[Mortality from malignant neoplasms in men occupationally exposed to asbestos dust]

The authors present the results of cancer risk evaluation in the cohort of men occupationally exposed to chrysotile asbestos dust in the plant involved in the production of asbestos packings, uneven fabric, yarn, cords, asbestos and rubber cardboards and friction materials. A retrospective observation, carried out till 31 December 1990, covered 2,403 men employed during the years 1945-73. The cohort accessibility accounted for 90.5%. Cancer risk was evaluated on the basis of standardized mortality ratio (SMR) calculated according to the person-years method. A slightly higher mortality from malignant neoplasms was found in the cohort than in the general population (160 deaths; SMR = 108). A significant excess mortality applied only to one site, namely large intestine (9 deaths; SMR = 232). In the subcohort of workers exposed to a high dose of asbestos dust, a significant increase in total cancer risk was revealed (30 deaths; SMR = 150), including neoplasm of stomach (8 deaths; SMR = 223), large intestine (3 deaths, SMR = 582) and liver (3 deaths, SMR = 373). No significant increase in mortality from lung cancer was observed.