title: Risk factors for malignant mesothelioma in people with no known exposure to asbestos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and generally fatal cancer, usually caused by asbestos, although about 5-10% of cases report no asbestos exposure. This study aimed to identify sources whereby people in Western Australia (WA) may be unknowingly exposed to asbestos or to other exposures which may cause MM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases with no known asbestos exposure were selected from the WA Mesothelioma Register (WAMR). Matched controls were selected from hospital patients admitted for conditions unrelated to asbestos. Occupational histories were coded by an industrial hygienist. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight MM participants and 134 controls were recruited. Risk of MM was increased (OR = 3.1, 95%CI 1.0-9.6) after no known, but likely, exposure to asbestos at work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of its extensive use, few people in WA have never been exposed to asbestos. Unrecognized exposure may cause most MM cases initially regarded as "no exposure." Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:432-436, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Musk
authors.affiliation: Caltex Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Len
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Helman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Nola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mina
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Fraser
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brims
authors.affiliation: PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9223-0767
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Klerk
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos
keywords: asbestos; case-control study; exposure assessment; mesothelioma