title: Mesothelioma mortality in asbestos workers: implications for models of carcinogenesis and risk assessment.
abstract: Mesothelioma death rates in asbestos workers appear to be proportional to the 3rd or 4th power of time from first exposure under a wide range of conditions of exposure for both pleural and peritoneal tumours, though the peritoneal:pleural ratio depends on fibre dimension and type. Age at first exposure has little or no influence, however, which supports the "multi-stage" model of carcinogenesis under which the increase in most cancer incidence rates with age is due to a constant incidence of genetic or epigenetic accidents, rather than to progressive generalized changes in regulatory or immune function. These relationships provide a simple basis for risk assessment, and support the suggestion that mesotheliomas may constitute a high proportion of cancer deaths resulting from early exposure to asbestos.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009656:North America; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos