Document 5V1Zgw9xGvg7g8G85qkkVL38
H LYN STEVENS* NICHOLAS S. 8ALDG
JOHN R OOLEZAL MICHAEL R. WALZEL MICHAEL K. ROSE CHRISTINE S. KIBBE*
STEVENS & BALDO
A perjureocn umTTED 1*8*.ITY PAflTNERSM*
ATTORNEYS AT LAW 550 FANNIN. SUITE 400 BEAUMONT, TEXAS 77701
July 26, 1995
POST OFFICE BOX 4950 8EAUMONT. TEXAS 77704 TELEPHONE |409] 835-5200 FACSIMILE. 1409] 638-5638
BOARD CERTIFIED
personal injury trial law
TEXAS BOARO OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
* LICENSED TEXAS & LOUISIANA
Mr. Carl L. Tucker Silbec, Pearlman & Bruegger SPB Building 3110 Webb Dallas, Texas 75205
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Re: Continuation of Dr. Robert Ross' Deposition
Dear Mr. Tucker:
Pursuant to your request in your correspondence ofJuly 7, 1995, enclosed are copies of the following articles:
1. "Outline ofDeposition Questions - Pulmonary Specialist," Gary D. EUiston.
2. "If It's Not Mesothelioma, It's Not Asbestos Related," Gary D. EUiston and Stephanie L. Spardone.
RLS/mjb Enclosures
CUTLINE OF DEPOSITION QUESTION - PULMONAPY SPECIALIS
BY GARY D. ELLISTON
QUALIFICATIONS & PERSONAL INFO.
Name:
Home Address:
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Business Address:
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Occupation or Profession:
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Name & Address of- Employer, Asso ciation or Business Entity:
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How Long: How Long: How Long: How Long:
Name & Specialty of Partners or Other Physicians Practicing in Association:
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In what areas of medicine do you claim.- to be an expert or
specialist?
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Do you hold yourself out to the public .as an expert in:
1. Pulmonary medicine
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2. Cardiology
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3. Industrial hygiene
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4. Oncology
5. Pathology
6. Radiology
7. Epidemiology '
Are you board- certified? If so, please^ state:
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1. What area of medicine:-
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2. Number of time's examination, taken:
3. Date of certification:
Are you a "B" reader? If not:
1. Have you taken examination or course:
2. How many times have you taken examination:
Append
QUALIFICATIONS
Trace education since high school:
Institution:
Dates:
Major:
Degree:
Teacher/Mentor:
Thesis Subject:
Medical Text/Journals used for instruction:
Have you received additional training or education:
Internship:
Residency:
Fellowship:
During medical school, residency, internship, fellowship, how many cases did you observe of the following:
Mesothelioma: Lung cancer: Asbestosis: Asbestos-related pleural changes:
What percentage of your education involved:
1. pulmonary diseases:
2. occupational diseases:
3. asbestos-related diseases:
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What local industries were sources of occupational disease or asbestos exposure during medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship?
Is Exhibit a true, correct, and current copy of your curriculum vitae?
What changes to your curriculum vitae have been made in the last five years?
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QUALIFICATIONS
Have you testified in Court regarding asbestos-related diseases? If so:
On how many occasions: What percent of testimony at request of Plaintiff attorney:
Plaintiff attorney's name: Plaintiff's Name: Alleged illnesses or injuries involved:
Have you testified in deposition regarding asbestos-related diseases l so:
On how many occasions: What percent of testimony at request of Plaintiff attorney:
Plaintiff attorney's name: Plaintiff's Name: Alleged illnesses or injuries involved:
Have you ever been called as an expert witness at the request of attorneys representing manufacturers of asbestos-containing
products:
1. At trial 2. At deposition
If so, number of times:
When:
Where:
Style of case:
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Injury alleged:
Name & address of defense attorney:
Have you ever been requested to evaluate an individual at the request of a manufacturer of asbestos-containing products?
If so, number of times:
When: Where: Style of case: Injury alleged: _ Name & address of defense attorney: Deposition taken:
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QUALIFICATIONS
How much is your charge for:
1. trial testimony time:
2. deposition testimony time:
3. investigation or research time:
4. consultation examination:
How much did you earn from medical/legal practice:
1988:
' % income:
1987:
% income:
1986:
% income:
1985:
% income:
TOTAL:
How many evaluations or screening were performed in:
1988: 1987:
1986:
1985:
TOTAL:
What percent of time is spent in:
1. patient care:
2. teaching:
3. medical/legal
4. administrative: *
5. other:
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QUALIFICATIONS
Have you ever performed:
1. Epidemiological study: 2. Animal experiments: 3. Laboratory research:
If so: a. b. c. d.
What subject:
Results of study: When:
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Where results published:
Have you ever published:
1. case report: 2. article:
3. abstract:
citation: citation: citation:
What seminars or meetings regarding occupational diseases:
1. attended as student: 2. attended as lecturer or speaker:
Do you consider yourself to be an expert in asbestos-related
diseases?
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Who else do you consider -to be an expert in the area of asbestos related diseases?
Are you familiar with the work, publications, or qualifications of the following individuals:
J. C. Wagner Irving J. Selikoff Raymond Murphy R. Keith Wilson Paul Stevens David Cdelman E. C. Hammond Jacob Churg Andrew Churg Phillip Enterline,, XGerrit Schepers ' Anthony Lanza Stuart Brooks Bernard Gee Sir Richard Doll XThomas Mancuso William Weiss
Margaret Becklake Hans Weill Elliot McCaughey XJohn Craighead xFrancis Green Edward Gaensler xRoger Mitchell XJerome Klinerman Donald Greenberg X Corbet McDonald
Joseph Wagoner
xSamuel P. Hammar Victor Roggli W. K. C. Morgan
X Barry Castleman H. Corwin Hinshaw
Do you consider those individuals to be knowledgable experts in
the area of asbestos-related diseases?
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QUALIFICATIONS How many cases of mesothelioma have you diagnosed:
1. in your career?
.2 in the past year?
3. in individuals not referred by plaintiff's attorneys?
How many cases of lung cancer have you diagnosed: 1. in your career?
.2 in the past year?
3. in individuals not referred by plaintiff's attorneys?
How many cases of GI tract cancer have you diagnosed: 1. in your career?
