Mortality among workers exposed to acrylonitrile in fiber production: an update.
OBJECTIVE
The investigation updates the mortality experience through 2002 for a cohort of workers exposed to acrylonitrile (AN).


METHODS
Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were estimated based on two reference populations: the US population and a regional employee population. Exposure-response analyses were conducted using Cox regression models for cumulative and mean intensity exposure measures.


RESULTS
In the cohort of 2548 workers, 839 deaths have occurred with 91 deaths due to respiratory system cancer. Most standardized mortality ratio estimates are at or near no-effects levels. Hazard ratio (HR) estimates indicate no increased mortality risk for respiratory system cancer (adjusted HR = 0.96, 95% confidence interval: 0.74, 1.25).


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, no mortality outcome of a priori interest, principally respiratory system cancer, is associated with increased AN exposure among fiber production workers over five decades of follow-up.
Symons
J Morel
JM
Epidemiology Program, DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences, EI du Pont de Nemours and Company, Newark, Delaware 19714, USA. J-Morel.Symons@usa.dupont.com
Kreckmann
Kim H
KH
Sakr
Carine J
CJ
Kaplan
A Michael
AM
Leonard
Robin C
RC
D000181:Acrylonitrile / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002423:Cause of Death; D002617:Chemical Industry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015989:Healthy Worker Effect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012142:Respiratory Tract Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D014768:Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology
D002273:Carcinogens; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D000181:Acrylonitrile