Skip to main content
PMC home page
Occupational and Environmental Medicine logoLink to Occupational and Environmental Medicine
. 1996 May;53(5):289–298. doi: 10.1136/oem.53.5.289

Cancer mortality among workers in the German rubber industry: 1981-91.

S K Weiland 1, K A Mundt 1, U Keil 1, B Kraemer 1, T Birk 1, M Person 1, A M Bucher 1, K Straif 1, J Schumann 1, L Chambless 1
PMCID: PMC1128470  PMID: 8673175

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cancer specific mortality of active and retired workers of the German rubber industry with emphasis on cancer sites which have been associated with the rubber industry in previous studies. METHODS: A cohort of 11,663 German men was followed up for mortality from 1 January 1981 to 31 December 1991. Cohort members were active (n = 7536) or retired (n = 4127) at the beginning of the study, and had been employed for at least one year in one of five study plants producing types or general rubber goods. Vital status was ascertained for 99.7% of the cohort members, and cause of death found for 96.8% of the 2719 decedents. Age and calendar year adjusted standardised mortality ratios (SMR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated overall from national reference rates and stratified by year of hire and by years since hire. RESULTS: Mortalities from all causes (SMR 108; 95% CI 104-112) and all cancers (SMR 111; 95% CI 103-119) were significantly increased in the study cohort. Significant excesses in the mortalities from lung cancer (SMR 130; 95% CI 115-147) and pleural cancer (SMR 401; 95% CI 234-642) were identified. SMRs higher than 100 were found for cancers of the pharynx (SMR 144; 95% CI 76-246), oesophagus (SMR 120; 95% CI 74-183), stomach (SMR 110; 95% CI 86-139), rectum (SMR 123; 95% CI 86-170), larynx (SMR 129; 95% CI 69-221), prostate (SMR 108; 95% CI 84-136), and bladder (SMR 124; 95% CI 86-172), as well as for leukaemia (SMR 148; 95% CI 99-213). Mortalities from liver cancer, brain cancer, and lymphoma were lower than expected. CONCLUSIONS: Mortalities from cancer of several sites previously associated with the rubber industry were also increased among workers of the German rubber industry. Results of the stratified analyses are consistent with a role of occupational exposure in the aetiology of some of these cancers.