.2 in the past year?
3. in individuals not referred by plaintiff's.attorneys?
How many cases of asbestosis have you diagnosed: 1. in your career? 2. in the past year? 3. in individuals not referred by plaintiff's attorneys?
How many cases of asbestos-related pleural changes have you diagnosed:
1. in your career? 2. in the past year? 3. in individuals not referred by plaintiff's attorneys?
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OUALIFICATICNI Do you or does your organization maintain a medical library? Please list the texts in your reference library on:
1. pulmonary medicine: 2. occupational medicine: 3. oncology: 4. epidemiology: what medical journals do you subscribe to individually? Do you consider each of those journals to be reputable, authoritative medical journals? Do you maintain a library or file of significant medical articles regarding asbestos-related disease? will you agree to provide a list of the articles maintained in your file by author, journal, and date of publication? If not, please list the articles maintained in your file by author, journal, and date of publication of the articles: What faculty positions have you held: Have you taught any courses, seminars, or training sessions regarding occupational disease: If so, what texts or articles were used: what memberships do you hold in any professional or medical organization such as the American Thoracic Society or the American College of Chest Physicians:
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DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA (See Quotable Quotes)
What is your diagnostic criteria for asbestosis?
What exposure history do you require to diagnose asbestosis within a reasonable degree of medical probability?
What is the minimum number or group of findings that you require before you will make a clinical diagnosis of asbestosis within a reasonable degree of medical probability?
Are you familiar with diagnostic criteria for asbestosis adopted and published by the American Thoracic Society in August, 1986?
Is ATS criteria different than your criteria?
Please explain all differences:
Can you identify exhibits as a copy of ATS Standards For Diagnosis Of Non-malignant Diseases?
Where was it published?
What is the American Thoracic Society?
Does that organization have as its official journal, The American
Review of Respiratory Disease?
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What is the relationship between the American Thoracic Society and the American Lung Association?
What is the American College of Chest Physicians?
Why was this special committee of experts formed?
Does this select committee include:
1. Pleural changes as part of its summary of diagnostic criteria:
2. Obstructive changes as part of its summary of diagnostic criteria:
ASBESTOS BODIES
What is significance of asbestos bodies?
Do asbestos bodies cause:
1. Disease 2. Harm 3. Pain 4. Reduced lung function 5. Further exposure
Isn't it true that once coated with iron asbestos fibers can no longer cause injury?
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PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING (See Quotable Quotes)
Explain what each test measures:
What is range of normal for each:
FVC: FEV* :
FEVl/FVC: FEf25-75;
VC:
. RV:
TLC: RV/TLC:
DLCOsb:
.
Has ATS also appointed a select committee of experts to recommend standards for respiratory, impairment as measured by PFT?
When did the committee render the latest report on standards for impairment?
Where was the report published?
Is Exhibit _____ a copy of those standards established by that
ATS committee of experts:
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Is Exhibit _____ a blow up of the standards for normal and slightly impaired measurements:
Isn't it true that if an individual with test measurements in the slight impairment category, according to ATS standards, should be able to perform virtually any job except the most unusually demanding:
Do these standards apply to people with asbestosis?
What pulmonary function test results demonstrate:
1. restrictive findings: 2. obstructive findings: 3. large airway obstruction (permanent/reversible): 4. small airways-obstruction (permanent/reversible):
5. impairment: 6. combination of COPD and asbestosis:
What is significance of bronchodilator response:
If obstruction and restriction are present, can you designate a
percentage of Plaintiff's shortness of breath to each within a
reasonable degree of medical probability?
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diffusion capacity
How is the DLCO53 measurement performed:
What does the DLCOgB measure:
Isn't it true that:
a. the diffusion capacity will be reduced in a person with emphysema?
b. a current smoker nay have a reduced diffusion capacity if he smoked shortly before the test?
c. a reduction in the diffusion capacity in a current smoker may be as much as 10%?
EXERCISE TESTING:
Is exercise testing an accurate measurement of patient's ability to work:
Is exercise testing affected adversely if an individual is a compensation claimant:
In ideal circumstance explain value of exercise testing when:
DLCO up or down during exercise
ABG ) Arterial O2 ) P02 )
Up or Down
Healthy lungs
Fibrotic lungs
Emphysematous lungs
Explain how exercise physiologically affects lung mechanism to up or down P02 in healthy lung vs. diseased lung.
BLOOD GAS STUDIES Please describe each blood gas study and what it measures. For each blood gas study, what is the range of normal?
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ASBESTOS: OBSTRUCTION (See Quotable Quotes) Isn't it true that:
1. asbestosis is a restrictive disease? 2. the characteristics of asbestosis are those of a
restrictive disease? In your opinion, does asbestos cause:'
a. chronic bronchitis? b. emphysema? c. clinically significant obstructive lung disease? d. asthma? e. pneumonia?
SHALL AIRWAY CHANGES (See Quotable Quotes)
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Isn't it true that:
1. Small airways obstruction is reflected on pulmonary function testing by FEF25-75 or MMEF?
2. Smoking causes small airways obstruction?
3. Small airway obstruction is not responsive to bronchodilators?
4. fEF25-75 measurements should not be used for impairment evaluation?
5. Small airways fibrosis does not cause symptoms, therefore
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is not clinically significant?
Isn't-it true that asbestos does not cause any obstruction that responds to bronchodilators?
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RALES
What are:
1. Rales: 2. Rhonchi: 3. Wheeze:
Isn't it true that rales are non-specific
What is significance if rales are:
1. inspiratory-: 2. expiratory: 3. bilateral: 4. non-persistent on cough:
SHORTNESS OF BREATH (See Quotable Quotes)
Isn't it true that dyspnea (S.O.B. ) is:
1. Non-distinct symptom (common to 2. Subjective symptom: 3. Deconditioning symptom:
What is s ignificance if cough is:
1. Productive: 2. Dry:
disease):
OBESITY
Isn't it true that obesity causes:
1. SOB (on exertion) 2. Fatigue 3. Stress on heart 4. Stress on lungs 5. Restriction of pulmonary functi 6. Decreased exercise to-lerance
AGE
Isn't it true we all lose lung volume as we age?
If so, how much lung volume do we lose each year?
