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

Richard W Clapp,Kate Hoffman

doi:10.1186/1476-069x-7-13

Abstract

BackgroundIn 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThese 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.

Highlights

In response to concerns expressed by workers at a public meeting, we analyzed the mortality experience of workers who were employed at the International Business Machines (IBM) plant in Endicott, New York and died between 1969–2001
The present supplementary analysis was carried out in response to workers' desires for information. It is based on the IBM Corporate Mortality File (CMF) which was produced after a court order during litigation and used in a previous analysis, but which did not look at the Endicott plant workers separately
From the CMF and Corporate Employee Resource Information System (CERIS) files, we identified 360 Endicott employee deaths

Summary

Introduction

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. The meaning and significance of these studies have been discussed in review articles and commentaries [5-7] Another concern that has arisen is pollution in a community near an IBM manufacturing plant in Endicott, NY. This has resulted in an evaluation of trichloroethylene in groundwater and vapor intrusion into the basements of nearby homes and businesses Attention to this source of exposure has led employees of this IBM plant to request a study of cancer and other health effects in former workers. This plant was one of the original IBM manufacturing plants and a variety of products were made there over the past several decades, the most recent activities were the production of printed circuit boards. It had some chemical and physical exposures that were sim-

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