Cancer mortality in a surveillance cohort of German males formerly exposed to asbestos.
The objective of this analysis was the estimation of the cancer risks of asbestos and asbestosis in a surveillance cohort of high-exposed German workers. A group of 576 asbestos workers was selected for high-resolution computer tomography of the chest in 1993-1997. A mortality follow-up was conducted through 2007. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated and Poisson regression was performed to assess mesothelioma risks. A high risk was observed for pleural mesothelioma (SMR 28.10, 95% CI 15.73-46.36) that decreased after cessation of exposure (RR 0.1; 95% CI 0.0-0.6 for > or =30 vs. <30 years after last exposure). Asbestosis was a significant risk factor for mesothelioma (RR 6.0, 95% CI 2.4-14.7). Mesothelioma mortality was still in excess in former asbestos workers although decreasing after cessation of exposure. Fibrosis was associated with subsequent malignancy.
Center of Epidemiology, BGFA - Research Institute of Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. pesch@bgfa.de
Beate
B
Pesch
Dirk
D
Taeger
Georg
G
Johnen
Isabelle M
IM
Gross
Daniel G
DG
Weber
Monika
M
Gube
Alice
A
Müller-Lux
Evelyn
E
Heinze
Thorsten
T
Wiethege
Volker
V
Neumann
Andrea
A
Tannapfel
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Raithel
Thomas
T
Brüning
Thomas
T
Kraus
D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment
D001194:Asbestos