Industry-wide study of mortality of pulp and paper mill workers

Genevieve M. Matanoski, Sukon Kanchanaraksa, Peter S.J. Lees, Xu Guang Tao, Richard Royall, Marcie Francis, Deborah Lantry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

A study of pulp and paper mill workers indicated low risks of death from all causes (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 0.74) and all cancers (SMR = 0.81) compared with U.S. rates. The leukemia death rate in workers was not higher than the U.S. rate but was higher than the rate in county populations surrounding mills. Workers whose last jobs were in the finishing areas of the mills had an elevated SMR for liver cancer. An internal comparison of occupational characteristics indicated that workers employed in mills using other chemical pulping operations had significantly elevated mortality from all causes, all cancers, heart disease, lymphomas, and brain cancers. Lung cancer mortality was elevated in mills using kraft pulping. The internal comparisons confirmed the association between work in finishing and the risk of liver cancer. This study was designed to investigate whether pulp and paper mill workers have any risks that would indicate the need for studies detailing exposures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)354-365
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume33
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

Keywords

  • Cohort study
  • Liver cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Mortality
  • Pulp and paper industry
  • SMR

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Industry-wide study of mortality of pulp and paper mill workers'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this