Mortality of older construction and craft workers employed at department of energy (DOE) nuclear sites

Abstract

DOE construction workers at these four sites were found to have significantly excess risk for combined cancer sites included in the Department of Labor' Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOCIPA). Asbestos-related cancers were significantly elevated.

Risks of a lifetime in construction. Part II: Chronic occupational diseases

“…To the extent that the mortality of workers with COPD or occupational lung disease may exceed mortality in the general population, our model will underestimate the incidence of these diseases, resulting in underestimates of lifetime risks. The degree of underestimation, however, is likely small given that the all causes mortality risk for DOE workers used for the incidence estimates was not significantly elevated compared to the US population (SMR ¼ 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-1.01) [Dement et al, 2009].…”

“…BTMed is conducted by a consortium which includes The Center for Construction Research and Training; University of Cincinnati; Duke University; and Zenith Administrators. BTMed is the largest medical monitoring program ever undertaken for a broad spectrum of US construction trades and has reported on topics such as the prevalence of respiratory diseases, hearing loss, beryllium sensitivity, COPD, and mortality patterns [Dement et al, 2003[Dement et al, , 2005[Dement et al, , 2009[Dement et al, , 2010Welch et al, , 2013. BTMed provides a comprehensive medical screening examination tailored to the exposures reported by workers during an in-depth occupational history interview.…”

“…Consequently, there have been very few longitudinal studies of occupational risks [Arndt et al, 2005]. This study is based on results from a medical surveillance program with 16 years of experience to assess risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), occupational lung disease, and hearing loss over a working lifetime.Construction workers are at an elevated risk for several chronic medical conditions, including COPD, pneumoconiosis consisting primarily of asbestosis and silicosis, and noise-induced hearing loss [Dement et al, 2003[Dement et al, , 2005[Dement et al, , 2009[Dement et al, , 2010. Occupational exposure to the general category of "vapors, gases, dusts, and fumes" (VGDF) has been associated with increased COPD risk [Becklake, 1989; National AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE 57:1235-1245 (2014 ß 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. American Thoracic Society, 2005;Balmes, 2005; Blanc et al, 2009a,b; Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease, 2013].…”

Occupational exposures to asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents, and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx: a quantitative literature review

“…Twenty-four cohort studies (Dement et al 2009a;Dement et al 2009b;Enterline et al 1987;Giaroli et al 1994;Harding et al 2009;Hein et al 2007;Hughes et al 1987;Krstev et al 2007;Levin et al 1998;Loomis et al 2009;Nokso-Koivisto and Pukkala 1994;Parnes 1990;Pira et al 2007Pira et al , 2009Puntoni et al 2001;Purdue et al 2006;Raffn et al 1989;Reid et al 2004;Sluis-Cremer et al 1992;Strand et al 2010;Tsai et al 2007;Ulvestad et al 2002Ulvestad et al , 2004Ward et al 1994) and a Finnish record linkage study (Tarvainen et al 2008) presented results on workers exposed to asbestos and cancers of the OC and/or pharynx. Among them, three referred to miners and millers (Pira et al 2009;Reid et al 2004;Sluis-Cremer et al 1992), six concerned workers of the construction industry (Dement et al 2009a, b;Krstev et al 2007;Puntoni et al 2001;Purdue et al 2006;Ulvestad et al 2004), three dealt with asbestos textile workers (Hein et al 2007;Loomis et al 2009;Pira et al 2007), and four concerned cement-asbestos workers (Giaroli et al 1994;Hughes et al 1987;Raffn et al 1989;…”

Airways obstruction among older construction and trade workers at Department of Energy nuclear sites

“…These construction worker programs are conducted by a consortium which includes: The Center for Construction Research and Training (formerly The Center to Protect Workers' Rights); the University of Cincinnati; Duke University; and Zenith Administrators. We have previously reported on the prevalence of respiratory diseases, hearing loss, beryllium sensitivity, and mortality patterns among workers at these sites [Dement et al, 2003[Dement et al, , 2005[Dement et al, , 2009Welch et al, 2004].…”