Mortality of Welders, Shipfitters, and Other Metal Trades Workers in Boilermakers Local No. 104, ADL-CIO

The mortality experience of 8679 members of a metal trades union was studied from 1950 to 1976 by the historical prospective method. Relative to rates for US men of comparable age & race, the risk of death from all cause combinded was 0.99. However, excesses of 40 per cent & 60 per cent occured for malignant & nonmalignant respiratory disease deaths, respectively, beginning 20 years after first employment. Greater than expected rates in specific job classifications included pneumonia in welders, accidents & suicide in shipfitters, & emphysema in burners. (45 refs)