Incidence of mesothelioma and asbestosis by occupation in a diverse workforce

Abstract

Objective We sought to characterize detailed patterns of mesothelioma and asbestosis incidence in the workforce as part of an occupational disease surveillance program in Ontario, Canada. Methods The Occupational Disease Surveillance System (ODSS) cohort was established using workers' compensation claims data and includes 2.18 million workers employed from 1983 to 2014. Workers were followed for mesothelioma and asbestosis diagnoses in Ontario Cancer Registry, physician, hospital, and ambulatory care records through 2016. Trends in incidence rates were estimated over the study period. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 854 mesothelioma and 737 asbestosis cases were diagnosed during follow‐up. Compared with all other workers in the ODSS, those employed in construction trades occupations had the greatest adjusted incidence rate of both mesothelioma (223 cases; HR, 2.38; 95% CI: 2.03–2.78) and asbestosis (261 cases; HR, 3.64; 95% CI: 3.11–4.25). Rates were particularly elevated for insulators, pipefitters and plumbers, and carpenters. Workers in welding and flame cutting, boiler making, and mechanic and machinery repair occupations, as well as those in industrial chemical and primary metal manufacturing industries, had strongly elevated rates of both diseases. Rates were greater than anticipated for workers in electrical utility occupations and education and related services. Conclusions Results substantiate the risk of mesothelioma and asbestosis in occupation and industry groups in the Ontario workforce with known or suspected asbestos exposure. Sustained efforts to prevent the occurrence of additional cases of disease in high‐risk groups are warranted.

Do patterns of past asbestos use and production reflect current geographic variations of cancer risk?: mesothelioma in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada

“…The occupations where we expected to see workers overrepresented in regions with high mesothelioma rates were in the construction trades, mining, processing, and mechanics and repairers consistent with previous research [ 18 ]. Processing is a broad occupational group including workers involved with the processing of materials such as metals, chemicals, petroleum, rubber, plastic, wood and pulp, mineral ore treatment, and textile processing.…”

“…Studies on asbestos consumption have already shown that countries with high usage consistently have higher rates of mortality from mesothelioma [ 16 ], but the risks vary considerably depending on the type of exposure. For example, the primary source of occupational exposure that has been linked to asbestos-related disease has shifted away from the mining sector to other industries such as construction, oil and gas and transportation repair [ 17 , 18 ]. Still, with certain industries being associated with higher asbestos exposure relative to others, it is perhaps unsurprising that trends in mesothelioma incidence would emerge based on geographic differences in the labor force across regions [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Time to Break the “Lock-In” Impediments to Chemicals Management

“…Asbestos has been used since the 19th century, with production skyrocketing during the 20th century due to demand for construction, fireproofing, and insulation . Exposure to asbestos has well-known, well-demonstrated, and long-standing links to adverse health effects, most notably mesothelioma. − Despite this, in 2020, global production, primarily in China, Russia, and Kazakhstan, stood at 1.2 million tonnes, with most demand in China and India. ,,, …”

“…For much of the 20th century, though, it was Canada that led global asbestos production, accounting for more than half of all asbestos mined in those 100 years. ,, The vast majority (95%) of asbestos was mined in the province of Quebec, with operations centered around the towns of Asbestos and Thetford Mines. , Production peaked in 1973 at 1.7 million tonnes per year, declining steadily in the years afterward. − By 2006, production was at 186,000 tonnes per year …”

Standardized Incidence Ratio and Standardized Mortality Ratio of Malignant Mesothelioma in a Worker Cohort Using Employment Insurance Database in Korea

“…Various industries have a high risk of asbestos exposure: petroleum refining [12]; pharmaceuticals [13]; chemicals [14]; rubber and plastics [15]; non-metallic products, basic metal manufacturing, metal processing product manufacturing, machinery, and equipment manufacturing [14,16]; electronic parts and electrical equipment manufacturing [17]; shipbuilding [18,19]. In Korea, malignant mesothelioma was reported from the construction [20], shipbuilding, and asbestos textile production industries [21].…”