Analysis of mortality and cancer incidence among workerx first emplyed in the European rubber industry since 1975

The study will consist of a pooled analysis of six cohort studies of European workers first employed in tire production and general rubber goods (GRG) production in 1975 or later. Cohorts will be assembled from five European countries (Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom). Data on the employment history of workers fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be collected; follow-up for mortality and, in the countries covered by cancer registration, cancer incidence will be considered. No detailed reconstruction of exposure to specific agents will be done; analyses will be performed by indirect indicator of exposure, including year of first employment, duration of employment, and time since last employment. Additional analyses will be conducted by industry sector, country, and sex. In each country, the mortality (and cancer incidence) of cohort members will be compared with that of the respective national population. Internal analyses, based on Cox regression modeling, will be conducted relating mortality risks to indirect indicators of exposure. Random-effects models will be used to take into account variability among countries. The primary outcomes of the study are cancer of the urinary bladder and leukemia; secondary outcomes are cancers of the lung and the stomach, and lymphoma.