Deaths for a 31-year period (1948-1978) were analyzed in a historical prospective cohort study of 655 white male talc workers. Death rates from all causes, from cancer of the respiratory system, and from nonmalignant respiratory disease were not significantly different from those of the U.S. white male population. However, significant differences for these causes of death were found among workers who had previous occupational histories. An analysis of the latency periods of the observed lung cancer suggests that exposure to an etiologic agent during previous work experience may play a role in the development of lung cancer.