Mortality among nonwhite men in the meat industry.

Mortality among 5145 nonwhite men in a local meatcutters' union in Baltimore who were observed between July 1949 and December 1980, was compared with that of nonwhite men of the United States general population, through the estimation of standardized mortality ratios. The study population had potential for exposure to viruses that cause leukemia and lymphoma in cattle and chickens, and other harmful agents. Statistically significant standardized mortality ratios of 2.1 for lung cancer and 3.1 for cancer of the esophagus were observed among workers in abattoirs and meatpacking plants, respectively. The results obtained are consistent with findings for white male and female members of the same union, and with other published data.