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Document ID (ISN)78767
CIS number 02-825
ISSN - Serial title 0271-3586 - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Year 2002
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Hauptmann M., Pohlabeln H., Lubin J.H., Jöckel K.H., Ahrens W., Brüske-Hohlfeld I., Wichmann H.E.
Title The exposure-time-response relationship between occupational asbestos exposure and lung cancer in two German case-control studies
Bibliographic information Feb. 2002, Vol.41, No.2, p.89-97. Illus. 19 ref.
Abstract Numerous studies have been carried out to evaluate the association between lung cancer and occupational asbestos exposure. However, data are lacking on the effects of timing of the exposure. Two German case-control studies with data on occupational asbestos exposure histories were pooled. Duration of work in jobs with potential exposure to asbestos, derived exposure measures and the time lapsed since the last exposure were analyzed. The odds ratios (OR) were 1.8 and 2.4 for subjects having worked for 3 to 7 years and 8 or more years, respectively, in a job with potential asbestos exposure compared to those never exposed. Based on an evaluation of time since last exposure, the OR decreased significantly to about one half after more than 20 years since the exposure ceased. In contrast to previous indications, this study indicates that the risk of lung cancer increases soon after asbestos exposure, with its maximum effect from 10 to 15 years after the exposure was initiated.
Descriptors (primary) occupational diseases; length of exposure; lung cancer; asbestos
Descriptors (secondary) Germany; latency; long-term exposure; case-control study; exposure evaluation
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceGermany
Subject(s) Occupational pathology
Broad subject area(s) Chemical safety
Browse category(ies) Asbestos
Diseases of the respiratory system (except for pneumoconiosis & similar)