The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Australia 1982–1988

Abstract

From 1980 to 1985, the Australian Mesothelioma Surveillance Program, and since 1986, the Australian Mesothelioma Register, have been collecting data on all cases of malignant mesothelioma that could be ascertained in Australia. Incidence rates were calculated on 854 Program and 696 Register cases (total 1271) diagnosed in Australia between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1988. Australia has one of the highest national rates of mesothelioma in the world (15.8 cases per million of population aged 20 years and older), and the rate is rising. The rate is far higher in males (28.3) than females (3.3). The Western Australian rate (28.9) is the highest among the states, as may be expected because of the crocidolite mine at Wittenoom; however, the largest numbers of cases occur in the more populous and industrial New South Wales. The high incidence rate, its expected continuing increase, and absence of a history of exposure to asbestos in approximately 28% of cases, demand consideration of potential environmental factors other than asbestos in the causation of this tumor, as well as continued surveillance.

Occupational and environmental mesotheliomas due to crocidolite mining activities in Wittenoom, Western Australia

“…Mesothelioma cases associated with Wittenoom (N = 144) were extracted from the 2398 case records of the Australian Mesothelioma Surveillance Program and Register for the period January 1979 to May 1992 (10,11). Detailed occupational and environmental histories had been collected by trained interviewers for all cases up until December 1985; since then less stringent exposure information has been obtained.…”

Mesotelioma maligno de pleura com associação etiológica a asbesto: a propósito de três casos clínicos

“…Por exemplo, na África do Sul, onde existe extensa mineração de crocidolita, a incidência de mesotelioma maligno é de 7,2 casos por milhão por ano 9 . Da mesma forma, em área de mineração na Austrália, a ocorrência observada é de 15,8 casos por milhão 10 . Nos EUA, onde a manipulação de asbestos foi muito intensa no período em torno à Segunda Guerra Mundial, a incidência esperada na população adulta masculina está estimada entre 7 e 13 por milhão por ano 11 .…”

Work-related death: a continuing epidemic

“…Among industrialized nations, incidence rates per 100000 males ranged from 0.2 in France (1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985) 32 through 1.1 in the United States (1982) 33 to 2.1 in the Netherlands (1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987). 32 In asbestos-mining countries, malignant mesothelioma incidence rates per 100000 males were 2.8 in Australian males 20 years and older (1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)) and 3.3 for South African males 15 years and older (1976)(1977)(1978)(1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984). 32 …”

“…32 In asbestos-mining countries, malignant mesothelioma incidence rates per 100000 males were 2.8 in Australian males 20 years and older (1982)(1983)(1984)(1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)) and 3.3 for South African males 15 years and older (1976)(1977)(1978)(1979)(1980)(1981)(1982)(1983)(1984). 32 …”