Isn't it true that our exercise tolerance decreases with age?
Isn't it true that the chest X-ray appearance changes with age?
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PROGRESSION (See Quotable Quotes)
Will everyone exposed to asbestos develop asbestosis?
Please explain why:
If someone has prolonged exposure and develops asbestosis, will it necessarily progress?
Please provide basis and authority for opinion that asbestosis
always progresses:
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If someone develops progressive asbestosis, how slowly does it generally progress?
Would you agree that the lung's natural defense mechanisms will remove 90% of asbestos fibers inhaled?
Have you ever followed an individual:
1. with pleural changes to their death as a result of pleural changes?
2. from a 1/1 to their death as a result of interstitial fibrosis?
3. from a 2/2 to their death as a result of interstitial fibrosis?
4. from pleural changes to their ultimate death as a result of pleural or interstitial fibrosis?
How long have you been following individuals for asbestos-associated diseases?
Isn't it true that as exposure decreased with improved work conditions and industrial hygiene that progression rates have slowed:
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JHEST X-RAY
Isn't it true that: 1/0 - 1/1 - 1/2 on ILO scale is slight or mild interstitial fibrosis? 2/1 - 2/2 - 2/3 on ILO scale is moderate interstitial change?
3/2 - 3/3 on ILO scale is severe interstitial change?
INTERSTITIAL FIBROSIS
What are all known causes of interstitial fibrosis?
Other physiological cause of CXR appearance of irregular small
opacities:
.
Cigarette smoking:
Pneumonia:
Congestive heart failure:
Bilateral appearance:
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PLEURAL
What are all known causes of:
1. pleural thickening:
2. pleural plagues:
3. pleural effusion:
Isn't it true that as general rule:
1. pleural plagues are asymptomatic:
2. pleural thickening is asymptomatic:
3. pleural effusions subside and disappear without any residual impairment:
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DISEASE
What is your definition of disease:
Under your definition, are the following changes considered a disease:
1. Callous 2. Wart 3. Scar 4. Mole 5. Freckle 6. Sunburn 7. Pimple 8. Broken leg 9. Bruise 10. Pulled muscle
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Please define:
1. SMR: Standard Mortality Ratio:
. How elevated must a SMR be to be considered statistically signifi cant:
2. Relative risk ratio
FIBER TYPE
Is there a difference between:
1. fibrogenic potential in the various types of asbestos fiber?
2. carcinogenic potential in the various types of asbestos fiber?
Please rank the commericially used asbestos fibers for their
1. fibrogenic potential:
2. carcinogenic potential:
Isn't it true, sir, that 95% of the asbestos fiber used in America was chrysotile?
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CANCER (See Quotable Quotes)
In your opinion, does asbestos cause or contribute to cause any of the following types of cancer:
1. Leukemia 2. Lung cancer 3. Ovarian cancer
4 . Stomach cancer 5. . Pharyngeal cancer 6. Laryngeal cancer 7. Colon cancer 8. Rectal cancer
9. Testicular .cancer
10. Breast cancer
11. Mesothelioma 12. Pancreatic cancer 13. Lymphoma 14. Brain cancer 15. Bone cancer 16. Esophogeal cancer 17. Prostate cancer
18. Kidney cancer
the author and citation of all studies or reports support your opinions:
Which cancers, if any, are dose-related:
For each cancer, what:
1. is most common cause in U.S.:
2. number of.patients have you diagnosed in your career:
3. number of patients do you currently have hospitalized:
4. is the incidence rate in U.S.:
5. percentage of general population will develop:
6. percentage of asbestos workers will develop:
7. are all known contributing causes:
8. physical or pathological changes would you require to attribute to asbestos:
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CANCER RISK
Isn't it true that:
1. 20 to 25% of the general population in America die of cancer:
2. 35 to 40% of Americans die of heart disease:
3. Smoking contributes to both heart disease and cancer:
4. Cancer is called disease of elderly
5. If all cancer was cured it would only increase life expectancy in the United States by 2 years or less
In your opinion, do pleural changes (i.e., thickening or plaques) increase a person's risk of mesothelioma over another individual
with the same or similar exposure?
If so, please provide the author and publication that supports your opinion:
Does a person with "interstitial fibrosis" have an increased risk of
mesothelioma over another person with the same or similar exposure but without the development of interstitial fibrosis?
If so, please provide the author and publication that supports your opinion:
Does a persop with "asbestosis* have an increased risk of mesothe
lioma over another person with similar exposure but without the
development of interstitial fibrosis?
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If so, please provide the author and publication that supports your opinion:
In your opinion, do pleural changes (i.e., thickening or plaques) increase a person's risk of lung cancer over another individual with the same or similar exposure?
If so, please provide the author and publication that supports your opinion:
Does a person with "interstitial fibrosis" have an increased risk of lung cancer over another person with the same or similar exposure but without the development of interstitial fibrosis?
If so, please provide the author and publication that supports your opinion:
Does a person with "asbestosis* have an increased risk of lung cancer over another peeson with similar exposure but without the development of interstitial fibrosis?
If so, please provide the author and publication that .supports your opinion:
In your opinion, is lung cancer, when associated with asbestos, a dose-related condition?
In your opinion, is lung cancer, when associated with smoking, a dose-related condition?
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CANCER RISK
What are the relative and total lung cancer risks for the followi occupations:
Household asbestos exposure:
Smoker
Non-Smoker
Electricians:
Welders:
Pipefitters:
Painters:
Sheetmetal workers:
Shipyard workers:
Insulators:
Plasterers:
With regard to each one, what studies, articles, publications, or authors do you rely upon?
Was smoking considered as a confounding variable in each of the studies you have relied upon?
What is the risk of mesothelioma for each of the above occupations:
With regard to each one, what studies, articles, publications, or authors do you rely upon?
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CIGARETTE SMOKE
Have you ever diagnosed:
1. an individual with lung cancer who was a non-smoker?
2. an asbestos-worker with lung cancer who has never smoked?
If so, how many:
a. non-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer: b. smokers diagnosed with lung cancer:
In your opinion, does smoking cause or contribute to cause:
1. a reduction in the dust clearance ability of the lung?
2. pleural plaques or thickening?
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3. interstitial fibrosis?
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4. increased incidence of infection?
5. reduction in life expectancy?
6. bronchitis?
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7. emphysema?
8. asthma?
9. destruction of cilia cells? for how long? per cigarette?
10., destruction of macrophages?
11., increased dust retention and distribution into periphery of*lung?
12., increased mortality rate from asbestosis?
In your opinion, does smoking cause or contribute to cause increased extent or severity of:
1. pleural changes?
2. interstitial fibrosis?
3. bronchitis?
4. emphysema?
5. asthma?
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CIGARETTE SMOKE
Is cigarette smoke: 1. Addictive: 2. Carcinogenic: 3. Fibrogenic:
Is there any safe level any carcinogen: If so, which carcinogens: What level is safe:
How many carcinogens are in every puff of cigarette smoke:
In your opinion, is lung cancer in a person exposed to any amount of any carcinogen, in reasonable medical probability, caused by that carcinogen: Is there any safe level of cigarette smoke: Would you agree that 'one cigarette is too many: Do you advise all patients to stop smoking regardless of asbestos exposure: Do you personally believe that cigarette smoking is hazardous? Do you prescribe medication, hypnosis, or other therapy to help your patients stop smoking? Did you prescribe any medication or therapy for the Plaintiff?
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CIGARETTE SMOKE
Isn't it true that cigarettes are the number one preventable cause of:
1. Heart disease
2. Bronchitis
3. Emphysema
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4. Small airways disease - permanent & irreversible
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Large airways disease
6. Lung cancer
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Isn't it true that smoking causes or contributes to cause:
1. Adenocarcinoma
2. Squamous cell or epidermoid
3. Large, cell
4. Small cell
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5. All cell types of lung cancer
6. Carcinoma in every area or location in lung
Isn't it true that:
1. the earlier a person starts smoking the more damage is done to lungs:
2. 85% of lung cancer in America is attributable to cigarette smoking:
ALCOHOL
Isn't it true, sir, that alcohol consumption:
a. increases a person's risk of cancer?
b. acts as a depressant?
c. has been implicated in the reduction of dust clearance from the lungs?
d. reduces a person's life expectancy?
e. causes cirrhosis of the liver?
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HEART Isn't-it true that cor pulmonale:
1. is right sided heart failure? 2. only occurs with severe and longstanding lung disease?
Isn't it true that coronary artery disease is not asbestos-related Isn't it true that coronary artery disease may cause:
1. SOB (exertional) ? 2. chest pain? 3. fatigue? 4. decreased exercise tolerance?
Isn't it true that risk factors for coronary artery disease are:
1. Smoking 2. Obesity 3. Familial history 4. Male 5. Age 6. Cholesterol 7. Hypertension 8. Lack of cardiovascular exercise or deconditioning
PNEUMONIA
Isn't it true that pneumonia may cause:
1. pleural effusion
2. pleural thickening
3. pleural plagues
4. Interstitial scarring
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5. other permanent CXR changes and reduced pulmonary
function
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S' INDIVIDUAL CASE
Trial is set Do you know of any reason you can't attend? Have you been asked to appear and testify? Will you appear if asked by plaintiff attorney to do so?
May I see your complete file on this case?
Have there been any reports, documents, records, or information that you have reviewed or created that are not contained within the file?
If so,
.
.
1. please explain why those records, reports, information, and/or documents were removed or not included in the file.
-<i..' 2.. please.provide those.
What information in the file was not created by you? 1. who provided that information: 2. when was that information provided:
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INDIVIDUAL CASE
Have you consulted, any other person or expert with regard to this case?
In Plaintiff case, who:
1. referred him to you?
2. paid the bill for examination and report?
3. scheduled the appointment with your office?
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In Plaintiff case, did you or anyone from your office:
1. have any communication with Plaintiff prior to his appointment?
2. review any records on the plaintiff prior to his appoint ment?
3. review any chest X-rays prior to his appointment?
In Plaintiff case, have you:
.
1. requested any information or medical records you have not received?
2. requested any chest X-rays you have not received?
3. planned or need any additional work, review of any additional records, review of any additional X-rays to support your opinions in this case?
4. planned or need future appointments or opportunities to evaluate Plaintiff?
If you do any further work, record review, or X-ray interpretation, would you agree to advise the plaintiff's counsel so that he may advise defense counsel of the additional work either which support or changes your opinions in this case?
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INDIVIDUAL CASE
In Plaintiff case, please state:
1. Each date the plaintiff was seen or evaluated by witness: 2. Where plaintiff was evaluated each time: 3. Who scheduled the evaluations: 4. Who paid the bill on each occasion:
In Plaintiff case, please state Plaintiff's:
1. date of birth:
.
2. height & weight:
3. occupational history:
4. first & last alleged exposure to asbestos-containing
insulation products:
SMOKING HISTORY:
Plaintiff's smoking history:
1. Date started: 2. Date stopped: 3. Average number of packs smoked per day over smoking history: 4. Total -pack years accumulated: 5. Brands of cigarettes smoked during smoking history: 6. Years non-filter cigarettes smoked: 7. Smoking history of:
a. father: b. mother: c. spouse:
8. Other tobacco use: a. pipe: b. cigars: c. chewing tobacco: d. snuff:
ALCOHOL HISTORY
Dates and amounts of alcoholic beverages consumed:
Type of alcohol consumed:
Whether Plaintiff had treatment for alcoholism or alcoholrelated condition:
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INDIVIDUAL CASE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Did you find: Normal breath sounds: Rales: Rhonchi: Wheezes: Decreased breath sounds: Increased chest diameter: Clubbing: Cyanosis: Edema: Cigarette/tobacco stains on fingers/lips:
CXR INTERPRETATION What are dates and views of all chest X-rays taken and/or reviewed What is your ILO interpretation of all chest X-rays on:
1. Quality of films, techniques: 2. Small irregular opacities 3. Pleural changes Do the chest X-rays demonstrate any: 1. signs of congestive heart failure? 2. emphysematous blebs or bullae: 3. hyperinflation:
- flattened diaphragms - widened mediastinal spaces 4. pleural fat pads 5. any other disease process
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individual case
PULMONARY FUNCTION STUDIES:
Do they demonstrate:
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1. restrictive defect?
2. obstructive defect?
3. combined defect?
