US EPA

3096611 

Journal Article 

Mortality experience of family contacts of asbestos factory workers 

Joubert, L; Seidman, H; Selikoff, IJ 

1991 

Yes 

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ISSN: 0077-8923
EISSN: 1749-6632 

NEW YORK ACAD SCIENCES 

NEW YORK 

643 

416-418 

English 

1809154 

10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb24488.x 

WOS:A1991JM56800040 

The mortality experience of family contacts of workers at an asbestos factory was reported. The study group consisted of 878 household contacts of workers at a thermal insulation factory in New Jersey that used amosite (12172735) asbestos. None of the 878 contacts had direct occupational exposure to asbestos. The facility was in operation from 1941 through 1954. Of the contacts examined in the years 1973 through 1976, 115 were dead as of January 1, 1990. The majority were 10 to 15 years of age at the time of their first exposure and their deaths occurred between the ages of 70 and 80. Of the 115 total deaths, 43 were cancer related deaths. Cancer sites included lung (12 cases), total digestive organs, including stomach, pancreas, esophagus, and colon and rectum (ten), nonHodgkin's lymphoma (seven), breast (four), reproductive organs (two), nonspecified cancer (four), and pleural mesothelioma (four). The authors conclude that, since there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure, studies of other groups of family contacts should be undertaken so that additional data will be available to confirm whether limited asbestos contact is in fact as dangerous as it appears and whether many more people may be at risk for asbestos induced cancer. 

Dust; Asbestos; 1332-21-4; Index Medicus; Clothing; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over; New Jersey; Cohort Studies; Air Pollution, Indoor -- adverse effects; Neoplasms -- etiology; Asbestos -- adverse effects; Neoplasms -- mortality; Neoplasms -- epidemiology