Full text

PDF
289

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andjelkovich D., Taulbee J., Blum S. Mortality of female workers in rubber manufacturing plant. J Occup Med. 1978 Jun;20(6):409–413. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Andjelkovich D., Taulbee J., Symons M., Williams T. Mortality of rubber workers with reference to work experience. J Occup Med. 1977 Jun;19(6):397–405. doi: 10.1097/00043764-197706000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Arp E. W., Jr, Wolf P. H., Checkoway H. Lymphocytic leukemia and exposures to benzene and other solvents in the rubber industry. J Occup Med. 1983 Aug;25(8):598–602. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bernardinelli L., de Marco R., Tinelli C. Cancer mortality in an Italian rubber factory. Br J Ind Med. 1987 Mar;44(3):187–191. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.3.187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Blot W. J., McLaughlin J. K., Winn D. M., Austin D. F., Greenberg R. S., Preston-Martin S., Bernstein L., Schoenberg J. B., Stemhagen A., Fraumeni J. F., Jr Smoking and drinking in relation to oral and pharyngeal cancer. Cancer Res. 1988 Jun 1;48(11):3282–3287. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bovet P., Lob M. La mortalité par tumeur maligne chez les ouvriers d'une fabrique de caoutchouc en Suisse. Etude épidémiologique, 1955-1975. Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1980 Aug 30;110(35):1277–1287. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Carlo G. L., Jablinske M. R., Lee N. L., Sund K. G., Corn M. Reduced mortality among workers at a rubber plant. J Occup Med. 1993 Jun;35(6):611–616. doi: 10.1097/00043764-199306000-00019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Checkoway H., Wilcosky T., Wolf P., Tyroler H. An evaluation of the associations of leukemia and rubber industry solvent exposures. Am J Ind Med. 1984;5(3):239–249. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700050307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Coggon D., Barker D. J., Cole R. B. Stomach cancer and work in dusty industries. Br J Ind Med. 1990 May;47(5):298–301. doi: 10.1136/oem.47.5.298. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Delzell E., Louik C., Lewis J., Monson R. R. Mortality and cancer morbidity among workers in the rubber tire industry. Am J Ind Med. 1981;2(3):209–216. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700020304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Delzell E., Monson R. R. Mortality among rubber workers. III. Cause-specific mortality, 1940-1978. J Occup Med. 1981 Oct;23(10):677–684. doi: 10.1097/00043764-198110000-00010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Fischbein A. Cancer mortality in a northern Italian cohort of rubber workers. Br J Ind Med. 1990 Jan;47(1):71–72. doi: 10.1136/oem.47.1.71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Fishbein L. Chemicals used in the rubber industry. An overview. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983;9 (Suppl 2):7–14. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gilbert E. S. Some confounding factors in the study of mortality and occupational exposures. Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Jul;116(1):177–188. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113392. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Gustavsson P., Hogstedt C., Holmberg B. Mortality and incidence of cancer among Swedish rubber workers, 1952-1981. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1986 Dec;12(6):538–544. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hemminki K. Reactions of methylnitrosourea, epichlorohydrin, styrene oxide and acetoxyacetylaminofluorene with polyamino acids. Carcinogenesis. 1983;4(1):1–3. doi: 10.1093/carcin/4.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Holmberg B., Westerholm P., Maasing R., Kestrup L., Gumaelius K., Holmlund L., Englund A. Retrospective cohort study of two plants in the Swedish rubber industry. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983;9 (Suppl 2):59–68. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Huebner W. W., Schoenberg J. B., Kelsey J. L., Wilcox H. B., McLaughlin J. K., Greenberg R. S., Preston-Martin S., Austin D. F., Stemhagen A., Blot W. J. Oral and pharyngeal cancer and occupation: a case-control study. Epidemiology. 1992 Jul;3(4):300–309. doi: 10.1097/00001648-199207000-00005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Keil U., Weiland S. K., Birk T., Spelsberg A. Epidemiologie der Risiken am Arbeitsplatz. Soz Praventivmed. 1992;37(2):50–63. doi: 10.1007/BF01322734. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Kilpikari I. Mortality among male rubber workers in Finland. Arch Environ Health. 1982 Sep-Oct;37(5):295–299. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1982.10667582. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kilpikari I., Pukkala E., Lehtonen M., Hakama M. Cancer incidence among Finnish rubber workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1982;51(1):65–71. doi: 10.1007/BF00378411. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kromhout H., Heederik D. Occupational epidemiology in the rubber industry: implications of exposure variability. Am J Ind Med. 1995 Feb;27(2):171–185. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700270203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. McMichael A. J., Andjelkovic D. A., Tyroler H. A. Cancer mortality among rubber workers: an epidemiologic study. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1976;271:125–137. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1976.tb23101.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. McMichael A. J., Spirtas R., Gamble J. F., Tousey P. M. Mortality among rubber workers: Relationship to specific jobs. J Occup Med. 1976 Mar;18(3):178–185. doi: 10.1097/00043764-197603000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. McMichael A. J., Spirtas R., Kupper L. L. An epidemiologic study of mortality within a cohort of rubber workers, 1964-72. J Occup Med. 1974 Jul;16(7):458–464. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. McMichael A. J., Spirtas R., Kupper L. L., Gamble J. F. Solvent exposure and leukemia among rubber workers: an epidemiologic study. J Occup Med. 1975 Apr;17(4):234–239. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Monson R. R., Nakano K. K. Mortality among rubber workers. I. White male union employees in Akron, Ohio. Am J Epidemiol. 1976 Mar;103(3):284–296. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112226. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Monson R. R., Nakano K. K. Mortality among rubber workers. II. Other employees. Am J Epidemiol. 1976 Mar;103(3):297–303. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112227. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Negri E., Piolatto G., Pira E., Decarli A., Kaldor J., La Vecchia C. Cancer mortality in a northern Italian cohort of rubber workers. Br J Ind Med. 1989 Sep;46(9):624–628. doi: 10.1136/oem.46.9.624. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Norseth T., Andersen A., Giltvedt J. Cancer incidence in the rubber industry in Norway. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983;9 (Suppl 2):69–71. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Nutt A. Rubber work and cancer--past, present and perspectives. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1983;9 (Suppl 2):49–57. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Parkes H. G., Veys C. A., Waterhouse J. A., Peters A. Cancer mortality in the British rubber industry. Br J Ind Med. 1982 Aug;39(3):209–220. doi: 10.1136/oem.39.3.209. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Ron E., Carter R., Jablon S., Mabuchi K. Agreement between death certificate and autopsy diagnoses among atomic bomb survivors. Epidemiology. 1994 Jan;5(1):48–56. doi: 10.1097/00001648-199401000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Selikoff I. J. Influence of age at death on accuracy of death certificate disease diagnosis: findings in 475 consecutive deaths of mesothelioma among asbestos insulation workers and asbestos factory workers. Am J Ind Med. 1992;22(4):505–510. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700220405. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Solionova L. G., Smulevich V. B. Mortality and cancer incidence in a cohort of rubber workers in Moscow. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1993 Apr;19(2):96–101. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1491. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Sorahan T. Bladder tumours among U.K. rubber workers. Ann Occup Hyg. 1994 Feb;38(1):103–106. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/38.1.103. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Sorahan T., Parkes H. G., Veys C. A., Waterhouse J. A. Cancer mortality in the British rubber industry: 1946-80. Br J Ind Med. 1986 Jun;43(6):363–373. doi: 10.1136/oem.43.6.363. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Sorahan T., Parkes H. G., Veys C. A., Waterhouse J. A., Straughan J. K., Nutt A. Mortality in the British rubber industry 1946-85. Br J Ind Med. 1989 Jan;46(1):1–10. doi: 10.1136/oem.46.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Szeszenia-Dabrowska N., Wilczyńska U., Kaczmarek T., Szymczak W. Cancer mortality among male workers in the Polish rubber industry. Pol J Occup Med Environ Health. 1991;4(2):149–157. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Veys C. A. Towards causal inference in occupational cancer epidemiology--I. An example of the interpretive value of using local rates as the reference statistic. Ann Occup Hyg. 1990 Aug;34(4):349–359. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/34.4.349. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Veys C. A. Towards causal inference in occupational cancer epidemiology--II. Getting the count right. Ann Occup Hyg. 1993 Apr;37(2):181–189. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/37.2.181. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Wang H. W., You X. J., Qu Y. H., Wang W. F., Wang D., Long Y. M., Ni J. A. Investigation of cancer epidemiology and study of carcinogenic agents in the Shanghai Rubber Industry. Cancer Res. 1984 Jul;44(7):3101–3105. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Zhang Z. F., Yu S. Z., Li W. X., Choi B. C. Smoking, occupational exposure to rubber, and lung cancer. Br J Ind Med. 1989 Jan;46(1):12–15. doi: 10.1136/oem.46.1.12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Occupational and Environmental Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES