Historical cohort study of 10 109 men in the North American vinyl chloride industry, 1942–72: update of cancer mortality to 31 December 1995

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 57; no. 11; pp. 774 - 781
• Main Authors: Mundt, K A, Dell, L D, Austin, R P, Luippold, R S, Noess, R, Bigelow, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01-11-2000; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; angiosarcoma; Biliary tract; Biliary Tract Neoplasms - chemically induced; Biliary Tract Neoplasms - mortality; Biological and medical sciences; brain; Brain neoplasms; Brain Neoplasms - chemically induced; Brain Neoplasms - mortality; Cancer; Carcinogens - adverse effects; Cause of Death; Chlorides; Cohort Studies; connective tissue; Connective tissues; Death; Epidemiology; Hemangiosarcoma; Hemangiosarcoma - chemically induced; Hemangiosarcoma - epidemiology; Humans; Liver; Liver cancer; Liver Neoplasms - chemically induced; Liver Neoplasms - mortality; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mortality; neoplasms; Neoplasms - chemically induced; Neoplasms - mortality; North America; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Occupational Diseases - mortality; soft tissue; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - chemically induced; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - mortality; Tumors; United States - epidemiology; vinyl chloride; Vinyl Chloride - adverse effects; Canada; United States; North America; America; Human; Biliary tract; Sarcoma; Toxicity; Liver; Mortality; Cardiovascular disease; Hepatic disease; Malignant tumor; Biliary tract disease; Angiosarcoma; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Case history; Vascular disease; Cohort study; Digestive diseases; Ethylene(chloro); Occupational medicine; Public health
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.57.11.774

OBJECTIVES To update and assess mortality from neoplasms to 31 December 1995 among 10 109 men employed in a job exposed to vinyl chloride for at least 1 year between 1942 and 1972 at any of 37 North American factories. Previous analyses indicated associations between employment in vinyl production and increased mortality risk from cancers of the liver and biliary tract, due to increased mortality from angiosarcoma of the liver, and brain cancer. METHODS Standardised mortality ratio (SMR) analyses, overall and stratified by several work related variables, were conducted with United States and state reference rates. Cox's proportional hazards models and stratified log rank tests were used to further assess occupational factors. RESULTS 895 of 3191 deaths (28%) were from malignant neoplasms, 505 since the previous update to the end of 1982. Mortality from all causes showed a deficit (SMR 83, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 80 to 86), whereas mortality from all cancers combined was similar to state referent rates. Mortality from cancers of the liver and biliary tract was clearly increased (SMR 359, 95% CI 284 to 446). Modest excesses of brain cancer (SMR 142, 95% CI 100 to 197) and cancer of connective and soft tissue (SMR 270, 95% CI 139 to 472) were found. Stratified SMR and Cox's proportional hazard analyses supported associations with age at first exposure, duration of exposure, and year of first exposure for cancers of the liver and soft tissues, but not the brain. CONCLUSIONS Excess mortality risk from cancer of the liver and biliary tract, largely due to angiosarcoma, continues. Risk of mortality from brain cancer has attenuated, but its relation with exposure to vinyl chloride remains unclear. A potentially work related excess of deaths from cancer of connective and soft tissue was found for the first time, but was based on few cancers of assorted histology.