Relation of cigarette smoking to risk of death of asbestos-associated disease among insulation workers in the United States
Clinical studies are reported indicating that cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of death by lung cancer among asbestos insulation workers. It has not been established that employment in asbestos-insulation industries increases the risk of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking also may increase the risk of death from asbestosis, although to a much lesser extent than from lung cancer. The risk of death among nonsmoking asbestos-insulation workers is greater for asbestosis than for lung cancer. This indicates that even if asbestos workers stop cigarette smoking, it will still be necessary to reduce dust exposure levels below those concentrations associated with the occurrence of asbestosis. No definitive conclusions are reached in regard to the incidence of pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma associated with cigarette smoking. Studies do indicate, however, that radiologically evident pulmonary fibrosis is augmented in asbestos workers by cigarette smoking. There seems to be a definite, although limited, association between employment in asbestos insulation work and increased risk of death from cancer of the stomach, colon-rectum, and esophagus.
- Research Organization:
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5223011
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-103433/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AEROSOLS
ASBESTOS
COLLOIDS
CORRELATIONS
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
MORTALITY
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RESIDUES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SMOKES
SOLS
SYNERGISM
THERMAL INSULATION
TOBACCO SMOKES