title: Different measures of asbestos exposure in estimating risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma among construction workers.
abstract: To analyze occupation, expert-evaluated cumulative exposure, and radiographic abnormalities as indicators of asbestos-related cancer risk we followed 16,696 male construction workers for cancer in 1990-2000. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIR) in comparison to the Finnish population and relative risks (RR) in a multivariate analysis in comparison to the internal low-exposure category of each indicator. Overall, the risk was increased for mesothelioma (SIR 2.0, 95% CI = 1.0-3.3), but not for lung cancer (SIR 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9-1.2). Radiographic lung fibrosis indicated a 2-fold and a high value of the exposure index a 3-fold RR of lung cancer, while there was no risk among those with pleural plaques. The risk of lung cancer was the highest in insulators (RR 3.7, 95% CI = 1.4-9.9). Occupation, expert-evaluated cumulative exposure, and lung fibrosis are useful indicators of lung cancer risk among construction workers.
authors.affiliation: Uusimaa Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pukkala
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martikainen
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reijula
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos