Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Occupational and Environmental Medicine logoLink to Occupational and Environmental Medicine
. 1994 Feb;51(2):95–101. doi: 10.1136/oem.51.2.95

Asbestos, cement, and cancer in the right part of the colon.

K Jakobsson 1, M Albin 1, L Hagmar 1
PMCID: PMC1127913  PMID: 8111470

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--The aim was to investigate associations between exposure to mineral fibres and dust, and cancer in subsites within the large bowel. DESIGN--Pooled retrospective cohort studies. SUBJECTS AND SETTINGS--Blue collar workers, employed for at least one year in different trades; asbestos cement or cement workers (n = 2507), other industrial workers (n = 3965), and fishermen (n = 8092). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs, national reference rates) were calculated for cause specific cancer morbidity between 1958 and 1989. The observation period began 15 years after first employment. RESULTS--The asbestos cement and cement workers had a slightly increased risk of colorectal cancer (SIR 1.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1-2.0). This was due to an increase only in the right part of the colon (SIR 2.5; 95% CI 1.6-3.8). The ratio of right (7th revision of the International Classification of Diseases ICD-7) 1530-1531)/left (ICD-7 1532-1533) colon cancer among the asbestos cement and cement workers of 4.8 differed significantly from the ratio both among the other blue collar workers (0.4) and among the fishermen (1.5). As the sensitivity and accuracy was insufficient, mortality data did not show the excess of cancers in the right part of the colon. CONCLUSIONS--An increased incidence of cancer in the right part of the colon was evident in the asbestos cement and cement workers. The distribution of cancers within the colon was noticeably different from that in other blue collar workers, indicating that our findings cannot be explained by socioeconomic confounding factors. A detailed and appropriate disease classification, based on incidence data, is necessary in order not to obscure or underestimate effects of exposure in epidemiological studies on colorectal cancer.

