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

Details

• Personal Author:
  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
  More +
• Keywords:
  • Trucking
  • Truck drivers
  • Mortality rates
  • Morbidity rates
  • Exposure levels
  • Exhaust gases
  • Emission sources
  • Risk factors
  • Particulates
  • Cardiovascular system disorders
  More +
• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maine ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  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
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214740/cdc_214740_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 137.40 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3a4ccc9e3d7ad2d3ee90d80cdf781d86dec62a345b2f2b917f367a8ecb0027edd5e207d19f2e68d5ce59cccb5af0d4d12bd0305b63e96ecd4a88ee86bae0c76