4. any progression in any breathing defect present?
**Make certain you have actual numbers on all PFT tests in report. If none, require doctor to testify to numbers.
INDIVIDUAL CASE
FUTURE MEDICAL
Isn't it true that:
1. any smoker age 55 or older should have an annual chest X-ray?
2. any 55 year old smoker should have an annual physical examination?
3. you have recommended to the Plaintiff that he have a physical examination and chest X-ray every year?
4. unless the Plaintiff develops severe impairment or develops a cancer that his future medical expenses will be no greater than another individual his age without asbestosis?
5. you cannot testify in reasonable medical probability
that Plaintiff will develop cancer?
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6. you cannot testify that Plaintiff will reach a severe impairment category?
**If witness answers "no" to any question, please provide the author, publication, and citation of study or authority to support his opinion.
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INDIVIDUAL CASE
PROGRESSION
Has there been any progression in the Plaintiff's condition over the number of years that you have followed the Plaintiff?
From your review of the records, has there been any progression of the Plaintiff's condition in the last _____ number of years?
Isn't it true the variables to consider in determining individual's progression include:
' 1. age:
.
2. latency between first exposure and manifestation of changes:
3. duration and extent of exposure:
4. smoking history:
LIFE EXPECTANCY
What is the Plaintiff's life expectancy?
.
What study or report to you rely upon for your calculation of the life expectancy of the Plaintiff?
What would the Plaintiff's life expectancy be if he had not been exposed to asbestos?
What other factors, not related to asbestos, reduce plaintiff life expectancy:
1. smoking:
2. obesity:
3. hypertension:
4. heart disease:
5. hereditary factors:
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INDIVIDUAL case #1 CANCER CONCERN
What did you tell the Plaintiff concerning his condition?
i'-'i Did you tell the Plaintiff he has:
1. cancer: Tk 2. asbestosis:
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3. impairment:
4. progression:
5. pleural changes:
Did you tell Plaintiff in reasonable medical probability he will develop cancer?
Exactly, as best you recall, what did you tell the Plaintiff concerning his cancer risk?
What did the Plaintiff say in response to you concerning his: . t 1. cancer risk:
2. asbestosis: 3. impairment: 4. progression: 5. pleural changes:
Provide the citation and/or study that you rely upon for calculating the cancer risk of Plaintiff:
Did you refer the Plaintiff to a counselor, psychiatrist, or psychologist?
QUOTABLE QUOTES: ASBESTOS IS
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that:
1....the term "asbestosis" should be reserved for inter stitial fibrosis of pulmonary parenchyma where asbestos bodies or fibers may be demonstrated?
2....the minimum criteria for histological diagnosis of asbestosis are:
a. peribronchiolar fibrosis, and b. two or more asbestos bodies in tissue
QUOTE:
PULMONARY ASBESTOSIS
DEFINITION
The term asbestosis should be reserved for the interstitial
fibrosis of the pulmonary parenchyma in which asbestos bodies or
fibers may be demonstrated. . .
.
American Thoracic Society,.THE DIAGNOSIS OF NON-MALIGNANT DISEASES RELATED TO ASBESTOS, American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1986, Vol. 134, pp. 363-368
ASBESTOSIS
Fundamental to the diagnosis of asbestos-associated inter stitial fibrosis, or asbestosis, is the microscopic demonstration of asbestos bodies. The Pneumoconiosis Committee of the College of American Pathologists has specified that the minimum criteria for the histologic diagnosis of asbestosis are (1) identification of peribronchiolar fibrosis and.(2) at least two asbestos bodies in tissue sections.-
GREENBERG, S. DONALD, "Asbestos", Pulmonary Pathology, 1988, Chapter 22, p. 628
Appendix "F"
QUOTABLE QUOTES; LATENCY PERIOD
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that the common latency period for an asbestosassociated :
1....pleural effusion is 3 to 20 years.
2....pleural plaque is 10 to 20 years.
3....asbestosis is 10 to 20 years.
4....1.ng cancer is 20+ years.
5....mesothelioma is 25 to 50 years.
i I
i
j QUOTE:
.
ASBESTOS-ASSOCIATED DISEASES
Asbestos exposure may lead to pleural effusion, pleural plaques, fibrosis (asbestosis), and mesothelioma. It may act as a cocarcinogen in lung cancer, The latent periods commonly associated with these diseases and asbestos exposure are shown in
Table 22-3.
TABLE 22.3. Latency of Asbestos-Associated Lung Diseases
Latent period _________ Disease or condition__________________________________(years)
Pleural effusion
i
i
J
Pleural plaque
Asbestosis
3-20 10-20 10-20
Asbestos-associated lung cancer
20+
Asbestos-associated mesothelioma
25-50
GREENBERG, S. DONALD, "Asbestos", Pulmonary Pathology, 1988, Chapter 22, p. 627
Hsi
QUOTABLE QUOTES: PLEURAL CHANGES
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that bilateral pleural plaques:
1____ have no effect on life expectancy? 2....are not known to give rise to any complications? 3....are an index only of past asbestos exposure if
other causes are excluded?
QUOTE:
Prognosis and Complications
Plaques themselves have no effect on life expectancy and are not known to give rise to any complications.
To Summarize
The pathogenesis of pleural plaques in asbestos-exposed persons is a fascinating enigma but their bilateral presence at autopsy and in chest radiographs is, for practical purposes, like asbestos bodies, an index only of past asbestos exposure if other causes are excluded.
W. Raymond Parkes, OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISORDERS (Text), 2nd Ed., 1982, p. 249
4....cause no symptoms
PLEURAL PLAQUES
Pleural plaques develop on the parietal pleura in the intercostal spaces and the diaphragm and are usually incidental findings seen radiographically or at autopsy. The visceral pleura may also be involved. In themselves, they cause no symptoms, but are a marker of previous asbestos exposure in many cases [57].
Jerrold L. Abraham, Environmental Pathology of the Lung, ENVIRON MENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE (Text), W. Rom, Editor, 1983, p. 141
5....should prompt no further investigation which would only alarm patient
PLEURAL PLAQUES
~
Pleural plaques are a benign condition, indicating exposure
to asbestos in the past. They probably occur more frequently after exposure to amphiboles than to chrysotile, since they do not occur frequently in all parts of Quebec. They should not be taken to imply any more serious disease and should not prompt further investigation of follow-up, which will only needlessly alarm the patient.
