You are here:
CASE-COHORT STUDY OF STYRENE EXPOSURE AND ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE INVESTIGATORS
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this research conducted by Drs. Matanoski and Tao is a study designed to follow up on several occupational studies that had indicated a possible relation between styrene exposure and death from ischemic heart disease. For example, in a previous study Matanoski and coworkers reported that while mortality of styrene-exposed workers from atherosclerotic heart disease was less than mortality of the overall US population, it was significantly higher among a subgroup of black workers than would be expected based on general population rates. Although results have not been consistent, other investigators have also found evidence of an association between styrene exposure and heart disease. This study was undertaken to investigate that association further.The objective of this research conducted by Drs. Matanoski and Tao is a study designed to follow up on several occupational studies that had indicated a possible relation between styrene exposure and death from ischemic heart disease. For example, in a previous study Matanoski and coworkers reported that while mortality of styrene-exposed workers from atherosclerotic heart disease was less than mortality of the overall US population, it was significantly higher among a subgroup of black workers than would be expected based on general population rates. Although results have not been consistent, other investigators have also found evidence of an association between styrene exposure and heart disease. This study was undertaken to investigate that association further.
Description:
Investigators examined workers exposed to styrene while working in styrene-butadiene polymer manufacturing plants between 1943 and 1982. Workers who had died from ischemic heart disease were compared to a subgroup of all men employed in two styrene-butadiene polymer manufacturing plants during that time. Individual exposure histories were determined from job records. When exposure data were missing, a statistical method was used to estimate exposure. This method is based on the assumption that exposure concentrations in all jobs in a plant are normally distributed and that processing methods throughout the rubber industry did not change appreciably during the time under consideration.