Cancer mortality in IBM Endicott plant workers, 1969–2001: an update on a NY production plant

Richard W Clapp and Kate Hoffman

Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA

author email corresponding author email

Environmental Health 2008, 7:13doi:10.1186/1476-069X-7-13


Published:	28 April 2008

Abstract

Background

In response to concerns expressed by workers at a public meeting, we analyzed the mortality experience of workers who were employed at the IBM plant in Endicott, New York and died between 1969–2001. An epidemiologic feasibility assessment indicated potential worker exposure to several known and suspected carcinogens at this plant.

Methods

We used the mortality and work history files produced under a court order and used in a previous mortality analysis. Using publicly available data for the state of New York as a standard of comparison, we conducted proportional cancer mortality (PCMR) analysis.

Results

The results showed significantly increased mortality due to melanoma (PCMR = 367; 95% CI: 119, 856) and lymphoma (PCMR = 220; 95% CI: 101, 419) in males and modestly increased mortality due to kidney cancer (PCMR = 165; 95% CI: 45, 421) and brain cancer (PCMR = 190; 95% CI: 52, 485) in males and breast cancer (PCMR = 126; 95% CI: 34, 321) in females.

Conclusion

These results are similar to results from a previous IBM mortality study and support the need for a full cohort mortality analysis such as the one being planned by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.