[Also see: PVC: A Health Hazard From Production through Disposal Paul Goettlich 25oct01]
JOEM 45:5 pp 533-537 MAY 2003
Richard Lewis, MD, MPH, Grzegorz Rempala, PhD, Linda D. Dell, MS, Kenneth A. Mundt, PhD
Studies of overlapping cohorts in the United States have shown an excess mortality from brain cancer in vinyl chloride (VC)-exposed workers. One plant located in Louisville, Kentucky, is included in many of these studies. We separated this plant from the large US cohort and re-analyzed the mortality experience. Louisville experienced significantly elevated liver (standardized mortality analyses [SMR] = 400) and brain cancer (SMR = 229) mortality. Liver cancer mortality remained significantly elevated (SMR = 344) in the remaining cohort; however, brain cancer mortality was markedly reduced (SMR = 112) when Louisville was removed. In contrast with liver cancer, a preliminary review of work assignments did not suggest that the brain cancer excess was related to VC exposure. The Louisville brain cancer cluster has had a significant impact on the reported literature. Although unrelated to VC, the cause of this cluster remains uncertain.
Correspondence:
Richard Lewis, MD, MPH
Director of Occupational Health
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
Email: lewisr3@ccf.org
http://www.acoem.org/journal/fullabstract.asp?NEWS_ISSUE_ID=1182
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