Follow-up study among model and pattern makers in an automobile company in the Federal Republic of Germany.
The follow-up of a cohort of 528 model makers and a control group of 2273 tool makers shows an unusual pattern of mortality in the model makers' cohort. In contrast to the usual ranking, malignant neoplasms are the most frequent group of cause of death followed by diseases of the cardiovascular system. The rate ratio (RR) for malignant tumors is significantly increased among model makers compared with tool makers RR = 1.8, (95% confidence level [CL] = 1.3-2.7). The sites affected by excess cancer were stomach, the genitourinary organs, and the brain. In contrast to other studies, no tumors of the large intestine have been observed. Furthermore, there is a remarkable underrepresentation of tumors of the respiratory organs. Because these results are based on a rather small number of cases, further follow-up of the cohort is warranted to draw more profound conclusions.
Becker
N
N
German Cancer Research Center, Institute of Epidemiology and Biometry, Heidelberg.
Kuhn
G
G
Marschall
B
B
Angerer
R
R
Frentzel-Beyme
R
R
Wahrendorf
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001336:Automobiles; D015982:Bias; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005860:Germany, West / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality*