Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-90-337-2290, Birmingham News Company, Birmingham, Alabama.
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 90-337-2290, 1993 Feb; :1-11
Abstract
In response to a request from the Graphic Communications International Union Local 55N, an evaluation was begun of a cancer cluster among pressmen at the Birmingham News Company (SIC-2711), Birmingham, Alabama. There were 181 current or former pressmen who had been ever employed by the company; of these, 40 had died. The total number of deaths was not different from that which would have been expected, 40 versus 42, for the study period. Breaking the deaths into 12 categories revealed excess levels in nine of the categories and lower than expected levels in three. However, in no case was the difference statistically significant. There were seven respiratory system cancer deaths while the expected was three. All seven were due to lung or bronchus cancer. No deaths due to cancer of the blood or lymphatic system were reported. Two deaths were the result of cancer of the urinary organs. The most common cause of death among these workers was heart disease which accounted for 11 of the 40 deaths. This was still less than the expected 17 deaths from heart disease. The author concludes that, although there were no statistically significant findings, these workers may have a decreased risk of death due to heart disease and an increased risk of death from respiratory system cancer. Cigarette smoking may have been a contributing factor.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-90-337-2290; Hazard-Unconfirmed; Region-4; Lung-cancer; Cancer-rates; Mortality-surveys; Newspapers; Printing-industry;
Document Type
Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance
NTIS Accession No.
PB94-162989
Identifying No.
HETA-90-337-2290
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
