Retrospective cohort study of cancer mortality at the Minsk Leather Tannery.

The cohort of 768 workers who were actively employed for a minimum of 6 months and died was retrospectively followed from 1 January 1953 to 31 December 2000. There were 328 women and 440 men observed. Proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) were calculated using the Minsk-city population mortality proportions to generate expected numbers. The significant excess of pancreatic cancer (PMR=366%; 95%CI=134-800) and melanoma and skin cancer (PMR=455%; 95% CI=123-1,164) in women-workers of Dyeing and stuffing workshops was shown. The significantly high mortality from pancreatic cancer among Dyeing and stuffing workshops' female workers hired and discharged between 1958 and 1984 (PMR=1,024%; 95% CI=11-2,109), melanoma and skin cancer (PMR=440%; 95% CI=240-2,327) among Dyeing and stuffing workshops female workers who started before 1970, lip and buccal cavity among men who began working within 1974-1978 (PMR=1,071%; 95% CI=220-3,128), cervix and corpus uteri cancer among workers employed before l960 was found. It should be noted that the significantly high mortality from above noted cancers was indicated for Dyeing and stuffing workshops female workers with seniority more than 10 yr. Thus it was shown for pancreatic cancer (PMR=418%; 95% CI=136-975), for melanoma and skin cancers (PMR=497%; 95% CI=102-1,450), for uterus cancers (PMR=269%; 95% CI=130-496).