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Biomedical subjects

C F Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to C F Robinson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Pooled reanalysis of cancer mortality among five cohorts of workers in wood-related industries.

OBJECTIVES: To provide more information regarding the risk of cancer associated with wood dust, a pooled reanalysis of data from five cohort studies was performed. METHODS: The combined cohort consisted of 28,704 persons from five studies: British furniture workers, members of the union representing furniture workers in the United States, two cohorts of plywood workers, and one of wood model makers, among whom 7665 deaths occurred. Pooled analyses were carried out for all of the cohorts combined, the two furniture worker cohorts combined, and the two plywood workers cohorts combined. RESULTS: Significant excesses of nasal [observed 11, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.6-5.6] and nasopharyngeal (observed 9, SMR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-4.5) cancer were observed. That for nasal cancer appeared to be associated with exposure to wood dust but was based solely on cases from the British furniture worker cohort, while that of nasopharyngeal cancer was observed for furniture and plywood workers and was associated with both high and low probability of wood dust exposure. Some support for an excess risk of multiple myeloma was also observed but was less clearly associated with wood dust exposure. No excesses of lung, larynx, stomach, or colon cancer were found to be associated with any surrogate indicators of wood dust exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Workers exposed to wood dust may have an excess risk of nasopharyngeal cancer and multiple myeloma in addition to sinonasal cancer. The limitations of this study would tend to obscure relationships, rather than create false positive findings.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1994

Mortality patterns of US female construction workers by race, 1979-1990.

In 1990, the US construction industry employed 7.6 million workers, of whom 8% were women. Only one epidemiologic study for women employed in the construction industry was previously published. We analyzed usual occupation and industry codes on death certificates from 28 states between 1979 and 1990 to evaluate mortality patterns among both black and white female construction industry workers. Proportionate mortality for cancer and several other chronic diseases was significantly elevated among 2,273 white female and 197 black female construction workers. White women younger than age 65 at death had significantly elevated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for all cancer, lung cancer, and traumatic fatalities. Black women younger than age 65 at death had a significantly elevated PMR for traumatic fatalities. Elevated mortality for specific cancer sites and other diseases was observed for white and black women employed in construction trades. These results suggest that more detailed investigations that include women and other minorities should be undertaken.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Colon and stomach cancer mortality among automotive wood model makers.

Automotive wood model makers have been reported to be at excess risk for colon and other cancers in recent epidemiologic studies. To further explore these risks, we conducted a retrospective cohort mortality study, with follow-up from 1940 through 1984, of 2294 white male wood model makers employed at any time until 1980 by three US auto makers. Using US mortality rates for comparison, we found elevated standardized mortality ratios of 1.2 (95% CI, 0.8-1.9) for colon cancer and 1.6 (95% CI, 0.9-2.6) for stomach cancer. We also conducted nested case-control studies for 20 colon and 17 stomach cancer cases and 543 age-matched controls. We found no trend of increased risk for colon or stomach cancer mortality with increased exposure to wood dust or to duration employed in wood model making.

Automobiles↗
PubMed1991

Development, use, and availability of a job exposure matrix based on national occupational hazard survey data.

A job exposure matrix has been developed based on potential exposure data collected during the 1972-1974 National Occupational Hazard Survey (NOHS). The survey sample was representative of all U.S. non-agricultural businesses covered under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and employing eight or more employees. Potential worker exposure to all chemical, physical, or biological agents was recorded during the field survey if certain minimum guidelines for exposure were met. The job exposure matrix (JEM) itself is a computerized database that assists the user in determining potential chemical or physical exposures in occupational settings. We describe the structure and possible uses of the job exposure matrix. In one example, potential occupational exposures to elemental lead were grouped by industry and occupation. In a second example, the matrix was used to determine exposure classifications in a hypothetical case-control study. Present availability as well as future enhancements of the job exposure matrix are described.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1986

Mortality among production workers in pulp and paper mills.

A cohort of 3,572 pulp and paper mill workers employed for at least one year between 1945 and 1955 was followed through 31 March 1977. Vital status was determined for 99% of the cohort. The 915 deaths observed were 79% of the number expected on the basis of comparable United States mortality rates. Statistically nonsignificant excesses of deaths due to lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma and to stomach cancer were observed. These findings tend to corroborate reports based on state vital statistics, and preliminary case-referent and population-based studies of workers in the pulp or paper industries. No deaths due to nasal cancer were observed, but only 0.6 were expected. When process-specific analyses were conducted, the excess risk of lymphosarcoma and reticulosarcoma was increased only for men who worked in sulfate mills. The excess risk of stomach cancer was limited to men who worked in sulfite mills. Process-specific standardized mortality ratios for these causes were highest after 20 years since first employment in the mills.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A modified life-table analysis system for cohort studies.

A person-years at risk life-table analysis system of computer programs has been developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and is available with detailed documentation. The system was specifically designed to analyze occupational cohort mortality data. These programs require more computer core space and processing time than other available life-table programs. However, the NIOSH programs are advantageous because they include the following: (1) input data editing and modification, (2) mortality rates for 89 cause-of-death categories, (3) assignment of cumulative doses to specific person-years based on either personal or area exposure data, and (4) simultaneous examination of observed and expected deaths by duration of employment (or dose), latency, age, and calendar time.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1982

Mortality patterns of rock and slag mineral wool production workers: an epidemiological and environmental study.

An epidemiological and environmental study of rock and slag mineral wool production workers was undertaken at a plant that has been in operation since the early 1900s. Size characteristics of fibres produced by each process at the plant and data from industrial hygiene surveys were used to evaluate current and past exposures. These data suggest that the average historical airborne fibre concentration probably did not exceed 2.5 fibres/cc before 1935 and 1.0 fibre/cc after 1935. A retrospective cohort mortality study was designed to assess mortality patterns. Detailed occupational histories were compiled on all plant employees. All jobs in the plant were assigned to one of eight potential exposure categories to assess the extent and severity of mineral wool exposure and the effect of other significant exposures on employee mortality. Findings included an increase in the number of deaths due to cancer of the digestive system and non-malignant respiratory disease among workers who had over 20 years' exposure to mineral wool or who had survived 20 years since their first exposure to mineral wool. These findings are not inconsistent with those of Enterline's (Symposium on Biological Effects of Mineral Fibres, Lyon, France, September 1979) in the Thermal Insulation Manufacturers' Association's mortality study of men employed in four mineral wool plants.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mortality patterns among construction workers in the United States.

Thirteen authors from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health contribute to this summary of recent and ongoing national occupational mortality surveillance studies of construction workers, including studies conducted under NIOSH's Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation project, Sentinel Health Events project, National Occupational Mortality Surveillance System, and other projects.

Accidents, Occupational↗