An industry‐wide epidemiologic study of vinyl chloride workers, 1942–1982

Abstract

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.

Meta-analysis of studies of occupational exposure to vinyl chloride in relation to cancer mortality

“…Using the SMR available before 1987-1990, as well as the suggestion of a higher risk in some groups with longer durations of exposure and latency, one would have concluded that vinyl chloride workers may be at increased risk of lung cancer (2). Results published subsequently, mainly from the two multicenter studies (14,26), did not confirm these findings. It should also be stressed that an increased mortality from lung cancer was reported among workers employed as packers and baggers in the European study (5).…”

“…In the United States, the cohort initially studied by Tabershaw & Gaffey (24), in which the association between vinyl chloride and angiosarcoma of the liver was first demonstrated, was subsequently expanded to include additional populations and formed the North American multicenter cohort (25), which was later updated through 1982 (26). Several publications have been based on completely or partially overlapping populations (table 3).…”

Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations for Selected Airborne Contaminants, Volume 1

“…More recently, there have been reports of a multiplant cohort study in the United States by Wong et al (1991) and one in Europe by Simonato et al (1991). Both the U.S. and European studies confirmed the findings of earlier epidemiology studies on the excesses of liver cancers in general and angiosarcoma in particular caused by occupational exposures to vinyl chloride (Wong et al, 1991;Simonato et al, 1991).…”

“…In an epidemiology study performed by Wong et al (1991), a significant mortality excess from emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was found in vinyl-chloride workers.…”

Advances in diagnosis, treatment and palliation of cholangiocarcinoma: 1990-2009

“…Because of its long biological half-life (400 years), the latency period of thorotrast-induced CC ranges between 16 to 45 years [56] , with the highest incidence between 20 to 30 years after exposure [57] . A few studies have shown an association between CC and other chemical agents such as asbestos [58] , vinyl chloride [59] and nitrosamines [60] . Medications such as isoniazide [61] and first generation of oral contraceptives [62] are also suspected of increasing the risk of CC.…”