W.K.C. Morgan, A. Seaton, M.D., OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASES, 2nd
Ed., 1984, p. 361
"
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QUOTABLE QUOTES: DIAGNOSTIC CRITFRTA
QUESTION:
Isn't it true thAt the diagnosis of asoestosis:
1....1s a judgment based on careful consideration of all relevant clinical findings?
2.... requires a reliable history of exposure and an appropriate time interval between exposure and detection?
3.. ..has recognized clinical criteria of:
a. small irregular opacities on chest X-ray of a profusion of 1/1 or greater;
b. a restrictive pattern of lung impairment with a. FVC below the lower limit of normal:
c. a reduced diffusion capacity below the lower limit of normal; and
d. persistent crackles at the lung bases
4.. ..has as its most important clinical finding small irregular opacities on chest X-rays?
QUOTE:
SUMMARY
i . . .The diagnosis of asbestosis is a judgment based on a careful
consideration of all relevant clinical findings. In our opinion, it is necessary that there be:
1. A reliable history of exposure
2. An appropriate time interval between exposure and detection (see pages 9-10)
Furthermore, ve regard the following clinical criteria to be of recognized value:
1. Chest roentgenographic evidence of type "s," *t,', "u,* small irregular opacifications of a profusion of 1/1 or greater
2. A restrictive pattern of lung impairment with a forced vital capacity below the lower limit of normal
3. A diffusing capacity below the lower limit of normal
4. Bilateral late or pan inspiratory crackles at the posterior lung bases not cleared by cough
Of these, the findings on the chest roentgenogram are the most important. When this criteria is not met, considerable caution is warranted. The specificity of the above criteria increases with increasing numbers of positive criteria. As in all clinical judgments, confounding variables, such as the presence of other clinical conditions that affect these criteria, should be evaluated.
American Thoracic Society, THE DIAGNOSIS OF NON-MALIGNANT DISEASES
RELATED TO ASBESTOS, American Review of Respiratory Disease,
1986, Vol. 134, pp. 363-368
'
QUOTABLE QUOTES: SYMPTOMS & IMPAIRMENT
-QUESTION:
Isn't it true that:
I--.in disability claimants the reliability of relation ship between pulmonary function and shortness of breath breaks down?
2....disability claimants markedly exaggerate symptoms?
3....symptoms of SOB can no longer be relied on as index of impairment?
QUOTE:
PULMONARY PHYSIOLOGY
In disability claimants the reliability of the relationship
between pulmonary function and shortness of breath breaks down.
This is especially true where the financial rewards exceed what
the subject earns at work ... It is quite clear that disability
claimants markedly exaggerate their symptoms, and as such the
symptom of shortness of breath can no longer be relied upon as an
index of impairment.
'
W.K.C. Morgan, A. Seaton, OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASES (Text), 2nd Ed., 1984, p. 66
QUESTION:
QUOTABLE QUOTES: SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Isn't it true that dyspnea, shortness of breath, is:
QUOTE:
1....a non-specific symptom, common in many cardiopulmo nary disorders?
2....particularly subject to emotional factors present in suspected industrial-related disease?
DYSPNEA
. . .Dyspnea, however, is a nonspecific symptom, common in many
other cardiopulmonary disorders, and it is particularly subject
to emotional factors likely to be relevant in instances of
suspected Industrially-related disease.
'
American Thoracic Society, THE DIAGNOSIS OF NON-HALIGNANT DISEASES RELATED TO ASBESTOS, American Review of Respiratory Disease,
1986, Vol. 134, pp. 363-368
A-is^f
QUOTABLE QUOTES: PFT & IMPAIRMENT
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that by pulmonary function testing:
1____ FEV1, FVC, FEvVFVC, and DLCOS0 are the primary tests recommended for determination of respiratory impairment
2... a person with FEV^ of 60% +, has slight impairment;
FVC of 60%
have slight impairment:
DLCO of 60% +, have slight impairment:
FEvl/FVC of 60% , will only have slight impairment
3... .a person with no or mild impairment would be able to perform all but the most unusually physically demanding of jobs
QUOTE:
IMPAIRMENT DIRECTLY RELATED TO REDUCED LUNG FUNCTION
Pulmonary Function Test (Primary Tests)
The FEvl, FVC, FEV^/FVC, and
are the primary tests
recommended for the determination of respiratory impairment.
Rating of Impairment
In the evaluation of respiratory impairment by pulmonary function testing, it is recommended that the first step include both forced spirometry measurements and testing for single breath diffusing capacity. With these results, the majority of subjects will be appropriately categorized as to their degree of impairment as follows:
Normal.
FVC> 80% of predicted, and FEV^ > 80% of predicted, and FEVl/FVC x 100 > 75%, and
DLC0sb 2. 80% of*"predicted.
Mildly Impaired. (Usually not correlated with diminishing
ability to perform most jobs).
-
FVC 60% to 79% of predicted, or FEVl 60% to 79% of predicted, or FEVl/FVC x 100 60% to 76%, or
DLcosb kQ* to 79% of predicted.
Subjects with no or mild impairment (see Rating of Impairment)
would be able to perform all but the most unusually' physically
demanding of jobs.
'
American Thoracic Society, EVALUATION OF IMPAIRMENT/DISABILITY SECONDARY TO RESPIRATORY DISORDERS, American Review of Respiratory Disease, March 6, 1986, pp. 1205-1209
A-F-6 ^
QUOTABLE QUOTES: RESTRICTION
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that the characteristic features of pulmonary asbestgsis are those of a restrictive lung disease?
QUOTE: PULMONARY FUNCTION
. . .The characteristic features of pulmonary asbestosis are those of a restrictive lung disease/ i.e./ a reduction in lung volumes/ with inspiratory capacity and vital capacity being primarily affected/ functional residual capacity being less affected, and residual volume even less. These changes are consistent with a decrease in pulmonary compliance.
American Thoracic Society, THE DIAGNOSIS OF NON--MALIGNANT DISEASES RELATED TO ASBESTOS, American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1986, Vol. 134, pp.,363-368
. QUOTABLE QUOTES: SMALL AIRWAYS OBSTRUCTION & IMPAIRMENT
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that:
1....clinically significant airways obstruction is not expected to occur as a result of asbestos exposure?
2....any airway changes resulting from asbestos exposure are not functionally significant?
QUOTE:
DIAGNOSIS OF ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASE
. . . Peripheral airways dysfunction has been demonstrated in population studies and the pathologic analog described. However, clinical and epidemiologic evidence is now more than sufficient to firmly conclude that clinically significant chronic airways obstruction is not an expected consequence of asbestos exposure in the absence of far more important causal factors, most notably, smoking.
Hans Weill, M.D., F.C.C.P. Diagnosis of Asbestos-Related Disease, CHEST, Vol. 91, No. 6, June, 1987, p. 803
ASBESTOSIS
Microscopically, early lesions of asbestosis are concentrated
at the level of the respiratory bronchiole, where the basic
disease process is periobronchiolar fibrosis.4 . . . Wright and
Churg7 suggested the term "asbestos airway disease" for the
marked fibrosis found in the walls of respiratory bronchioles and
alveolar ducts of some asbestos workers, for there is no proof
that the lesion progresses to asbestosis. Such asbestos airway
disease is not visible in chest x-rays and is not functionally
significant.4
'
-'
GREENBERG, S. DONALD, "Asbestos", Pulmonary Pathology, 1988, Chapter 22, p. 629
fi-is"7
QUOTABLE QUOTES: SMALL AIRWAYS OBSTRUCTION & IMPAIRMENT QUESTION:
Isn't it true that FES25-75, closing volume, closing capacity, and volume of isoflow on pulmonary function testing:
1....appear to detect small airway changes? 2....are not recommended for assessment of impairment?
QUOTE:
'
(B.) MISCELLANEOUS TESTS OF FLOW AND VOLUME
The FEF25_75%, closing volume, closing capacity, and volume of isoflow are tests that appear to detect changes in small airways of less than two millimeters internal diameter and are not recommended for the assessment of impairment...
American Thoracic Society, EVALUATION OF IMPAIRMENT/DISABILITY
SECONDARY TO RESPIRATORY DISEASE, American Review of Respiratory
Disease, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1982, pp. 945-950
.
'
Miscellaneous Tests of Flow and Volume
The FEV25-75, closing volume, closing capacity, and volume of isoflow are tests for the detection of early changes of small airways of less than 2mm internal diameter. They are not recom mended for the assessment of impairment because they may be normal when overall function as determined by the FEV is normal. On the other hand, one or more of these tests if almost always abnormal when overall function is abnormal, thus adding nothing of clinical significance to the determination of functional impairment.
American Thoracic Society, EVALUATION OF IMPAIRMENT/DISABILITY SECONDARY TO RESPIRATORY DtspRDERS, American Review of Respiratory Disease, March 6, 1986, pp. '1205-1209.
A-F-9 ft-IF?
QUOTABLE QUOTES: PROGRESSION
QUESTION;
Isn't it true that asbestosis:
1....may not progress?
2...,with first exposure since 1960, has become a rare disease?
3....1f it is progressive at all, the progression is . very slow?
QUOTE;
PROGRESSION OF ASBESTOSIS
We have followed for up to 18 years 1,632 persons exposed in shipyards, paper mills, and asbestos product plants by clinical, physiologic and radiographic studies.
. From this we concluded: 1) with first exposure since 1960, asbestosis has become a rare disease; 2) .radiographic progression of two or more steps did occur but clearly was uncommon (among 447 persons followed yearly for 11+4 yrs, progression was recorded in only 13.2%, more often among 97 persons with continued low level exposure); 3} radiographic regression was almost as frequent (7%) as was progression (9%) among those with continued exposure, but regression of three or more steps was unusual; 4) in the great majority (80%), no parenchymal changes were noted during 11 years, and when progression did occur it was always very slow; 5) there was no statistical evidence that progression was more rapid or more severe in those with initially more advanced disease, perhaps because of the small number with severe asbestosis; and 6) there was also no evidence that initial readings of 0/1 or 1/0 carried a worse prognosis than initial readings of 0/0.
Edward A. Gaensler, FCCP; Peter J. Jederlinic and Theresa C. McLoud, Third International Conference on Environmental Lung Disease, Chest, Vol. 91, No. 2, February, 1987, p. 305
A-F-10
/M5"?
QUOTABLE QUOTES: OCCUPATION
QUESTION: Isn't it true that:
1....the biological effects of asbestos differ not only with the kind of asbestos used, but also with tne type of occupational exposure?
2... .accurate statistics of the incidence and prevalence of asbestosis 3re few and valid comparisons between similar and dissimilar asbestos industries in one country or different countries are not possible?
3... .statistics from one occupation cannot be applied to other occupation groups?
QUOTE:
Asbestos
.
. . .The biological effects of asbestos differ not only with the kind of asbestos but also with the type of occupational exposure-- for example, mining and milling, manufacture, and insulation work.
William N. Rom, ASBESTOS AND RELATED FIBERS, Chapter 14, Environ mental and Occupational Disease, p. 1S9, 1983
QUOTE:
Incidence and Prevalence
Accurate statistics of the incidence and prevalence of asbestosis are few, and valid comparisons between similar and dissimilar asbestos industries in one country or in different countries are not possible.
W. Raymond Parkes, Occupational Lung Disorders (Text), 2nd Ed., 1982, p. 248
QUOTE:
Information currently available concerning asbestosis has been derived largely from studies of employees of asbestos textile factories and should properly be referred to such individuals. It is Inadequate to speak now of "asbestos workers." With the growth of asbestos utilization, including rapid multiplication of the number and variety of its applications, it would perhaps be more accurate to categorize . workmen exposed to asbestos as "asbestos textile workers,! "asbestos insulation workers," "asbes tos miners," "asbestos miTl workers," "asbestos-cement workers," etc. The different occupations vary widely in important respects; in Intimacy, intensity and duration of exposure, in variety and grade of asbestos used, in working conditions, in concomitant exposure to other dusts or inhalants.
