Mortality surveillance of a US wide cohort of chemical industry workers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the mortality for an occupational cohort and discuss its suitability as an internal comparison population.


METHODS
The study included 114,683 employees who worked at 1 of 25 US locations between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 2005. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on US rates.


RESULTS
The SMRs were significantly favorable for all causes, malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and external causes. The most common cancer sites were lung in men (SMR = 83, 95% CI = 80 to 86), and breast in women (SMR = 94, 95% CI = 80 to 111).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the mortality rates were favorable and robust. Discussed within are topics of historical concern at specific locations that may influence the cohort's appropriateness for future studies.
Burns
Carol J
CJ
Epidemiology Department, The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA. cburns@dow.com
Bodner
Ken M
KM
Jammer
Brenda L
BL
Collins
James J
JJ
Swaen
Gerard H
GH
D002423:Cause of Death; D002617:Chemical Industry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology