Epidemiological evidence indicates asbestos causes laryngeal cancer

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4375(90)90032-7· OSTI ID:6787251

Smith, A H; Handley, M A; Wood, R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley (USA)

A variety of opinions have been expressed in the literature concerning asbestos and laryngeal cancer. This paper presents an analysis of epidemiological studies based on criteria that prioritized the most heavily exposed cohorts. Emphasis was given to the six cohorts or subcohorts with lung cancer relative risk estimates of 2 or more. The two groups of workers with the highest lung cancer relative risk estimates (4.06 and 3.28) both gave strong support for a causal association of asbestos and laryngeal cancer, with relative risk estimates of 1.91 (90% confidence limits 1.00 to 3.34) and 3.75 (90% confidence limits 1.01 to 9.68), respectively. Confounding with cigarette smoking or alcohol consumption does not explain the findings. Case-control studies gave mixed results, but generally supported the hypothesis. It was concluded that asbestos is a probable cause of laryngeal cancer in view of the reasonable consistency of the studies, the strength of the association in key studies, the evidence for dose-response relationships, and the biological plausibility for asbestos being a cause of laryngeal cancer. 48 references.

• OSTI ID: 6787251
• Journal Information: JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (USA) Vol. 32:6; ISSN 0096-1736; ISSN JJOMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550900 -- Pathology
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
CARCINOGENESIS
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
LARYNX
NEOPLASMS
PATHOGENESIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
REVIEWS
RISK ASSESSMENT