Unusual mortality experience of printing pressmen
Lloyd, J.W.; Decoufle, P.; Salvin, L.G.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association 19(8): 543-550
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-1736 PMID: 894377 Document Number: 110867
Causes of death for 2604 members of a union representing printing pressmen were analyzed using the method of proportionate mortality to identify disease conditions occurring with unusual frequency that might be indicative of exposure to hazardous substances in the work environment. Deceased union members were identified from death benefit fund records over the period 1966-1968 and subdivided according to type of printing, i.e., newspaper or commercial. Comparisons were made with the mortality experience of USA white males on 1967. Among newspaper pressmen, there was a striking increase in deaths from cancer of the oral cavity at ages under 55, the average age at death being 46.7. An overall excess of 61% was found for cirrhosis of the liver in the newspaper group. Commercial pressmen exhibited a consistent pattern of elevated mortality from coronary heart disease that was evident in each geographic region and in both young and old union members. Significant excesses in deaths from pancreatic cancer at ages 20-54 and rectal cancer at ages over 65 were observed among commercial pressmen. Although no unusual mortality from nonmalignant respiratory diseases was seen based on underlying cause of death, newspaper pressmen did have a greater prevalence at death of emphysema when compared to commercial pressmen. A small, nonsignificant increase was noted for cancer of the lung and bronchus in both newspaper and commercial pressmen. Mortality from leukemia was slightly greater than expectation among newspaper pressmen, but not among commercial pressmen.