Deaths from chronic renal disease in U.S. battery and lead production workers

Abstract

This report is based on an analysis of deaths in 4519 battery plant workers and 2300 lead production or smelter workers during the years 1947 to 1980. Causes were coded to the seventh (1955) revision of the International Classification of Diseases. There were significant excess deaths for 'other hypertensive disease' (444-447) and 'chronic nephritis' (592-594) in both cohorts, the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) being 320 and 475, respectively, for the former causes and 222 and 265 for the latter. Proportionate mortality analysis, which adjusted for race, also showed elevated ratios, 241 and 388 for the former causes and 296 and 186 for the latter. Deaths from other hypertension-related diseases did not show comparable excesses. Renal cancer deaths were fewer than expected, SMRs being 41 and 74, respectively.