Mortality updates (1970-1997) of two refinery/petrochemical plant cohorts at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Baytown, Texas.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study is to update mortality experience at refinery/petrochemical plant facilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Baytown, Texas.


METHODS
Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for 1970-1997 based on death rates in the respective states.


RESULTS
SMRs are near or below unity for most causes of death. Among elevations, Baton Rouge has an SMR of 2.42 (95% CI = 1.16-4.45) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1.58 (95% CI = 1.17-2.08) for hypertension with heart disease, and 1.47 (95% CI = 0.98-2.11) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Baytown has an SMR of 2.13 (95% CI = 1.10-3.73) for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and 3.11 (95% CI = 1.01-7.26) for unspecified brain/spinal cord neoplasms. The above findings pertain to pre-1950 hires and exhibit no apparent job-related patterns. Both cohorts have approximately twofold increases in mesothelioma deaths, similar to the last update, with most decedents having held maintenance jobs.


CONCLUSIONS
Periodic examination of mortality patterns has an important role in assessing overall employee health status and identifying potential areas of increased risk. Mortality surveillance will continue to monitor these outcomes among more recent workers.
Huebner
Wendy W
WW
Epidemiology and Health Surveillance, ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc., 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ 08801-0971, USA. wendy.w.huebner@exxonmobil.com
Wojcik
Nancy C
NC
Rosamilia
Kim
K
Jorgensen
Gail
G
Milano
Celia A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology