A recent study at IBM’s Endicott plant says it’s impossible to definitively link exposure to chemicals at the facility to a higher risk of cancer for those who worked at the site. The study was independently conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Records from over 34,000 employees from 1961 to 2001 were looked at, with a focus on the total number of deaths caused from cancer. During that 40-year stretch, it was determined that IBM workers were at a lower risk than would be expected in the general public, but some types of cancer were more frequent in some groups of workers than the general public. IBM released a statement saying that the health, safety, and wellness of their employees has always been the company’s top priority and is integrated in all aspects of their operations. The company says the study did not consider family history, smoking tendencies, or obesity when it determined that some types of cancers were more frequent among IBM workers. A public meeting to discuss the result of the study is scheduled to be held at 6:30 on January 23rd at the First United Methodist Church in Endicott.
