Follow-up study of chrysotile textile workers: Cohort mortality and exposure-response

Hein, MJ; Stayner, LT; Lehman, E; Dement, JM

HERO ID

709498

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2007

Language

English

PMID

17449563

HERO ID 709498
In Press No
Year 2007
Title Follow-up study of chrysotile textile workers: Cohort mortality and exposure-response
Authors Hein, MJ; Stayner, LT; Lehman, E; Dement, JM
Journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume 64
Issue 9
Page Numbers 616-625
Abstract This report provides an update of the mortality experience of a cohort of South Carolina asbestos textile workers.<br /><br /> A cohort of 3072 workers exposed to chrysotile in a South Carolina asbestos textile plant (1916-77) was followed up for mortality through 2001. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed using US and South Carolina mortality rates. A job exposure matrix provided calendar time dependent estimates of chrysotile exposure concentrations. Poisson regression models were fitted for lung cancer and asbestosis. Covariates considered included sex, race, age, calendar time, birth cohort and time since first exposure. Cumulative exposure lags of 5 and 10 years were considered by disregarding exposure in the most recent 5 and 10 years, respectively.<br /><br /> A majority of the cohort was deceased (64%) and 702 of the 1961 deaths occurred since the previous update. Mortality was elevated based on US referent rates for a priori causes of interest including all causes combined (SMR 1.33, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.39); all cancers (SMR 1.27, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.39); oesophageal cancer (SMR 1.87, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.99); lung cancer (SMR 1.95, 95% CI 1.68 to 2.24); ischaemic heart disease (SMR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.32); and pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases (SMR 4.81, 95% CI 3.84 to 5.94). Mortality remained elevated for these causes when South Carolina referent rates were used. Three cases of mesothelioma were observed among cohort members. Exposure-response modelling for lung cancer, using a linear relative risk model, produced a slope coefficient of 0.0198 (fibre-years/ml) (standard error 0.00496), when cumulative exposure was lagged 10 years. Poisson regression modelling confirmed significant positive relations between estimated chrysotile exposure and lung cancer and asbestosis mortality observed in previous updates of this cohort.<br /><br /> This study confirms the findings from previous investigations of excess mortality from lung cancer and asbestosis and a strong exposure-response relation between estimated exposure to chrysotile and mortality from lung cancer and asbestosis.
Doi 10.1136/oem.2006.031005
Pmid 17449563
Wosid WOS:000248849200012
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Asbestos, Serpentine; Index Medicus; Epidemiologic Methods; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases -- mortality; Occupational Exposure -- adverse effects; Lung Neoplasms -- mortality; Asbestos, Serpentine -- toxicity; Textile Industry -- statistics & numerical data; Lung Neoplasms -- etiology; Occupational Diseases -- etiology
Is Qa No