Document 4rgX0o07V6qmJXXzeLaN585Q

Jjisesjra^336 JAMA, Jan 15. 1973 Vol 223, NHOo 3J - ,,. ^4cK/W<i Cocarcinogenic Effect of Smoking and Asbestos Exposure In the July 24,1972. issue of The Journal a question appeared about compensability (or lung cancer developing in an asos worker who had smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for 30 years'. The consultant who answered the question said that he did not know of any such cases coming to litigation. He also stated he was unaware of any firm conclusions having been derived'from studies aimed at determining whether or not there is a high inci dence of cancer in smokers exposed to asbestos. I have been under the impression that asbestos workers who smoke are at a distinct risk with respect to lung cancer, more so than asbestos workers who do not smoke. Can you tell me whether my assumption is correct? UD. Xnxrn | - i I A Information concerning the increased risk of lung cancer among asbestos workers has been pub- j lished.1 These data indicate that asbestos workers who smoke cigarettes have approximately eight times the risk ot death from lung cancer that other smokers of the same gge nave, who do not work witjr asbestos! hi. OTHammond, ScD, and Fwill shortly publish the re sults of another study bearing on this question. We have followed up 9,590 asbestos-insulation workers from Jan 1, 1967, through Dec 3L, 1971; each of these individuals had a history of cigarette smoking. We have calculated expected deaths and have compared them with those observed dur ing the period in question. While 25 deaths from lung can cer were expected, 134 occurred. There seems to be little doubt, then, that exposure to asbestos significantly in creases the risk of lung cancer among cigarette smokers. I am aware, too, of a number of cases, adjudicated in favor' of the plaintiff, that involved lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure in cigarette-smoking asbestos workers. . txYocc J. Scutorr. MO Mount Sinai School of Mcdidne Hor York L Seiilcoff U, Huamond EC, C&org J: Asbestos exposure, smoldnt, md neopluU. JAMA 204:106-112, 1368.