Mortality of employees in plants manufacturing 4,4'-bipyridyl.

Abstract

PADDLE OM, OSBORN AJ, PARKER ODJ. Mortality of employees in plants manufacturing 4,4'-bipyridyl. Scand J Work Environ Health 1991;17:175-8. A historical-prospective cohort study was conducted of 729 male employees of plants manufacturing 4,4'-bipyridyl. The cohort was studied because employment in some of the plants had beenlinked to malignantand nonmalignant skin lesionsattributed to exposureto tarry by-products. The overallmortalityexperience of the cohort did not show any statistically significant findings. More-detailedanalysis by subdivision of the cohort gave results that justified further inquiry into lung cancer incidence. A nested case-referent study did not indicatethat any occupational factor other than employment in a bipyridylplant was related to the incidence of lung cancer. The epidemiologic, toxicologic, and industrial hygiene information was assessed, and it was concluded that there was no evidence of a plausible occupational hazard of lung cancer to the bipyridyl workers, but that a follow-up of the cohort after an interval of five years should be undertaken.

Mortality from Parkinson's disease and other causes among a workforce manufacturing paraquat: a retrospective cohort study

“…Lung cancer was also of interest because the initial investigation reported a modest excess (13 observed, 10.5 expected deaths) 7. However, there was no evidence of an excess of lung cancer in the update, especially when compared with local mortalities (SMR=73; 95% CI 49 to 105).…”

“…The cohort included all employees who had ever worked on any of these plants, and a further 217 male employees and 10 female employees were added to the cohort established by Paddle et al 7 in 1983 (729 male employees and 32 female employees). However, 20 male subjects included in the original cohort were excluded because they were found to be not exposed (8) or they had minimal identifying information including no date of birth (12).…”

“…Paddle et al 7 performed a limited qualitative exposure assessment of male workers based on their highest level of exposure to 11 substances including PQ. The other substances included 2,2′-bipyridyl 2,4′-bipyridyl, 4,4′-bipyridyl, diglyme, pyridine, piperidine, methyl chloride, dimethyl sulfate, benzene and tarry by-products.…”

“…A retrospective mortality study was later conducted of an extended cohort that included all employees engaged in PQ production at the Widnes site between 1961, when production commenced, and 1983, with follow-up through 31 December 1985 7. The only suggestion of an adverse health effect was a modest excess of lung cancer deaths (13 observed, 10.5 expected deaths) which was concentrated in the period of follow-up 15 years or more after first exposure (8 observed, 3.8 expected deaths).…”

“…This report describes an extension and an update of the cohort mortality study conducted by Paddle et al 7 The primary objective of the study is to assess whether there is any evidence of increased PD mortality as the underlying cause of death or as a mentioned cause of death. A secondary objective is to provide updated information on mortality from major causes of death to confirm the absence of an exposure-related effect reported by Paddle et al 7…”