Mortality patterns among workers in a gray iron foundry.

The long-term mortality experience of 2861 men employed for at least one month in the period 1938 to 1967 in a gray iron foundry was examined to determine if they experienced unusual death rates for specific causes indicative of exposure to hazardous materials in the work environment. Both white and non-white workers experienced favorable mortality for most major disease categories compared to general population rates, even men employed five or more years. No deaths from pneumoconiosis were observed nor were deaths from other chronic respiratory diseases in excess. Analysis of detailed cancer sites showed no significant departures from expectation overall. However, in the subgroup of men who achieved five or more years employment prior to 1938, a twofold increase in mortality from digestive cancer (14 observed deaths vs. 7.4 expected) and respiratory cancer (8 observed deaths vs. 4.0 expected) was seen. Absence of information on specific foundry jobs held by the subjects and associated exposures limits full interpretation of the findings. However, the excess observed for respiratory cancer among long-term employees followed for 30 years is consistent with previous reports.