title: Epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma in Western Australia.
abstract: Crocidolite was mined and milled at Wittenoom Gorge in Western Australia from 1943 to 1966. Between 1960-1964 and 1980-1982, the estimated incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Western Australia rose from 0.6/100 000 in men and less than 0.1/100 000 in women, aged 35 years or older, to 6.6/100 000 in men and 0.7/100 000 in women in this age group. Overall, 97 (70%) of 138 patients with malignant mesothelioma had definite or probable exposure to asbestos; 76 of these (55%) to Western Australian crocidolite. Of the latter 76 patients, 56 had worked in the mine or mill at Wittenoom and 4 had non-occupational exposure in the Wittenoom area; the remaining 16 had been exposed to crocidolite elsewhere in the State. There were only 4 (3%) patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, of whom three had been exposed to crocidolite.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite; D001194:Asbestos