Mortality among hourly motor vehicle manufacturing workers

J Occup Environ Med. 2003 Aug;45(8):813-30. doi: 10.1097/01.jom.0000079092.95532.49.

Abstract

We evaluated mortality among 198,245 motor vehicle industry workers during the period of 1973 to 1995. Workers' mortality rates were lower than expected overall (40,131 observed/43,859 expected deaths, standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 92, CI = 91-92) and for all major cause of death categories except cancer (SMR = 100, CI = 98-102). Mortality rates were higher than expected for lung cancer overall (SMR = 110, CI = 107-113) and among employees in transmission/gear manufacturing (SMR = 121, CI = 112-130), casting operations (SMR = 122, CI = 110-135), engine manufacturing (SMR = 111, CI = 101-123), and vehicle assembly (SMR = 111, CI = 105-117); for stomach cancer in engine manufacturing (SMR = 147, CI = 110-192); and for prostate cancer in casting operations (SMR = 128, CI = 102-158). Excesses of lung cancer in transmission, vehicle assembly, and casting operations and of stomach cancer in engine manufacturing have been observed in other investigations. Further information on employees' occupational exposures and personal attributes is required to clarify the interpretation of these results.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / mortality
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Education, Continuing
  • Employment
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Industry*
  • Male
  • Metallurgy
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Vehicles*
  • Occupational Diseases / classification
  • Occupational Diseases / ethnology
  • Occupational Diseases / mortality*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
  • Occupational Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sex Distribution
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data
  • Workforce
  • Workplace*