CANCER IN EX-ASBESTOS CEMENT WORKERS IN ISRAEL, 1953-1992

A cohort of 3,057 male workers employed in an asbestos-cement plant us ing 90% chrysotile-10% crocidolite, located in Northern Israel, was fo llowed from 1953-1992 for incidence and mortality from cancer. In the years 1978-1992, the cohort had an elevated risk for all malignant neo plasms combined (n = 153, SIR = 117, ns), lung cancer (n = 28, SIR = 1 35 ns), mesothelioma (n = 21; SIR > 5000 p < .0001), unspecified pleur al cancer (n = 5; SIR = 278, P < .0001), and liver cancer (n = 7, SIR 290 ns). Risks for colo-rectal (n = 19; SIR = 79, ns), bladder (n = 12 , SIR 69) and renal cancers (n = 5 SIR 104) were less than expected. R isk for mesothelioma showed a sharp risk gradient with duration of exp osure, increasing from 1 per 625 for those employed less than 2 years to 1 per 4.5 workers employed over 30 years. The ratio of mesothelioma to excess lung cancer cases was 2.9 to 1, or 3.6 to 1, if pleural cas es of unspecified origin were included; the pleura to peritoneum ratio of verified mesothelioma cases was 20 to 1. This atypically high rati o of mesothelioma to excess lung cancer cases is suggested to be the c ombined result of high past asbestos exposures in the workers and thei r low prior risk for lung cancer and possibly, relatively early smokin g cessation in relation to asbestos exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:1-8, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.