Full text

PDF
95

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Acquavella J. F., Douglass T. S., Phillips S. C. Evaluation of excess colorectal cancer incidence among workers involved in the manufacture of polypropylene. J Occup Med. 1988 May;30(5):438–442. doi: 10.1097/00043764-198805000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Albin M., Jakobsson K., Attewell R., Johansson L., Welinder H. Mortality and cancer morbidity in cohorts of asbestos cement workers and referents. Br J Ind Med. 1990 Sep;47(9):602–610. doi: 10.1136/oem.47.9.602. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ames B. N. Dietary carcinogens and anticarcinogens. Oxygen radicals and degenerative diseases. Science. 1983 Sep 23;221(4617):1256–1264. doi: 10.1126/science.6351251. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Beart R. W., Melton L. J., 3rd, Maruta M., Dockerty M. B., Frydenberg H. B., O'Fallon W. M. Trends in right and left-sided colon cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 1983 Jun;26(6):393–398. doi: 10.1007/BF02553382. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brownson R. C., Zahm S. H., Chang J. C., Blair A. Occupational risk of colon cancer. An analysis by anatomic subsite. Am J Epidemiol. 1989 Oct;130(4):675–687. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a115389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bufill J. A. Colorectal cancer: evidence for distinct genetic categories based on proximal or distal tumor location. Ann Intern Med. 1990 Nov 15;113(10):779–788. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-113-10-779. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Correa P., Haenszel W., Cuello C., Tannenbaum S., Archer M. A model for gastric cancer epidemiology. Lancet. 1975 Jul 12;2(7924):58–60. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)90498-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ehrlich A., Gordon R. E., Dikman S. H. Carcinoma of the colon in asbestos-exposed workers: analysis of asbestos content in colon tissue. Am J Ind Med. 1991;19(5):629–636. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700190507. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Finkelstein M. M. Mortality among employees of an Ontario asbestos-cement factory. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984 May;129(5):754–761. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1984.129.5.754. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Fredriksson M., Bengtsson N. O., Hardell L., Axelson O. Colon cancer, physical activity, and occupational exposures. A case-control study. Cancer. 1989 May 1;63(9):1838–1842. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19900501)63:9<1838::aid-cncr2820630930>3.0.co;2-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Frumkin H., Berlin J. Asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal malignancy review and meta-analysis. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(1):79–95. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140110. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Garabrant D. H., Peters R. K., Homa D. M. Asbestos and colon cancer: lack of association in a large case-control study. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Apr 15;135(8):843–853. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116380. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Gardner M. J., Winter P. D., Pannett B., Powell C. A. Follow up study of workers manufacturing chrysotile asbestos cement products. Br J Ind Med. 1986 Nov;43(11):726–732. doi: 10.1136/oem.43.11.726. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Gerhardsson de Verdier M., Hagman U., Steineck G., Rieger A., Norell S. E. Diet, body mass and colorectal cancer: a case-referent study in Stockholm. Int J Cancer. 1990 Nov 15;46(5):832–838. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910460514. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Gerhardsson de Verdier M., Plato N., Steineck G., Peters J. M. Occupational exposures and cancer of the colon and rectum. Am J Ind Med. 1992;22(3):291–303. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700220303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Gerhardsson de Verdier M., Steineck G., Hagman U., Rieger A., Norell S. E. Physical activity and colon cancer: a case-referent study in Stockholm. Int J Cancer. 1990 Dec 15;46(6):985–989. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910460606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gerhardsson M., Steineck G., Norell S. E. Colorectal cancer in Sweden. A descriptive epidemiologic study. Acta Oncol. 1990;29(7):855–861. doi: 10.3109/02841869009096379. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hagmar L., Bellander T., Andersson C., Lindén K., Attewell R., Möller T. Cancer morbidity in nitrate fertilizer workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1991;63(1):63–67. doi: 10.1007/BF00406200. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hagmar L., Bellander T., Englander V., Ranstam J., Attewell R., Skerfving S. Mortality and cancer morbidity among workers in a chemical factory. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1986 Dec;12(6):545–551. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2102. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hagmar L., Lindén K., Nilsson A., Norrving B., Akesson B., Schütz A., Möller T. Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish Baltic Sea fishermen. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1992 Aug;18(4):217–224. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1586. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Hagmar L., Welinder H., Mikoczy Z. Cancer incidence and mortality in the Swedish polyurethane foam manufacturing industry. Br J Ind Med. 1993 Jun;50(6):537–543. doi: 10.1136/oem.50.6.537. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Huang J., Hisanaga N., Sakai K., Iwata M., Ono Y., Shibata E., Takeuchi Y. Asbestos fibers in human pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues. Am J Ind Med. 1988;14(3):331–339. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700140310. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Hughes J. M., Weill H., Hammad Y. Y. Mortality of workers employed in two asbestos cement manufacturing plants. Br J Ind Med. 1987 Mar;44(3):161–174. doi: 10.1136/oem.44.3.161. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Jakobsson K., Attewell R., Hultgren B., Sjöland K. Gastrointestinal cancer among cement workers. A case-referent study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1990;62(4):337–340. doi: 10.1007/BF00640844. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Jakobsson K., Horstmann V., Welinder H. Mortality and cancer morbidity among cement workers. Br J Ind Med. 1993 Mar;50(3):264–272. doi: 10.1136/oem.50.3.264. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Lacquet L. M., van der Linden L., Lepoutre J. Roentgenographic lung changes, asbestosis and mortality in a Belgian asbestos-cement factory. IARC Sci Publ. 1980;(30):783–793. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. McDonald J. C., Liddell F. D., Gibbs G. W., Eyssen G. E., McDonald A. D. Dust exposure and mortality in chrysotile mining, 1910-75. Br J Ind Med. 1980 Feb;37(1):11–24. doi: 10.1136/oem.37.1.11. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. McDowall M. E. A mortality study of cement workers. Br J Ind Med. 1984 May;41(2):179–182. doi: 10.1136/oem.41.2.179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. McMichael A. J., Potter J. D. Host factors in carcinogenesis: certain bile-acid metabolic profiles that selectively increase the risk of proximal colon cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1985 Aug;75(2):185–191. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Ohlson C. G., Hogstedt C. Lung cancer among asbestos cement workers. A Swedish cohort study and a review. Br J Ind Med. 1985 Jun;42(6):397–402. doi: 10.1136/oem.42.6.397. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Park R. M., Wegman D. H., Silverstein M. A., Maizlish N. A., Mirer F. E. Causes of death among workers in a bearing manufacturing plant. Am J Ind Med. 1988;13(5):569–580. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700130505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Peters R. K., Garabrant D. H., Yu M. C., Mack T. M. A case-control study of occupational and dietary factors in colorectal cancer in young men by subsite. Cancer Res. 1989 Oct 1;49(19):5459–5468. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Robinson C., Waxweiler R. J., McCammon C. S. Pattern and model makers, proportionate mortality 1972-1978. Am J Ind Med. 1980;1(2):159–165. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700010206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Roscoe R. J., Steenland K., McCammon C. S., Jr, Schober S. E., Robinson C. F., Halperin W. E., Fingerhut M. A. Colon and stomach cancer mortality among automotive wood model makers. J Occup Med. 1992 Aug;34(8):759–770. doi: 10.1097/00043764-199208000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Swanson G. M., Belle S. H. Cancer morbidity among woodworkers in the U.S. automotive industry. J Occup Med. 1982 Apr;24(4):315–319. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Thomas H. F., Benjamin I. T., Elwood P. C., Sweetnam P. M. Further follow-up study of workers from an asbestos cement factory. Br J Ind Med. 1982 Aug;39(3):273–276. doi: 10.1136/oem.39.3.273. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Vobecky J., Devroede G., Caro J. Risk of large-bowel cancer in synthetic fiber manufacture. Cancer. 1984 Dec 1;54(11):2537–2542. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19841201)54:11<2537::aid-cncr2820541138>3.0.co;2-q. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Vågerö D., Persson G. Occurrence of cancer in socioeconomic groups in Sweden. An analysis based on the Swedish Cancer Environment Registry. Scand J Soc Med. 1986;14(3):151–160. doi: 10.1177/140349488601400308. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Weisburger J. H., Wynder E. L., Horn C. L. Nutritional factors and etiologic mechanisms in the causation of gastrointestinal cancers. Cancer. 1982 Dec 1;50(11 Suppl):2541–2549. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Weiss W. Asbestos and colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology. 1990 Sep;99(3):876–884. doi: 10.1016/0016-5085(90)90984-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Occupational and Environmental Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES