Mortality rates in the Federal Republic of Germany following previous occupational exposure to asbestos dust

Abstract

In 1972, a procedure was introduced by the Industrial Injuries Insurance Institutes (Berufsgenossenschaften) of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is to be used by the special occupational health service for employees exposed to asbestos dust. Since 1 January 1972, occupational health examinations are performed when exposure to asbestos dust has been of at least 3 years' duration. On 1 January 1977, a prospective cohort study was started with employees formerly exposed to asbestos dust whilst working for companies manufacturing or using asbestos. Data on these persons are collected in the Central Register of Employees Exposed to Asbestos Dust of the Industrial Injuries Insurance Institutes. A total of 3,070 male and female employees in whom asbestos exposure terminated after 1 January 1972 formed subcohort I of the study. For comparison, 665 persons whose exposure terminated before 1 January 1972 served as subcohort II. In addition to several other inclusion criteria, each individual's permission was required before personal data could be evaluated. Of the subjects in the two subcohorts, 185 and 71, respectively, had died by 31 December 1982. Tumours were more frequently than this cause of death is expected in the general population. In addition to a high incidence of mesothelioma, the standard mortality rate was especially increased for lung cancer. The proportional mortality rates of about 40% for tumours of all sites (with about 17% lung cancer and 8% mesothelioma) especially in subcohort II, seemed to be comparable to the international figures for epidemiological mortality.

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-analysis

“…We identified 20 cohort studies of asbestos-exposed women that failed to report findings for ovarian cancer (Armstrong et al 1988; Cheng and Kong 1992; Clin et al 2009; Finkelstein 1989; Hein et al 2007; Karjalainen et al 1999; Knox et al 1968; Loomis et al 2009; Luberto et al 2004; McDonald et al 1980; Morinaga et al 1991; Pang et al 1997; Peto et al 1977; Raffaelli et al 2007; Raffn et al 1989; Sichletidis et al 2009; Smailyte et al 2004; Sun et al 2003; Woitowitz et al 1986; Zhu and Wang 1993). Because of our familiarity with the authors, we were able to obtain unpublished results from three of these studies (Clin et al 2009; Hein et al 2007; Loomis et al 2009).…”

Exposure to asbestos and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer: a reassessment.

“…(4) the demonstration of pathological changes in animals after exposure to the agent, similar to those seen in man, would strengthen the evidence for causation, but the failure to obtain such changes would not negate other evidence supporting a causative relation; and (5) the role of numerous attendant circumstances capable of influencing the appearance of manifestations of the disease initiated by the agent should be evaluated.…”

Production of nitric oxide elevates nitrosothiol formation resulting in decreased glutathione in macrophages exposed to asbestos or asbestos substitutes

“…Epidemiological surveys have demonstrated a good correlation between lung diseases with/without malignancy and asbestos exposure (Doll 1955;Becklake 1976;Selikoff 1979;McDonald et al 1980;Woitowitz et al 1986;Lee 2001;Dodson et al 2002); therefore, occupational and non-occupational exposure to pneumoconiogenic particles has become a serious social concern (Craighead et al 1982;Becklake 1982). Animal experiments have also shown that asbestos is one of the causal agents in the development of malignant diseases of the lung (Wagner et al 1974;Topping et al 1980;Stanton et al 1981).…”