[Risk of cancer in women occupationally exposed to asbestos dust]

In order to estimate the risk of death due to cancer in those occupationally exposed to asbestos dust, 1190 women--workers of an asbestos producing plant--employed for at least 3 months during 1945-1973, were examined. The cohort availability for 31 December 1981 was 89.6%. The risk was analyzed basing on the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) calculated by the man-years method. The reference group was that of the general population of women in Poland. In the test cohort, 136 deaths occurred (SMR = 93.3), in this 46 were caused by malignant tumours (SMR = 162.0), 25 by malignant tumours of the digestive organs and peritoneum (SMR = 226.9), 13 by malignant tumours of the liver and pancreas (SMR = 360.9). The mortality due to the above mentioned causes was significantly higher than that of the general population. In the subcohort of women employed during 1945-1955 selected for the very high concentration of asbestos dust 95 deaths occurred in this period (SMR = 111.1). Significantly higher than in the reference population was mortality of: malignant tumours totally (32 deaths, SMR = 206.1), malignant tumours of the digestive organs and peritoneum (20 deaths. SMR = 311.0), and malignant tumours of the liver and pancreas (12 deaths, SMR = 541.5).