Asbestos and Asbestos-Related Disease: The South African Case

Myers, Jonny; Aron, Janine; Macun, Ian

doi:10.2190/gaft-l33e-m250-anqf

Cited by 2 publications

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References 6 publications

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“…Africa was so limited that the small number of exposed individuals has resulted in a paucity of cases. and Myers et al [1987] estimate chrysotile production at about 30% of total asbestos production by the end of the 1970's. In the early 60's production was closer to 20% [Hart, 1988;du Toit, 1993].…”

Section: Paucity Of Chrysotile Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case-control study of mesothelioma in South Africa

et al. 1999

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Background South Africa has, uniquely, mined, transported, and used crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile. A multicenter case‐control study was done in South Africa to examine the details of asbestos exposure in cases and controls, and to calculate relative risks for level of certainty of asbestos exposure, nature of exposure (e.g., environmental, occupational) and fiber type. Methods Cases and controls (one cancer and one medical per case) were collected by six study centers from referral hospitals, and exposure information was collected by interviewing cases and controls in life. Results One hundred and twenty‐three cases were accepted into the study. None had purely chrysotile exposure. Twenty‐three cases had mined Cape crocidolite; three had mined amosite; and three Transvaal crocidolite plus amosite. A minimum of 22 of the cases had exclusively environmental exposure, 20 were from the NW Cape crocidolite mining area. The relative risks associated with environmental exposure in the NW Cape (crocidolite) were larger than for environmental exposure in the NE Transvaal (amosite and crocidolite): 21.9 vs. 7.1 and 50.9 vs. 12.0 for the cancer control and medical control datasets, respectively. Conclusions The results confirm the importance of environmental exposure in the Cape crocidolite mining area, the relative paucity of cases linked to amosite, the rarity of chrysotile cases and are consistent with a fiber gradient in mesotheliomagenic potential for South African asbestos with crocidolite > amosite > chrysotile. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:213–222, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Section: Paucity Of Chrysotile Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Case-control study of mesothelioma in South Africa

et al. 1999

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“…Intensive mining operations and poor environmental controls have resulted in many areas being polluted by uncontrolled dumping and subsequent use of asbestos-contaminated residual ore—for example, mixed with cement for plastering of houses 5. Ten mines were active in the 1970s6but all have now closed. Recent data from a regional cancer registry (1991–1994) in a rural area of this province (Elim hospital) showed world-standardised lung cancer incidence rates to be low, 11.6/100 000 in men and non-existent (0/100 000) in women 7.…”

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Lung cancer, tobacco, and environmental factors in the African population of the Northern Province, South Africa

et al. 1999

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Objective-To measure the association between lung cancer and exposure to tobacco, occupational pollution, and environmental pollution. Design-Case-control study among incident African patients with cancer. Questionnaire assessment of exposure to tobacco, occupation, and place of birth. Setting-Northern Province, South Africa. Subjects-Between 1993 and 1995, 288 men and 60 women with lung cancer and 183 male and 197 female controls (consisting of patients newly diagnosed with cancers other than those known to be associated with smoking) were interviewed. Unmatched, unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of developing lung cancer in relation to a number of variables. Main outcome measure-Risk of developing lung cancer related to exposure to tobacco, indoor pollution, dusty work environment, and residential exposure to asbestos. Results-There was a significant increase in the risk of developing lung cancer through smoking. In men, the ORs were 2.2 (95% CI = 1.0 to 4.6) in ex-smokers, 9.8 (95% CI = 5.9 to 16.4) in light smokers (0-14 g/day), and 12.0 (95% CI = 6.5 to 22.3) in heavy smokers. In women, the ORs were 5.8 (95% CI = 1.3 to 25.8) in ex-smokers and 5.5 (95% CI = 2.6 to 11.3) in current smokers. Work in a dusty industry showed an elevated risk (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.8 to 5.8) for lung cancer only in men. Male residents of areas where asbestos was shipped for distribution (termed moderately polluted asbestos areas) had a 2.5-fold increase (95% CI = 1.0 to 4.4) in the risk (OR) of developing lung cancer, and residents of areas where asbestos was mined (termed heavily polluted asbestos areas) had a 2.8-fold increase in risk (95% CI = 0.7 to 10.4). Female residents of heavily polluted asbestos areas showed elevated risks of 5.4 (95% CI = 1.3 to 22.5) of developing lung cancer. Conclusion-The data suggest that tobacco smoking is the most important risk factor for the development of lung cancer in this setting. Risks for lung cancer are reminiscent of those observed in Western countries in the 1960s and 1970s. However, environmental exposure to asbestos, a dusty occupation (in men), and perhaps indoor air pollution may also contribute to the development of lung cancer in this province. (Tobacco Control 1999;8:398-401)

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Asbestos and Asbestos-Related Disease: The South African Case

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Case-control study of mesothelioma in South Africa

Case-control study of mesothelioma in South Africa

Lung cancer, tobacco, and environmental factors in the African population of the Northern Province, South Africa

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