The risk of death from malignant tumors is dependent on the amount of exposure to asbestos dust
Szeszenia-Dabrowska, N.; Wilczyńska, U.; Szymczak, W.
Medycyna Pracy 37(5): 297-304
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0465-5893 PMID: 3027497 Document Number: 279218
The investigation was carried out in an asbestos plant producing yarn, cords, gaskets and frictional products. Only chrysotile asbestos was used in the production process. The follow-up covered a cohort composed of 2403 men and 1190 women employed in the plant of various asbestos products for at least 3 months during 1945-1973. The availability was 91.3% for men and 89.6% for women. Due to considerably changed working conditions in the plant, resulting from modernization carried out in 1956, the results were analysed for a subcohort employed during 1945-1955, composed of 670 men and 349 women. Men demonstrated increased standardized mortality rates (SMR) from malignant tumours of respiratory organs and thorax under increased dust concentrations. SMR = 243,2 was statistically significant only in the subcohort of men employed during 1945-1955 in a group with a mean asbestos dust concentration considerably exceeding TLVs. The risk analysis, depending on the dose, exhibited in the subcohort of men working during 1945-1955 who were affected by the highest dose of dust, increased, over 3-fold, the risk of death from lung cancer (SMR = 327.9). In the subcohort of women the risk of death from malignant tumours was higher only in the group of high dust concentration, as compared to the reference population (SMR = 210.2). A significant increase in the risk of death from cancer of the digestive organs and peritoneum as well as malignant tumours of the liver and pancrease was found in the group of high and low dust concentrations alike.