title: Primary brain tumor mortality at a petroleum exploration and extraction research facility.
abstract: A cohort mortality study was conducted among 3,779 employees at a petroleum exploration and extraction research facility to evaluate workplace exposures and brain tumor risk. Deaths were identified by searches against the National Death Index, Social Security Administration, and California state mortality files. Work histories were classified by job titles, laboratory activity, and company division. Eleven brain tumor deaths were observed among the cohort (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] 1.8; 95% confidence interval = 0.9-3.2). SMR analyses for scientists, employment in laboratory work, and in the research division were not associated with an increased brain tumor SMR, whereas an increased SMR was observed for administrative and nonresearch employees. Although conclusions are limited by the small study population and lack of specific exposure data, these findings were not consistent with an occupational explanation for the observed brain tumor cluster.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA. pab@berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Buffler
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelsh
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golembesky
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalmes
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brorby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D010578:Petroleum