| Document ID (ISN) | 52502 |
| CIS number |
89-1533 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
0007-1072 - British Journal of Industrial Medicine |
| Year |
1989 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Sitas F., Douglas A.J., Webster E.C. |
| Title |
Respiratory disease mortality patterns among South African iron moulders |
| Bibliographic information |
May 1989, Vol.45, No.5, p.310-315. 28 ref. |
| Abstract |
To assess the influence of foundry exposure on malignant and non-malignant respiratory disease, the proportional mortality ratio (PMR) was used to compare the cause of death distributions of the 578 dead members of the Iron Moulders Society of South Africa, recipients of the union's death benefit fund between 1961 and 1983. Comparisons were made with the age and period specific white male deaths. For the 419 members where job information was available, the influence of occupation (journeyman, production moulder) was assessed using different techniques - the relative proportional mortality ratio, the mortality odds ratio and the proportional cancer mortality ratio for comparison. Excess PMRs were found for cancer of the trachea, bronchus, and lung for those over 65 and for non-malignant respiratory disease and for injuries and poisonings in those under 65. Reduced PMRs were found for all cancers and all circulatory disease in those under 65. The raised PMRs due to respiratory disease are unlikely to be due to smoking because of a poor association with other causes of death related to smoking. A more likely explanation is that these excess rates for malignant and non-malignant respiratory disease are due to exposure to the foundry environment. Of additional concern are the high PMRs due to injuries and poisonings, which could be related to the high accident rates in the iron and steel industry. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
mortality; moulding; iron and steel industry; foundries; respiratory diseases |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
South Africa; comparative study; neoplasms; mathematical analysis |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Subject(s) |
Metal production and metalworking
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Occupational medicine, epidemiology
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Iron and steel industry
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)
Foundries, metalcasting and forging operations
|
