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An updated historical cohort mortality study of workers exposed to asbestos in a refitting shipyard, 1947–2007

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term health effects of occupational asbestos exposure, an updated historical cohort mortality study of workers at a refitting shipyard was undertaken.

Methods

The cohort consisted of 249 male ship repair workers (90 laggers, 159 boiler repairers). To determine relative excess mortality, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using mortality rates among the Japanese male population. Mortality follow-up of study subjects was performed for the period from 1947 till the end of 2007.

Results

We identified the vital status of 87 (96.7%) laggers and 150 (94.3%) boiler repairers. Of these, 63 (72.4%) and 95 (63.3%), respectively, died. Laggers, who had handled asbestos materials directly, showed a significantly elevated SMR of 2.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–5.44) for lung cancer and 2.49 (95% CI: 1.36–4.18) for nonmalignant respiratory diseases. Boiler repairers, who had many opportunities for secondary exposure to asbestos and a few for direct exposure, showed no significant elevation in SMR for lung cancer but a significantly elevated SMR of 1.78 (95% CI: 1.06–2.81) for nonmalignant respiratory diseases. In an analysis according to duration of employment, there was a significantly elevated SMR of nonmalignant respiratory diseases in the longer working years group. Among workers from both jobs, no deaths caused by mesothelioma in addition to those in the original study were found and no subject died from larynx cancer.

Conclusion

This updated study confirmed a significant excess of asbestos-related mortality from diseases such as lung cancer and nonmalignant respiratory diseases among workers in a refitting shipyard in Japan.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grant-in Aid for Young Scientists (B) (20790446) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8521, Japan

    Kimiko Tomioka & Norio Kurumatani

  2. Yokosuka Chuou Clinic, 1-18-15, Yomegahama Street, Yokosuga, Kanagawa, 238-0011, Japan

    Yuji Natori

  3. Department of Environmental Management, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahata-nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan

    Shinji Kumagai

Authors
  1. Kimiko Tomioka
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  2. Yuji Natori
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  3. Shinji Kumagai
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  4. Norio Kurumatani
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Correspondence to Kimiko Tomioka.

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Tomioka, K., Natori, Y., Kumagai, S. et al. An updated historical cohort mortality study of workers exposed to asbestos in a refitting shipyard, 1947–2007. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 959–967 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0655-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0655-2

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