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Mortality study of asbestos cement workers

C Giaroli1, S Belli, C Bruno

  • 1Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|January 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Asbestos cement workers experienced increased mortality from all cancers, particularly respiratory tract cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma. This risk was highest for those employed for 20 years or more in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Asbestos cement production facilities in Emilia Romagna, Italy, operated from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s.
  • Workers were exposed to asbestos, primarily chrysotile and crocidolite, with historical concentrations up to 44 ff/cc.
  • Previous studies have indicated potential health risks associated with asbestos exposure in industrial settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cause-specific mortality patterns among asbestos cement workers in the Emilia Romagna region.
  • To compare the mortality experience of a cohort of 3341 workers with the general resident population.
  • To identify specific cancer types and exposure durations associated with increased mortality risks.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study design was employed, including 3341 workers from ten asbestos cement factories.

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  • Mortality data were collected and analyzed up to 1989, with a follow-up loss rate of 2.2%.
  • Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) were calculated for all causes, all cancers, and specific respiratory tract neoplasms, comparing observed to expected deaths.

    • Main Results:

    • Overall mortality and cancer mortality were elevated in the asbestos cement worker cohort.
    • A significant increase in malignant neoplasms of the respiratory tract was observed (SMR: 134), driven by lung cancer (SMR: 124) and pleural/mediastinal neoplasms (SMR: 602).
    • Elevated mortality risks were most pronounced in workers with at least 20 years of employment, and five additional mesothelioma cases were confirmed post-study.

    Conclusions:

    • Asbestos cement workers in Emilia Romagna face significantly increased risks of respiratory cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
    • Long-term occupational exposure to asbestos is a critical factor contributing to excess cancer mortality.
    • The findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and preventive measures for workers exposed to asbestos.