ILO Home
Go to the home page
Site map | Contact us Français | Español

CISDOC database

Document ID (ISN)102734
CIS number 03-1670
ISSN - Serial title 0962-7480 - Occupational Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Sorahan T., Nichols L., Harrington J.M.
Title Mortality of United Kingdom oil refinery and petroleum distribution workers, 1951-1998
Bibliographic information Sep. 2002, Vol.52, No.6, p.333-339. 11 ref.
Abstract The mortality experienced by cohorts of 28,630 oil refinery workers and 16,480 petroleum distribution workers has been investigated. Study subjects were all male employees first employed in the period 1946-1974 at one of eight UK oil refineries or at one of 476 UK petroleum distribution centres. When compared with national mortality rates, the resultant standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were significantly below 100 for all causes, in both oil refinery workers (SMR=88) and petroleum distribution workers (SMR=94). Significantly elevated SMRs were shown in oil refinery workers for cancer of the gall bladder (SMR=172), cancer of the pleura (SMR=254) and melanoma (SMR=162). Significantly elevated SMRs were not found in petroleum distribution workers for any site of cancer. SMRs for selected causes of death were calculated by period from commencing employment, by year of hire and by job type. The only findings that suggested the presence of an occupational cancer hazard were an excess of mesothelioma in oil refinery workers and an excess of leukaemia in petroleum distribution workers, both excesses occurring in long-term follow-up for workers first employed >30 years ago.
Descriptors (primary) United Kingdom; petroleum refining; mortality
Descriptors (secondary) mesothelioma; melanoma; leukaemia; statistical evaluation; cohort study; long-term exposure; bladder tumour
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceUnited Kingdom
Subject(s) Chemicals, plastics and rubber
Broad subject area(s) Industries and occupations
Browse category(ies) Petrochemical industry
Petroleum and natural gas industry