Mortality among PVC-fabricating employees.

The results of a cross-sectional mortality study of 3847 deaths occurring among current and former (white) employees of 17 PVC fabricators during 1964-1973 are presented. Sex-race-cause-specific proportionate mortality ratios (PMR's) were computed by using two separate standards: one, the U.S. mortality in 1968; the second, U.S. mortality for the individual years 1964-1973. In addition, a case-control analysis, based upon 44 breast cancer deaths among white female employees, is presented. PMR's are significantly different from unity for all cancers, and for cancers of the digestive system among both white males and white females. Although observed deaths significantly exceeded expectations for cancer of the breast, a subsequent case-control analysis reveals no statistically significant relative risks for breast cancer.