Racial/ethnic health disparities in United States poultry workers

Poultry workers are at a great risk of exposure to potentially harmful retroviruses which can cause cancer in poultry; yet there are few epidemiological studies that examine occupational illnesses experienced by these workers. This study will examine the never explored prevalence of health disparities and racial/ethnic differences in cancer mortality among poultry workers. Several union records were used to identify 30,000 deceased subjects who worked in poultry plants where high exposures to poultry oncogenic viruses occurred. Data collection included requesting death certificates of the subjects identified. Statistical analyses of cancer mortality risk will be conducted by estimation of standardized mortality, standardized proportional mortality ratios and relative risks. Cancers occurring in excess that exhibit racial disparities will be examined in greater detail to identify whether any observed racial and ethnic disparities for a given cancer type(s) can be explained by occupational factors, non-occupational factors or both. The subject's next of kin will be asked to participate in the study by answering questions pertaining to the deceased's medical, lifestyle and occupational history. The anticipated results of this research will assess racial/ethnic disparities that are well-known to exist in the general population to determine if they are also observable in the lowest socioeconomic group and within an occupational setting, by examining cancer mortality in poultry workers. It is anticipated that identification of risk factors for racial/ethnic disparities in this socially homogeneous group will provide an understanding into the mechanism of racial/ethnic heath disparities.