Cohort mortality study of women compensated for asbestosis in Italy

Background The carcinogenic effect of asbestos is accepted for lung cancer and mesothelioma, while conflicting opinions exist for other cancer sites. The aim of the present investigation is to study cause-specific mortality o f women compensated for asbestosis who had certainly been exposed to high l evels of asbestos fibers. Methods The cause-specific mortality of all Italian women compensated for a sbestosis and alive December 31, 1979, was investigated through October 30, 1997 In the total cohort, which included 631 subjects, 277 deaths occurred . Cause-specific SMRs (Standardtzed Mortality Ratio) were computed using th e national rates for comparison. Results A significantly increased mortality for all diseases related to asb estos exposure was observed Mortality for all causes, all neoplasms, lung c ancel; uterine cancer; ovarian cancer; and non-neoplastic respiratory disea ses was significantly increased. Separate analyses for textile (n = 276) an d asbestos-cement (n = 278) workers were performed Women employed in the te xtile industry, mainly exposed to chrysotile, who are compensated at a youn ger age, showed higher SMRs for lung cancer and asbestosis. Women in the as bestos-cement industry, mainly exposed to crocidolite containing asbestos m ixtures, experienced higher mortality for pleural malignancies. Conclusions The role of asbestos exposure in the development of gastrointes tinal and genital neoplasms is discussed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:129-134, 1999 . (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.