An update on mortality among workers at a 1,3-butadiene facility--preliminary results

Abstract

This is a cohort study of 2582 male workers employed at least 6 months between 1943 and 1979 at a 1,3-butadiene manufacturing facility. An earlier report on mortality through 1979 found a statistically significant deficit for all causes of death and lower than expected mortality for most of the leading causes of death. However, there was a statistically significant excess of deaths from lymphosarcoma. This report is a preliminary update of cohort information through 1985 and also a reanalysis of mortality. The all-causes standardized mortality ratio is 84 and that for all cancers is 80. These are statistically significant deficits; significant deficits were also seen for all cancer of the digestive system and all external causes of death. One additional death from lymphosarcoma was observed during the extended follow-up period giving a statistically significant standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of 229. The increase was concentrated in those employed less than 10 years and in those first employed before 1946. No increase was seen overall for leukemia (SMR = 102).