Classics in Oncology: Asbestos exposure and neoplasia

Building trades insulation workers have relatively light, intermittent exposure to asbestos. Of 632 insulation workers, who entered the trade before 1943 and were traced through 1962, 45 died of cancer of the lung or pleura, whereas only 6.6 such deaths were expected. Three of the pleural tumors were mesotheliomas; there was also one peritoneal mesothelioma. Four mesotheliomas in a total of 255 deaths is an exceedingly high incidence for such a rare tumor. In addition, an unexpectedly large number of men died of cancer of the stomach, colon, or rectum (29 compared with 9.4 expected). Other cancers were not increased; 20.5 were expected, and 21 occurred. Twelve men died of asbestosis.