Mortality in an Italian cohort of former asbestos cement workers.

BACKGROUND

A pooled study on Italian asbestos cement plant cohorts observed mortality risk for asbestos-related diseases. This study analysed the mortality of workers cohort of an asbestos cement plant in Syracuse, Italy.

METHODS

Workers' vital status and causes of death, during 1970-2018, were identified in regional health databases. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) by sex and temporal variables were calculated.

RESULTS

Of the 900 cohort's subjects (636 men, 259 women, 5 unknown sex), for 867 the vital ascertainment was possible: 505 died during study period. All-cause mortality is similarly to the expected among men and lower among women. Pleural and lung malignant neoplasms (MN) exceeded in men (SMR=27.1, SMR=1.95), retroperitoneal and peritoneal MN in both sexes, no cases of larynx MN were observed. Mortality excess for ovarian MN (SMR=1.5) and asbestosis in both sexes (men: SMR=431.9, women: SMR=116.6) were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Exceeding mortality from asbestos-related diseases, particularly in men was highlighted.