Surveillance for angiosarcoma of the liver among vinyl chloride workers.
OBJECTIVE
We report the results of our angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL) registry to assess the occurrence, the impact of exposures to vinyl chloride, and to quantify latency.


METHODS
We examined more than 73,000 death certificates of North American workers employed between 1940 and 2008.


RESULTS
We found 13 deaths of ASL among workers with vinyl chloride exposure. All 13 occurred at single plant among workers with high vinyl chloride exposure. The mean latency after first exposure was 36.5 years ranging from 24 to 56 years. No ASL deaths occurred among workers with vinyl chloride exposures after 1974, when exposures were reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
We may have seen the last case of ASL among workers exposed to vinyl chloride. Nevertheless, given the long latency of this cancer, continued surveillance seems prudent.
From The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich.
James J
JJ
Collins
Brenda
B
Jammer
Frank M
FM
Sladeczek
Catherine M
CM
Bodnar
Sergio S
SS
Salomon
D003644:Death Certificates; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors; D014752:Vinyl Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*
D014752:Vinyl Chloride