title: Age and sex differences in malignant mesothelioma after residential exposure to blue asbestos (crocidolite).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blue asbestos was mined and milled at Wittenoom, Western Australia, from 1943 until 1966. Various public records were used to establish a cohort of residents of the nearby township. Mine tailings were distributed throughout the town.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the incident number of malignant mesotheliomas that have occurred in residents of the town who did not work at the mine or mill; and to determine if female subjects are more susceptible to asbestos exposure than male subjects, and if children are more susceptible than adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 4,768 residents of the town of Wittenoom have been followed up in cancer and death registries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 67 cases of mesothelioma, and 64 deaths with mesothelioma to the end of 2002. The mortality rate with mesothelioma increased with increasing residence duration, time since first exposure, and estimated cumulative exposure. The mesothelioma mortality rate was consistently lower for female subjects when compared with male subjects, but the dose-response curve was steeper for female subjects. The rate was lower in those first exposed as children compared with those first exposed at > or = 15 years of age. The dose-response slope for asbestos exposure and mortality from mesothelioma was not different between those who were first exposed as children than those who were first exposed at > or = 15 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Former residents of a crocidolite mining town have a high rate of mesothelioma. The rate is higher in male subjects and those > or = 15 years of age at first exposure, but women have a steeper dose-response curve.
authors.affiliation: Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology Group, School of Population Health, M707, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009 Australia. alison.reid@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heyworth
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fritschi
authors.forename: Nola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merler
authors.forename: A W Bill
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Musk
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite / Q000633:toxicity*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008906:Mining; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D017638:Asbestos, Crocidolite