Analysis of episodes of care in a perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride production facility.
The observed to expected episodes of care experience of 652 employees at a fluorochemical (perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride) production facility was compared with 659 film plant (nonfluorochemical) employees at the same site (Decatur, AL). Episodes of care were defined by a hierarchical analysis of health claims data from 1993 through 1998. The age- and sex-adjusted expected number of episodes of care was calculated from the company's U.S. manufacturing workforce. For a priori interests, the observed to expected episodes of care ratios were comparable for fluorochemical and film plant employees for liver tumors or diseases, bladder cancer, thyroid and lipid metabolism disorders, and reproductive, pregnancy, and perinatal disorders and higher for biliary tract disorders and cystitis recurrence. Non-a priori associations among the fluorochemical plant workers included benign colon polyps, malignant colorectal tumors, and malignant melanoma.
3M Medical Company, Medical Department, St. Paul, Minnesota 55144, USA. gwolsen@mmm.com
Geary W
GW
Olsen
Michele M
MM
Burlew
Julia C
JC
Marshall
Jean M
JM
Burris
Jeffrey H
JH
Mandel
D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002210:Caprylates / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002617:Chemical Industry; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace
D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; D005459:Fluorides