Lung cancer and the petroleum industry in Louisiana

Abstract

Death certificates from the period 1960 to 1975 for Louisiana were surveyed for lung cancer deaths and noncancer deaths among people employed in petroleum mining and refining to determine if there were specific occupations within this industry associated with a higher risk of lung cancer. Workers employed as welders, operators, boilermakers, and painters and oilfield workers had the greatest risks. Oil field miners born outside Louisiana had a higher risk than native-born miners. Occupation as listed on death certificates provides a rapid means of identifying those with high risk, as a large part of the population can be rapidly screened, covering employees in many industries.