Cancer of the lung, pleura, larynx and pharynx in an area with an asbestos-cement plant.
Data on persons who died of cancer of the respiratory tract and pharynx in a Croatian coastal area with an asbestos-cement industry were collected and analysed for the period 1970-1990. Cancer mortality data were obtained from the Cancer Registry of Croatia. By the poll method, additional data on occupation, life style (smoking, alcohol drinking), length of residence in the area, educational level and cancer mortality among the relatives were obtained. The results of the investigation showed that the mortality rates for the lung, larynx and pharynx cancers, standardized according to age, were lower in the study area than expected (data for Croatia). Standardized mortality rates for mesothelioma were higher in the area under study for both sexes (except for women in the rural part of the area) than in Croatia. Within the study area the highest mortality rates for follow-up cancers were registered in the settlement where the asbestos-cement plant was located. Some settlements in two municipalities within the area also had higher mortality rates caused by these tumours in comparison with the rest of the study area or Croatia as a whole. In the evaluation of the obtained findings possible uneven distribution of emissions from the asbestos-cement plant caused by prevailing wind and air stream direction were considered.
Curin
K
K
Regional Institute of Public Health, Split, Croatia.
Sarić
M
M
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002273:Carcinogens; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos