Asbestos and Lung Cancer report: Research into Malignant and Non-malignant Respiratory Disease Prescriptions
Published 3 June 2025
Authors: Will Mueller, Hilary Cowie, Damien McElvenny, Anne Sleeuwenhoek, Helena Copsey, Ken Dixon, David Fishwick (HSE).
Our impact on the environment
At IOM we seek to minimise our environmental impact. We produce thousands of reports every year and these consume a large quantity of paper. To minimise our impact on the environment, we prefer to only provide an electronic copy of reports, although we can provide a paper copy on request. If you have any additional requirements, please let us know.
1. Introduction
Asbestos and lung cancer is one of 6 high-priority occupational exposure-disease combinations that were identified with IIAC as being of highest priority for more detailed investigation (see Report of Phase 1 of this project).
This document contains a commentary on the extracted data for relevant occupational epidemiological studies relating to lung cancer and asbestos exposure and is meant to be read in conjunction with the associated spreadsheets containing the data extraction from these studies (Appendix 1). These data relate to both those studies reported in the most recent IARC Monograph (IARC Working Group, 2012) and more recent publications identified from literature searches by the IOM research team. A particular issue to be clarified, if possible, is the strength of evidence for associations in the absence of asbestosis (the latter generally regarded as a sign of heavy asbestos exposure).
2. Methods
In February 2023, an initial broad search (Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) was run in the NLM PubMed database to determine how many studies would be retrieved: 1,631 references were returned. Due to this high volume of results, following a meeting with IIAC, it was agreed that the focus should be on occupations already included in the current list of prescribed diseases:
The current prescriptions for D1, D8A and D9 list those occupational circumstances associated with high levels of exposure to asbestos. A search string was compiled for Web of Science (WoS) and NLM PubMed to cover D1, D8A and D9:
(Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) AND ((manufacture AND textiles) OR (spray* OR insulation) OR (“ship building” AND materials AND (apply* OR remov* OR clean*)) OR (dust AND (machinery OR plant))).
The focus of the search was on asbestos and lung cancer and so we did not explicitly search using the term ‘asbestosis’. This search was run in January 2024 and retrieved 11 PubMed references and 26 Web of Science references to cover the period 2017 to the present. The searches were run in PubMed in the title/abstract field in ‘Advanced Search’ and in Web of Science Core Collection in the topic field (title, abstract, keywords). Variations of this search were then tried to see the difference in the number of papers identified:
-
(Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) AND ((manufacture AND textiles) OR (spray* OR insulation) OR (“ship building” AND materials AND (apply* OR remov* OR clean*)) OR (dust AND (machinery OR plant))) 2009 to present
-
(Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) AND (textiles OR (spray* OR insulation) OR (“ship building” AND materials AND (apply* OR remov* OR clean*)) OR (dust AND (machinery OR plant))) both from 2017 and 2009 to present
-
(Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) AND ((manufacture AND textiles) OR (spray* OR insulation) OR “ship building” OR (dust AND (machinery OR plant))) both from 2017 and 2009 to present
-
(Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) AND (textiles OR (spray* OR insulation) OR “ship building” OR (dust AND (machinery OR plant))) both from 2017 and 2009 to present
Search no. 4 above, which had generated the most hits (47 Web of Science and 211 PuMed), was then extended to include some additional ‘high risk’ industries: (Exposure AND (lung AND cancer) AND asbestos) AND (textiles OR (spray* OR insulation) OR “ship building” OR shipbuilding OR ship builder* OR shipbuilder* OR (asbestos AND product AND manufacture) OR “metal plate worker” OR riveter OR coachbuilder* OR “coach builder” OR (vehicle AND (body-maker* OR builder)) OR lagger OR (work* AND energy) OR “boiler attendant” OR docker OR navy OR plumber* OR electric* OR painter* OR decorator* OR carpenter* OR joiner* OR (dust AND (machinery OR plant))). The references from 2009 were exported to DistillerSR for screening, this being the latest date for publications included in the IARC monograph (2012).
3. Results
3.1 IARC review of asbestos and lung cancer, 2012
IARC (2012) concluded that the association between asbestos exposure and lung cancer has been “well established in numerous epidemiological investigations”, while noting that there are some limitations that may explain the heterogeneity of the findings across studies. In summary, these limitations were:
- Exposure to different types, fibre sizes and levels of asbestos between industries and across time
- Differences in how the issue of latency was accounted for in studies
- Differences in approaches taken to estimate asbestos exposure (these ranged from a binary indicator for employment in a specific industry to quantification of cumulative exposure indices).
- Potential misclassification of disease was also noted as a possible study limitation, but this was more likely to occur for diseases other than lung cancer, for example mesothelioma.
Table 3.1 summarises the results of the occupational cohort studies examined by IARC, broadly categorised by occupational group (classification done by IARC). The information in this table has been collated from Tables 2.2 and 2.3 in the IARC monograph (Appendix 2), non-occupational cohorts and studies for which no risk estimate is reported to have been excluded from the table. References are included in the IARC monograph and not the present report.
Table 3.1: Summary of occupational cohort studies assessed by IARC (2012)
Mining
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 91 | 1.60 | 1.31-1.97 | Crocidolite | 1943-1966 (FU 1980) | Armstrong et al (1988) |
Canada | 646 | 1.37 | Chrysotile | Born 1891-1920 (FU 1975) | Liddell et al (1997) | |
Finland | 76M 1F |
2.88 2.22 |
2.27-3.60 0.06-12.4 |
Anthophyllite | 1936-1967 (FU 1953-91) | Maurman et al (1994) |
Italy | 22 | 1.1 | Chrysotile & Balangeroite | 1930-1965 (FU 1987) | Piolatto et al (1990) | |
South Africa | 63 | 1.72 | 1.32-2.21 | Crocidolite | 1945-1955 (FU 1980) | Sluis-Cremer et al (1992) |
USA | 89 | 1.7 | 1.4-2.1 | Tremolite | 1982-2001 | Sulllivan (2007) |
Insulation manufacturers and insulators
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 1168 | 4.35 | P<0.001 | In union 1967 (FU 1967-86) | Selikoff & Seidman (1991) | |
UK | 57 | 2.0 | Amosite | 1947-1979 (FU 1947-80) | Acheson et al (1984) | |
UK | 38 | 3.6 | Crocidolite, amosite, chrysotile | 1933-1964 (FU 1980) | Berry et al (2000) | |
USA | 35 | 2.77 | 1.93-3.85 | Amosite | 1954-1972 (FU 1964-1993) | Levin et al (1998) |
Asbestos textile workers
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | 76 | 2.82 | 2.22-3.54 | 1946-1984 (FU 1996) | Pira et al (2005) | ||||
UK | 132 | 1.31 | P<0.01 | Chrysotile, crocidolite | 1916-1983 (FU 1983) | Peto et al (1985) | |||
USA | 198 | 1.95 | 1.68-2.24 | Chrysotile, (crocidolite) | 1940-1975 (FU 2001) | Hein et al (2007) | |||
USA | 277 | 1.96 | 1.73-2.20 | Chrysotile, (amosite) | 1950-1973 (FU 2003) | Loomis et al (2009) | |||
Asbestos cement
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denmark: to 1984 | 162 | 1.80 | 1.54-2.10 | Chrysotile. amosite, crocidolite | 1928-1984 (FU 1943-84) | Raffin et al (1989) | |
Denmark: to 1990 | 1.63 | 1.26-2.08 | Chrysotile. amosite, crocidolite | 1928-1984 (FU 1943-90) | Raffin et al (1996) | ||
Italy | 33 | 1.24 | 0.91-1.66 | Chrysotile, crocidolite | 1952-1987 (FU 1989) | Giaroli et al (1994) | |
Italy | 110M 7F |
2.71 3.96 |
2.23-3.27 1.59-8.16 |
Chrysotile, crocidolite | 1950-1980 (FU 1965-93) | Botta et al (1991) | |
Lithuania | 29M 1F |
0.90 0.70 |
0.7-1.3 0.1-4.6 |
Chrysotile | Pre-1978 (FU 2000) | Smailyte et al (2004a) | |
Sweden | 35 | 1.8 | 0.90-3.7 | Chrysotile. (amosite, crocidolite) | 1907-1977 (FU 1986) | Albin et al (1990) | |
UK | 35M 6F |
0.9 1.4 |
0.6-1.3 0.5-3.1 |
Chrysotile | 1941-1983 (FU 1984) | Gardner et al (1986) | |
USA | 154 | 1.34 | Chrysotile | Pre-1970 (FU 1980) | Hughes et al (1987) |
Friction materials
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 11 | 1.40 | 1950 (FU 1985) | Finkelstein (1989a) | |||
UK | 229M 12F |
1.03 0.57 |
0.9-1.18 0.29-0.99 |
Chrysotile | 1941-1986 (FU 1986) | Berry (1994) | |
USSR | 1M 1F |
0.14 0.33 |
Chrysotile | 1966 (FU 1984) | Kogan et al (1993) | ||
USA | 15 | 0.95 | Chrysotile | (FU 1937-1980) | Parnes (1990) |
Generic ‘asbestos workers’
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 67 | 4.2 | p<0.01 | Chrysotile | (FU 1986) | Zhu & Wang (1993) | |
China | 3M 6F |
5.1 6.8 |
p<0.01 p<0.01 |
Chrysotile | (FU 1994) | Pang et al (1997) | |
Germany | 26 12 |
1.70 4.62 |
p<0.05 p<0.05 |
Pre-1977 (FU 1977-82) | Woitowitz et al (1986) | ||
UK | 157M 37F |
2.55 7.46 |
Crocidolite, amosite, chrysotile | 1933-1964 (FU 1980) | Berry et al (2000) | ||
UK | 22 | 2.00 | Chrysotile, crocidolite | 1939 (FU 1951-80) | Acheson et al (1982) | ||
UK | 157 | 1.30 | p<0.01 | Various | (FU 1981) | Hodgson & Jones (1986) | |
USA | 77 | 2.71 | p<0.01 | Amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite | 1941-1967 (FU 1980) | Enterline et al (1987) |
Other occupations with substantial asbestos exposure
Study population | Lung cancer Obs | Lung cancer SMR/RR | Lung cancer 95% CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada Plumbers & pipefitters | 393 | 1.27 | 1.13-1.42 | 1950-1999 (FU 1999) | Finkelstein & Verma (2004) | ||
Finland Shipyard workers | 227 | 1.18 | 1.03-1.35 | 1945-1960 (FU 1953-81) | Tola et al (1988) | ||
Italy Railway carriage repair and construction | 26 | 1.24 | 0.87-1.72 | Chrysotile, crocidolite | 1945-1969 (FU 1970-97) | Battista et al (1999) | |
Italy Ship repair, refit and construction | 298 | 1.77 | 1.57-1.98 | Pre-1952 (FU 1960-69) | Puntoni et al (2001) | ||
Sweden Shipyard workers | 11 | 1.12 | 0.56-2.0 | Chrysotile | (FU 1978-83) | Sanden & Jarvholm (1987) |
3.2 Asbestos and lung cancer studies
Our updated search of occupational exposure to asbestos and lung cancer studies since the most recent IARC report identified 26 studies, most of which (24) were cohort studies, with the remaining (2) using a case-control design.
The most common industry in the cohort studies was asbestos textile (11 studies), which included 5 studies from USA, 5 studies from China, and one study from Italy. The Chinese studies all examined the same cohort with variations on the analysis (e.g., use of internal, external, and occupational control populations). Smoking adjustments was included in these analyses, which appeared to be limited to classification as ever or never smokers.
There was significant overlap in the study population of the US textile studies, which included workers from subsets of the same facilities in North and South Carolina. It was not possible to include smoking status in the data analysis.
The main asbestos fibre of exposure in all studies was chrysotile. All of the included studies demonstrated statistically significant higher risks of lung cancer incidence/mortality or reduced survival time in those exposed to asbestos. Only one study included data on lung cancer deaths with respect to asbestosis status, which suggests a more than doubled rate in those with (17%) asbestosis compared to those without (7%).
The next most common sector was mining (6 studies), of which there were 4 studies from China and one study each from Italy and Finland. One of the Chinese studies produced risk estimates for both the textile industry (included above) and mining. All of the Chinese studies were from the country’s largest chrysotile mine and indicated lung cancer risks that were at least 2.5 times higher in the exposed groups. Smoking (ever/never) and occupational histories were available for the cohorta. The Italian study also suggested elevated risks, though the CI included the null value. Similar to the studies of the textile industry, the main exposure was chrysotile. Other than Wang et al. (2013a) stating that there was one case of asbestosis in the lung cancer deaths, the studies did not include information on the relationship between the presence of asbestosis and lung cancer.
The remaining 8 studies examined asbestos exposures in different settings, involving shipbuilding and shipyards (3 studies from Italy & Japan), navy workers (2 studies from Norway), insulation (1 study from USA), vehicle mechanics (1 study from Denmark), and mixed occupations (1 study from Italy), plus 1 Finnish study that also provided risk estimates for a mining cohort, included above. Some of these studies reported chrysotile and other asbestos fibres, such as amosite and crocidolite, but others did not report the fibre type at all. Most of the studies indicated elevated risks for those exposed to asbestos, with the exceptions of boiler repairers in Japan (n=8 cases) and male civilian navy personnel in Norway (n=185 cases), though central risk estimates were above the null in both instances. Only the Finnish study included a lung cancer risk estimate for asbestosis patients, which was highly elevated compared to the general population (i.e., SIR>8).
In addition to the cohort studies, two nested case-control studies were identified in the search: one study of the textile industry in China (chrysotile) and one study of workers at asbestos processing plants in Poland (asbestos fibres not reported). These studies each suggested significantly elevated risks in the highest exposed groups. The Chinese study also noted that the incidence of asbestosis was approximately twice as high in cases (39%) compared to controls (19%).
Table 3.2 a) to e) (below) summarises these studies using the occupational categorisation as those presented in the IARC report. ‘Time period’ includes both the periods of occupation and follow-up. We have also included any available information on asbestosis and lung cancer, though such studies were a small minority.
Table 3.2 a): Textile cohort studies.
Study population | Lung cancer cases/deaths | Effect | Lower CI | Upper CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Adjustment for smoking/Notes | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 51 | Power model β=0.53 (SE=0.12) p<0.001 | not reported | not reported | Chrysotile | 1972-2006 | Ever/never smokers | Deng et al (2011) |
China | 53 | HR= 3.31 | 1.6 | 6.87 | Chrysotile | 1972-2008 | Ever/never smokers | Wang et al., (2012b) |
China | 53 | Hazard ratio=2.99 | 1.30 | 6.91 | Chrysotile | 1972-2008 | Ever/never smokers | Wang et al., (2012c) |
China | Males: 53 Females: 2 |
SMR= Males: 4.08 Females: 1.23 |
Males: 3.12 Females: 0.34 |
5.334.50 | Chrysotile | 1972-2008 | No smoking adjustment; Males: Lung cancer deaths: 17% (22 ⁄ 127) in those with asbestosis 7% (31 ⁄ 450) in those without asbestosis Females: No lung cancer deaths in those with asbestosis |
Wang et al (2013a) |
China | 46 | SMR= 6.34 | 4.75 | 8.45 | Chrysotile | 1972-2008 | Ever/never smokers | Wang et al., (2014) |
USA | 116 | ERR fiber-year/ml (cumulative exposure)=0.015 | 0.007 | 0.0028 | Chrysotile | 1940-2001 | None | Richardson (2009) |
USA | 277 | RR per 100 fiber-year/ml =1.102 | 1.044 | 1.164 | Chrysotile | 1950-2003 | None | Loomis et al (2009) |
USA | 180 | Change in lung cancer risk (total fibers)=0.03 (3%) | p=0.002 | p=0.002 | Chrysotile | 1950-2003 | None | Loomis et al (2010) |
USA | 361 | Change in log of lung cancer risk (total fibers)=0.039 | 0.020 | 0.057 | Chrysotile | 1940-2003 | None | Loomis et al (2012) |
USA | 142 | Survival time ratio=0.57 | 0.33 | 0.96 | Chrysotile | 1940-2001 | None | Naimi et al., (2014) |
Italy (Northern) | 143 | SMR=2.96 | 2.50 | 3.49 | Chrysotile (mainly), some crocidolite | 1946-2013 | None | Pira et al (2016) |
Table 3.2 b): Mining cohort studies
Study population | Lung cancer cases/deaths | Effect | Lower CI | Upper CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Adjustment for smoking/Notes | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 1932 | RR=2.57 | 1.35 | 4.88 | Chrysotile | 1981-2010 | Smokers/non-smokers | Du et al., (2012) |
China | 50 | SMR=4.71 | 3.57 | 6.21 | Chrysotile | 1981-2006 | Ever/never smokers | Wang et al., (2012a) |
China | 56 | SMR=4.69 | 3.61 | 6.09 | Chrysotile | 1981-2006 | Smoking/ever smoking or non-smoking; 1 case of asbestosis in lung cancer deaths |
Wang et al., (2013b) |
China | 56 | SMR=4.25 | 3.27 | 5.52 | Chrysotile | 1981-2006 | Ever/never smokers | Wang et al., (2014) |
Italy | 40 | SMR=1.41 | 0.81 | 1.55 | Chrysotile | 1946-2013 | None | Ferrante et al., (2019) |
Finland | 78 | SIR=2.46 | 1.95 | 3.07 | Anthophyllite | 1967–2012 | Smoking-specific risk estimates | Nynas et al (2017) |
Table 3.2 c): Other cohort studies.
Study population | Lung cancer cases/deaths | Effect | Lower CI | Upper CI | Type of exposure | Time period | Adjustment for smoking/Notes | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USA (Insulation workers) | 89 | SMR=2.44 | 196 | 300 | Amosite | 1954-2011 | None | Levin et al., (2016) |
Finland (Sprayers, construction, shipyard, other) | Asbestosis patients: 41 | SIR=8.19 | 5.88 | 11.1 | Unknown | 1978–2012 | Smoking-specific risk estimates | Nynas et al (2017) |
Finland (Sprayers, construction, shipyard, other) | Asbestos sprayers: 22 | 11.3 | 7.10 | 17.2 | Crocidolite | 1967–2012 | Smoking-specific risk estimates | Nynas et al (2017) |
Finland (Sprayers, construction, shipyard, other) | Screening cohort (mixed): 994 | 1.23 | 1.16 | 1.30 | Chrysotile, crocidolite, unknown | 1988–2012 | Smoking-specific risk estimates | Nynas et al (2017) |
Italy (shipbuilding & other occupations) | 66 | SIR=1.61 | 1.26 | 2.04 | Not reported | 1995-2009 | Smoking/ever smoking or non-smoking | Barbiero et al., (2018a) |
Italy (shipbuilding & other occupations) | 70 | SMR=1.49 | 1.17 | 1.89 | Unknown | 1989-2011 | Smoking/ever smoking or non-smoking | Barbiero et al., (2018b) |
Italy (Mixed occupations) | Male: 3535 Female: 99 |
SMR: Male: 1.28 Female: 1.26 |
Male: 1.24 Female: 1.02 |
Male: 1.32 Female: 1.53 |
Mixed | 1970-2018 | None | Ferrante et al., (2024) |
Japan (Shipyard workers) | Laggers: 7 Boiler repairers: 8 |
Laggers: 2.64 Boiler repairers: 1.61 |
Laggers: 1.06 Boiler repairers: 0.70 |
Laggers: 5.44 Boiler repairers: 3.17 |
Chrysotile, amosite | 1947-2007 | None | Tomioka et al., (2011) |
Norway (navy workers) | 107 | SIR (Vessel ≥2 years)=1.24 | 1.03 | 1.50 | Chrysotile (mainly), some crocidolite | 1953-2007 | None | Strand et al., (2010) |
Norway (Navy workers) | Men: 185 Women: 77 |
SIR= Men: 1.12 Women: 1.35 |
Men: 0.97 Women: 1.07 |
Men: 1.30 Women: 1.69 |
Not reported | 1960-2015 | None | Strand et al., (2018) |
Denmark (vehicle mechanics) | 1815 | Adjusted HR: 1.09 | 1.03 | 1.14 | Chrysotile | 1970-2012 | None | Thomsen et al., (2021) |
Table 3.2 e): Case-control studies
Study population | Lung cancer cases/deaths | Effect | LCI | UCI | Type of exposure | Time period | Adjustment for smoking/Notes Notes | Author |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China (textile) | 1139 | OR (medium exposure)=1.25 OR (high exposure)=3.66 |
OR (medium exposure)=0.47 OR (high exposure)=1.61 |
OR (medium exposure)=3.31 OR (high exposure)=8.29 |
Chrysotile | 1972-2001 | Non-smokers and ever smokers; Asbestosis was diagnosed in 16 cases (39%) and 37 controls (19%) | Yano et al., (2010) |
Poland (processing) | 165 | OR (highest cumulative exposure category)=1.99 | 1.22 | 3.25 | Not reported | 2000-2013 | Pack-years of smoking | Świątkowska et al (2015) |
4. Synthesis and Discussion
The current prescription for lung cancer from asbestos exposure (D8 & D8A) is presented in Appendix 3. D8 specifies the prescribed conditions for lung cancer with accompanying asbestosis: working with asbestos, manufacturing asbestos textiles, cleaning machinery involved in such operations, or being exposed to resulting dust. D8A specifies the conditions for the presence of lung cancer (i.e., no evidence of asbestosis), which includes, similar to D8, manufacture of asbestos tiles, spraying asbestos, asbestos insulation, or handling asbestos via shipbuilding. Temporal exposure criteria are also included in D8A.
Our search focussing on terms related to the presently prescribed diseases resulted in the identification of 26 relevant studies published since 2009 (i.e., the latest year for which the most recent IARC monograph had included studies). Nearly two thirds of the studies (17/26; 65%) pertained to asbestos mining or textile industries. Most of these studies were from China or USA, with significant overlap of participants within these sectors in each country. The remaining 9 studies mainly took place in Europe, covering shipbuilding, navy workers, and a mix of other occupations.
It is noteworthy that none of the identified studies took place in the UK. Since the search terms were based on the current prescriptions (to achieve a more manageable list of studies to review given resource and timeline constraints), it would be expected that the results would predominantly address these industries. There were also studies relating to mining exposure, but this is not relevant for occupational exposures in the UK.
The main results from each study indicated clear increases in lung cancer risks with asbestos exposure. Only four studies distinguished between lung cancer rates in those with asbestosis (though not in asbestosis-free individuals). A cohort study indicated lung cancer rates were more than doubled in individuals with asbestosis, and a case-control study found asbestosis rates were twice as high in cases compared to controls. Another one of the studies quantified very high risks of lung cancer in those with asbestosis. Based on this limited evidence, it was not possible to estimate lung cancer risk levels in those without asbestosis from different occupational exposure scenarios.
It is worth noting that there is now statistical evidence that the interaction between smoking and asbestos exposure on lung cancer risk, with no requirement for asbestosis (Klebe et al, 2020). In addition, the earlier Helsinki criteria for diagnosis of asbestos and asbestos-related cancer states that “A cumulative exposure of 25 fibre-years is estimated to increase the risk of lung cancer 2-fold, clinical cases of asbestosis may occur at comparable cumulative exposures (Wolff et al 2014).
Overall, the studies identified since the most recent IARC report continue to indicate strong lung cancer risks with occupational exposure to asbestos, with the possible exception of the removal of the requirement for job history information in the presence of asbestosis in PD D8. From this review, there is no evidence base to recommend revisions to the current IIAC prescription. However, there may be additional occupational circumstances with relevance to the UK, which could be examined in a broader review of the literature: for example, studies of lung cancer risks in construction workers, navy personnel, and vehicle mechanics, etc. Risk levels in these occupations from our search did appear to be lower than those currently prescribed, but nevertheless, a broadened search focussing on specific occupational exposures may be warranted, and could be guided by the job categories that are known to be at risk of mesothelioma and or asbestosis. Alternatively, a review of exposure studies could identify specific occupational circumstances whereby exposure to asbestos is likely to be associated with an RR>2.
5. Conclusions
Our updated search of occupational exposure to asbestos and lung cancer studies since 2009, based on the current prescriptions, identified 26 studies. Most of the search results were cohort studies (24), with the remaining using a case-control design (2). The majority of studies examined the textile and mining industries, with the others involving shipbuilding, navy personnel, insulation workers, vehicle mechanics, and other occupations. The studies demonstrated substantially elevated lung cancer risks in those occupationally exposed to asbestos, with limited evidence differentiating risk levels only in those with asbestosis.
While there is no clear rationale to revise the current IIAC prescription definitions for lung cancer and asbestos exposure, a broader search including other occupational circumstances involving asbestos exposure may be warranted in order to ensure that there are not other groups of asbestos exposed workers with lung cancer currently being excluded by the current process. Alternatively, a review of exposure studies could identify specific occupational circumstances whereby exposure to asbestos is likely to be associated with an RR>2.
6. References
Barbiero, F., Zanin, T., Pisa, F.E., Casetta, A., Rosolen, V., Giangreco, M., Negro, C., Bovenzi, M. and Barbone, F., 2018a. Cancer incidence in a cohort of asbestos-exposed workers undergoing health surveillance. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 91, pp.831-841.
Barbiero, F., Zanin, T., Pisa, F.E., Casetta, A., Rosolen, V., Giangreco, M., Negro, C., Bovenzi, M. and Barbone, F., 2018b. Mortality in a cohort of asbestos-exposed workers undergoing health surveillance. La Medicina del Lavoro, 109(2), p.83.
Deng, Q., Wang, X., Wang, M. and Lan, Y., 2012. Exposure–response relationship between chrysotile exposure and mortality from lung cancer and asbestosis. Occupational and environmental medicine, 69(2), pp.81-86.
Du, L., Wang, X., Wang, M. and Lan, Y., 2012. Analysis of mortality in chrysotile asbestos miners in China. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology [Medical Sciences], 32, pp.135-140.
Ferrante, D., Mirabelli, D., Silvestri, S., Azzolina, D., Giovannini, A., Tribaudino, P. and Magnani, C., 2020. Mortality and mesothelioma incidence among chrysotile asbestos miners in Balangero, Italy: a cohort study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 63(2), pp.135-145.
Ferrante, D., Angelini, A., Barbiero, F., Barbone, F., Bauleo, L., Binazzi, A., Bovenzi, M., Bruno, C., Casotto, V., Cernigliaro, A. and Ceppi, M., 2024. Cause specific mortality in an Italian pool of asbestos workers cohorts. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 67(1), pp.31-43.
Klebe S, Leigh J, Henderson DW, Nurminen M (2020). Asbestos, Smoking and Lung Cancer: An Update. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, 258.
Levin, J.L., Rouk, A., Shepherd, S., Hurst, G.A. and McLarty, J.W., 2016. Tyler asbestos workers: a mortality update in a cohort exposed to amosite. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 19(5-6), pp.190-200.
Loomis, D., Dement, J.M., Wolf, S.H. and Richardson, D.B., 2009. Lung cancer mortality and fibre exposures among North Carolina asbestos textile workers. Occupational and environmental medicine, 66(8), pp.535-542.
Loomis, D., Dement, J., Richardson, D. and Wolf, S., 2010. Asbestos fibre dimensions and lung cancer mortality among workers exposed to chrysotile. Occupational and environmental medicine, 67(9), pp.580-584.
Loomis, D., Dement, J.M., Elliott, L., Richardson, D., Kuempel, E.D. and Stayner, L., 2012. Increased lung cancer mortality among chrysotile asbestos textile workers is more strongly associated with exposure to long thin fibres. Occupational and environmental medicine, 69(8), pp.564-568.
Naimi, A.I., Cole, S.R., Hudgens, M.G. and Richardson, D.B., 2014. Estimating the effect of cumulative occupational asbestos exposure on time to lung cancer mortality: using structural nested failure-time models to account for healthy-worker survivor bias. Epidemiology, 25(2), pp.246-254.
Nynäs, P., Pukkala, E., Vainio, H. and Oksa, P., 2017. Cancer incidence in Asbestos-exposed workers: an update on four Finnish cohorts. Safety and health at work, 8(2), pp.169-174.
Pira, E., Romano, C., Violante, F.S., Farioli, A., Spatari, G., La Vecchia, C. and Boffetta, P., 2016. Updated mortality study of a cohort of asbestos textile workers. Cancer medicine, 5(9), pp.2623-2628.
Richardson, D.B., 2009. Lung cancer in chrysotile asbestos workers: analyses based on the two-stage clonal expansion model. Cancer Causes & Control, 20, pp.917-923.
Strand, L.A., Martinsen, J.I., Koefoed, V.F., Sommerfelt‐Pettersen, J. and Grimsrud, T.K., 2010. Asbestos‐related cancers among 28,300 military servicemen in the Royal Norwegian Navy. American journal of industrial medicine, 53(1), pp.64-71.
Strand, L.A., Martinsen, J.I., Rudvin, I., Fadum, E.A. and Borud, E.K., 2018. Cancer incidence and all-cause mortality among civilian men and women employed by the Royal Norwegian Navy between 1950 and 2005. Cancer Epidemiology, 57, pp.1-6.
Świątkowska, B., Szubert, Z., Sobala, W. and Szeszenia-Dąbrowska, N., 2015. Predictors of lung cancer among former asbestos-exposed workers. Lung Cancer, 89(3), pp.243-248.
Thomsen, R.W., Riis, A.H., Flachs, E.M., Garabrant, D.H., Bonde, J.P.E. and Sørensen, H.T., 2022. Risk of asbestosis, mesothelioma, other lung disease or death among motor vehicle mechanics: a 45-year Danish cohort study. Thorax, 77(5), pp.477-485.#160
Tomioka, K., Natori, Y., Kumagai, S. and Kurumatani, N., 2011. An updated historical cohort mortality study of workers exposed to asbestos in a refitting shipyard, 1947–2007. International archives of occupational and environmental health, 84, pp.959-967.
Wang, X., Lin, S., Yano, E., Qiu, H., Yu, I.T., Tse, L., Lan, Y. and Wang, M., 2012a. Mortality in a Chinese chrysotile miner cohort. International archives of occupational and environmental health, 85, pp.405-412.
Wang, X., Yano, E., Qiu, H., Yu, I., Courtice, M.N., Tse, L.A., Lin, S. and Wang, M., 2012b. A 37-year observation of mortality in Chinese chrysotile asbestos workers. Thorax, 67(2), pp.106-110.
Wang, X.R., Yu, I.T.S., Qiu, H., Wang, M.Z., Lan, Y.J., Tse, L.Y., Yano, E. and Christiani, D.C., 2012c. Cancer mortality among Chinese chrysotile asbestos textile workers. Lung Cancer, 75(2), pp.151-155.
Wang, X., Lin, S., Yu, I., Qiu, H., Lan, Y. and Yano, E., 2013a. Cause‐specific mortality in a Chinese chrysotile textile worker cohort. Cancer science, 104(2), pp.245-249.
Wang, X., Yano, E., Lin, S., Yu, I.T., Lan, Y., Tse, L.A., Qiu, H. and Christiani, D.C., 2013b. Cancer mortality in Chinese chrysotile asbestos miners: exposure-response relationships. PLoS One, 8(8), p.e71899
Wang, X., Lin, S., Yano, E., Ignatius, T.S., Courtice, M., Lan, Y. and Christiani, D.C., 2014. Exposure-specific lung cancer risks in Chinese chrysotile textile workers and mining workers. Lung Cancer, 85(2), pp.119-124.
Wolff H, Vehmas T, Oksa P, Rantanen J, Vainio H (2015). Asbestos, asbestosis, and cancer, the Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution 2014: recommendation. Scand J Work Environ Health. Online first.
Yano, E., Wang, X., Wang, M., Qiu, H. and Wang, Z., 2010. Lung cancer mortality from exposure to chrysotile asbestos and smoking: a case–control study within a cohort in China. Occupational and environmental medicine, 67(12), pp.867-871.
7. Appendix 1- Data Extraction Spreadsheet and List of All the References Considered
List of all the references considered
8. Appendix 2- Data Tables for cohort, case-control and meta-analyses of asbestos and lung cancer
Table 2.1. Case-control studies of asbestos exposure and lung cancer
Table 2.2. Cohort studies of asbestos exposed populations and lung cancer and mesothelioma
Table 2.3. Summary of asbestos cohort study design characteristics
9. Appendix 3- Current prescription for Asbestos and Lung Cancer
D8. Primary carcinoma of the lung where there is accompanying evidence of asbestosis. | (a) The working or handling of asbestos or any admixture of asbestos; or (b) the manufacture or repair of asbestos textiles or other articles containing or composed of asbestos; or (c) the cleaning of any machinery or plant used in any of the foregoing operations and of any chambers, fixtures and appliances for the collection of asbestos dust; or (d) substantial exposure to the dust arising from any of the foregoing operations. |
---|---|
D8A. Primary carcinoma of the lung. | Exposure to asbestos in the course of— (a) the manufacture of asbestos textiles; or (b) spraying asbestos; or (c) asbestos insulation work; or (d) applying or removing materials containing asbestos in the course of shipbuilding, where all or any of the exposure occurs before 1st January 1975, for a period of, or periods which amount in aggregate to, five years or more, or otherwise, for a period of, or periods which amount in aggregate to, ten years or more. |
email: iom@iom-world.org
IOM Edinburgh
Research Avenue North
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
Telephone: 0131 449 8000
IOM Chesterfield
Tapton Park Innovation Centre
Brimington Road
Tapton
Chesterfield
S41 0TZ
Telephone: 01246 383110
IOM Stafford
Brookside Business Park
Cold Meece
Stone
Staffordshire
ST15 0RZ
Telephone: 01785 333 200