Mortality study of fibrous glass production workers.

This retrospective cohort study examines the mortality experience of 6,536 male employees engaged in fibrous glass production for 10 or more years. A special component of this investigation was an analysis of a long-term cohort involving 1,222 individuals who were employed 20 or more years and who experienced 30 or more years latency. There was no marked excess of statistically significant increase in mortality for any cause of death. In fact, the pattern of mortality for fibrous glass production workers appeared considerably lower than comparable U.S. patterns, perhaps reflecting both a "health worker" effect, and the life style of the steadily employed person. Long-term workers' mortality experience was similar to those individuals employed for shorter periods.