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Mortality data have been updated for a further 12 years for a cohort ofworkers in the reinforced plastics and composites industry with exposures to styrene monomer and other chemicals. The

The cohort consisted of 10,173 men who had worked for at least one year in jobs involving exposure to vinyl chloride prior to 1 January 1973. These men were employed at 37 plants in the U.S., belonging to 17 companies. Observation of the mortality experience of the cohort was updated from 31 December 1972 to 31 December 1982 (the study now covering 1942-1982). A total of 1,536 cohort members were identified as having died. The observed mortality, by cause, was compared with the expected based on U.S. mortality rates, standardized for age, race, and calendar time. Analyses by length of exposure, latency, age at first exposure, calendar year of first exposure, and type of products were performed. The study confirmed that the vinyl chloride workers experience a significant mortality excesses in angiosarcoma (15 deaths), cancer of the liver and biliary tract (SMR = 641), and cancer of the brain and other central nervous system (SMR = 180). In addition, the study also found a significant mortality excess in emphysema/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (SMR = 179). On the other hand, the study did not find any excess in either respiratory cancer or lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer. This study also found an increase in biliary tract cancers, independent from liver cancer.

A historical prospective mortality study was conducted on a cohort of 34 156 male members of a heavy construction equipment operators union with potential exposure to diesel exhaust emissions. This cohort comprised all individuals who were members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Locals 3 and 3A, for at least one year between 1 January 1964 and 31 December 1978. The mortality experience of the entire cohort and several subcohorts was compared with that of United States white men, adjusted for age and calendar time. The comparison statistic was the commonly used standardised mortality ratio (SMR). Historical environmental measurements did not exist, but partial work histories were available for some cohort members through the union dispatch computer tapes. An attempt was made to relate mortality experience to the union members' dispatch histories. Overall mortality for the entire cohort and several subgroups was significantly lower than expected. When cause specific mortality was examined, however, the study provided suggestive evidence for the existence of several potential health problems in this cohort. Mortality from liver cancer for the entire cohort was significantly high. Although mortality from lung cancer for the entire cohort was similar to expected, a positive trend by latency was observed for lung cancer. A significant excess of mortality from lung cancer was found among the retirees and the group for whom no dispatch histories were available. Other dispatch groups showed no evidence of lung cancer excess. In addition, the total cohort experienced significant mortality excess from emphysema and accidental deaths.The potential adverse health effects of exposure to diesel exhaust emissions have recently gained considerable attention in the scientific community. This concern is even greater within federal regulatory agencies, partly because of the projected rise in the number of diesel powered cars in this decade. For both medical and economic reasons, it is important to investigate the implications of such a trend to public health.Diesel exhaust emissions consist of a mixture of gases and particles, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, and particulates, which contain traces of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.' Exhaust emissions from some current diesel engines contain compounds that are mutagenic and carcinogenic in short term in vitro tests2; the significance of these findings to human health is as yet unknown.Limited epidemiological data on the health consequences of exposure to diesel exhaust emissions are available from a few studies.3-8 These few relevant studies have been summarised in a recent review article.9 The findings from these studies will not be discussed here, except to note that the results cannot rule out a carcinogenic effect on the lung from occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust.Because of this uncertainty, a historical prospective mortality study of heavy construction equipment workers, many of whom were potentially expo...