The mortality experience of a cohort of chrysotile miners employed since 1946 in Balangero, northern Italy was updated to the end of 1987 giving a total of 427 deaths out of 27,010 man-years at risk. A substantial excess mortality for all causes (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 149) was found, mainly because of high rates for some alcohol related deaths (hepatic cirrhosis, accidents). For mortality from cancer, however, the number of observed deaths (82) was close to that expected (76.2). The SMR was raised for oral cancer (SMR 231 based on six deaths), cancer of the larynx (SMR 267 based on eight deaths), and pleura (SMR 667 based on two deaths), although the excess only reached statistical significance for cancer of the larynx. Rates were not increased for lung, stomach, or any other type of cancer. No consistent association was seen with duration or cumulative dust exposure (fibre-years) for oral cancer, but the greatest risks for laryngeal and pleural cancer were in the highest category of duration and degree of exposure to fibres. Although part of the excess mortality from laryngeal cancer is probably attributable to high alcohol consumption in this group of workers, the data suggest that exposure to chrysotile asbestos (or to the fibre balangeroite that accounts for 0.2-0.5% of total mass in the mine) is associated with some, however moderate, excess risk of laryngeal cancer and pleural mesothelioma. The absence of excess mortality from lung cancer in this cohort is difficult to interpret.

An update of cancer mortality among chrysotile asbestos miners in Balangero, Northern Italy / G. Piolatto, E. Negri, C. La Vecchia, E. Pira, A. Decarli, J. Peto. - In: BRITISH JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE. - ISSN 0007-1072. - 47:12(1990 Dec), pp. 810-814.

An update of cancer mortality among chrysotile asbestos miners in Balangero, Northern Italy

E. Negri;C. La Vecchia;A. Decarli
Penultimo
;
1990

Abstract

The mortality experience of a cohort of chrysotile miners employed since 1946 in Balangero, northern Italy was updated to the end of 1987 giving a total of 427 deaths out of 27,010 man-years at risk. A substantial excess mortality for all causes (standardised mortality ratio (SMR) = 149) was found, mainly because of high rates for some alcohol related deaths (hepatic cirrhosis, accidents). For mortality from cancer, however, the number of observed deaths (82) was close to that expected (76.2). The SMR was raised for oral cancer (SMR 231 based on six deaths), cancer of the larynx (SMR 267 based on eight deaths), and pleura (SMR 667 based on two deaths), although the excess only reached statistical significance for cancer of the larynx. Rates were not increased for lung, stomach, or any other type of cancer. No consistent association was seen with duration or cumulative dust exposure (fibre-years) for oral cancer, but the greatest risks for laryngeal and pleural cancer were in the highest category of duration and degree of exposure to fibres. Although part of the excess mortality from laryngeal cancer is probably attributable to high alcohol consumption in this group of workers, the data suggest that exposure to chrysotile asbestos (or to the fibre balangeroite that accounts for 0.2-0.5% of total mass in the mine) is associated with some, however moderate, excess risk of laryngeal cancer and pleural mesothelioma. The absence of excess mortality from lung cancer in this cohort is difficult to interpret.
Occupational Exposure; Asbestos; Humans; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Alcohol Drinking; Mouth Neoplasms; Cause of Death; Italy; Neoplasms; Asbestos, Serpentine; Cohort Studies; Occupational Diseases; Mining; Time Factors; Male; Pleural Neoplasms
Settore MED/01 - Statistica Medica
dic-1990
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Br J Ind Med-1990-Piolatto-810-4.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 917.32 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
917.32 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/188569
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 13
  • Scopus 104
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 92
social impact