbidity Mortality Neoplasms Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Vehicle Emissions

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• Keywords:
  Accidents Air Pollutants Air Pollution Author Keywords: Diesel Cancer Cardiovascular System Disorders Diesel Emissions Diesel Exhaust Diesel Exhausts Emission Sources Exhaust Gases Exposure Levels Heart Heart Disease Humans Ischemic Heart Disease Lung Cancer Morbidity Rates Mortality Mortality Rates Occupation Particulates Risk Factors Statistical Analysis Traffic Exposure Truck Drivers Trucking Trucking Industry

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• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maine ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  115
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057357
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2007 Aug; 115(8):1192-1196
• Contact Point Address:
  Francine Laden, Channing, Laboratory, 181 Longwood Ave., Boston MA 02115
• Email:
  Francine.Laden@channing.harvard.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3a4ccc9e3d7ad2d3ee90d80cdf781d86dec62a345b2f2b917f367a8ecb0027edd5e207d19f2e68d5ce59cccb5af0d4d12bd0305b63e96ecd4a88ee86bae0c76
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214740/cdc_214740_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 137.40 KB ]