Patterns of Mortality in Pulp and Paper Workers

A proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) analysis utilizing death certificates and work histories was performed on 201 white male decedents who had been employed in pulp and paper production plants and had died between 1970 and 1984. PMRs for all malignant neoplasms (PMR = 131) and lung cancer (PMR = 151) were significantly elevated, whereas PMRs for lymphopoietic system cancer (PMR = 190) and cancer of the large intestine (PMR = 147) showed nonsignificant excesses. Most of the excess cancers of the lung and large intestine were limited to those with greater than 30 years between initial employment in a pulp and paper plant and death. Excess lung and lymphopoietic system cancers have been found in other studies of paperworker mortality, although this study failed to support previous findings of excess stomach cancer. These results continue to raise concerns that paperworkers are at elevated risk for some occupational cancers.