("The Occurrence of Asbestosis Among Insulation Workers in the United States", Sellkoff, I.J., Churg, J., Hammond, E.C. ; Annals of the New York Academy of Science, Vol. 132, Art. 1, p. 139)
A-F-ll
i
QUOTABLE QUOTES: CIGARETTE SMOKE
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that cigarette smoke:
1....1s the most significant source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality in America?
2....1s the killer of over 350,000 people a year in the United States which-is more than all American lives lost in all 20th century wars?
3....reduces a person's life expectancy by 5.5 minutes for each cigarette smoked?
4....reduces the average life expectancy of a smoker by 5 to 8 years?
QUOTE:
OVERALL TOLL OF SMOKING
Excess Mortality
Cigarette smoking has been identified in the U.S. Surgeon General's Reports since 1964 as the single most significant source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality. The estimated
annual toll of excess mortality from cigarette smoking in the United States exceeds 350,000 people, more than the total number of American lives lost in all wars during the twentieth century.^
It has been estimated that an average of 5.5 minutes of life is lost for each cigarette smoked -- about the time taken to smoke it. This estimate is based on an average reduction in life expectancy for cigarette smokers of 5 to 8 years.
Jonathan E. Fielding, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE (Text), Chapter 26: Smoking: Health Effects and Control, 1986, John M. Last, Editor, p. 999-1000
/ <
L
A-F-12
QUOTABLE QUOTES: LUNG CANCER
QUESTION:
-* I
Isn't it true that in deciding whether a tumor should be ascribed to asbestos that:
1....cell type cannot be utilized in making that determination?
2....the rule adopted and followed in the United Kingdom is that asbestosis must be present before a cigar ette smoking worker can receive compensation?
3....asbestosis must be present before a lung cancer in a cigarette smoker can be attributed to asbestos exposure?
QUOTE:
ASSOCIATION WITH CARCINOMA
. . .Certainly one cannot use cell type in deciding whether a tumor should be* ascribed to asbestos. When this question arises, I follow the rule adopted in the United Kingdom, which requires that asbestosis be present before a cigarette-^smoking worker can receive compensation based on asbestos exposure for a carcinoma of the lung(36).
Andrew Churg, NONNEOPLASTIC ASBESTOS-INDUCED DISEASE, The Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine, Vol. 53, No. 6, June, 1986, p. 414
QUOTE:
ASBESTOS-ASSOCIATED LUNG CANCER
It has been reported that asbestos fibers in the lung contri bute to the development of lung cancer only if asbestosis is also present.40,79 it seems probable that in occupational settings where exposure to asbestos dust has been reduced to levels where asbestos is absent, excess lung cancer may not occur.88
GREENBERG, S. DONALD, Asbestos", Pulmonary Pathology, 1988, Chapter 22, p. 631
QUOTABLE QUOTES: LUNG CANCER
QUESTION: Isn'; it true tnat:
l....a threshold exists for lung cancer ahove the tnreshold for asbestosis?
2....it takes a greater dose of asbestos to cause lung cancer than that necessary to cause asbestosis?
QUOTE:
EDITORIAL
IS ASBESTOS OR ASBESTOSIS THE CAUSE OF THE INCREASED RISK OF LUNG CANCER IN ASBESTOS WORKERS?
A causal relation between lung cancer and asbestosis cannot be established by epidemiological means.
There is therefore strong prima facie evidence that in occupational exposure to asbestos a threshold exists before the risk of lung cancer is increased.
It seems probable, in Merewether's terminology, that it is
not asbestos per se but asbestosis which prepares the soil for
subsequent malignancy. But a definitive answer to this question
is still urgently awaited.
.
K. 8rowne, BRITISH JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, 1986, Vol. 43,
pp. 145-149
.'
QUOTE:
A THRESHOLD FOR ASBESTOS RELATED LUNG CANCER
whether a threshold exists for asbestos related lung cancer is question of great importance.
The data given above show that every industrial group of
asbestos workers with adequate data on individual duration and intensity of exposure provides some evidence of a threshold of cumulative exposure below which the risk of lung cancer does not
appear to be raised. The evidence for a threshold is also suppor ted by one well documented study giving duration of exposure only, and by several studies showing no increase in lung cancer
risks despite the presence of low levels of other asbestos related disease.
A threshold for asbestos related lung cancer at or above the threshold for asbestosis does not provide that the risks are
linked. Nevertheless, it is consistent with the hypothesis that the Increased risk of lung cancer due to exposure to asbestos occurs only where asbestosis is already present, a belief for which the evidence is now considerable.
K. Browne, BRITISH JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, 1986, Vol. 43,
pp. 556-558
-
A-F-1S
QUOTABLE QUOTES: LUNG CANCER RISK
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that lung cancer:
uncommon among asbestos insulation workers who have no history of cigarette smoking?
2....risk in non-smoking insulation workers, if it is increased, such increase is not great?
3....among insulation workers is largely confined to those men with a history of cigarette smoking?
QUOTE:
But this information is of tremendous importance. It is almost like saying that, if you work in a dynamite factory, you shouldn't smoke. And cancer of the lung could be wiped out in your trade if you people wouldn't smoke cigarettes, period.
DR. IRVING J. SELIKOFF; REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CONVENTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HEAT AND FROST INSULATORS AND ASBESTOS WORKERS, HELD AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, SEPT. 5-7, 1967, p. 71
QUOTE:
RELATION OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO RISK OF DEATH OF ASBESTOS-ASSOCIATED DISEASE AMONG INSULATION WORKERS
IN THE UNITED STATES
Lung Cancer Among Cigarette-Smoking Asbestos Insulation Workers
Recent experiences have confirmed that lung cancer among insulation workers is largely confined to those men with a history of cigarette smoking.
Lung Cancer Deaths Among Insulation Workers Who Do Not Smoke Cigarettes
Among the 2066 non-cigarette smoker in the nation-wide study, 73 deaths occurred between 1 January 1967 and 31 December 1971. Two were due to luno cancer. One of these two men was a cigar and pipe smoker, and the other never smoked regularly.-
It seems clear, then, that lung cancer is uncommon among asbestos insulation workers who have no history of cigarette smoking and that if the risk is increased such an increase is not great.
Hammond, E. C. & Selikoff, I. J., BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ASBESTOS, pp. 312-315, October, 1972
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halts'
QUOTABLE QUOTES: HOUSEHOLD CANCER RISK QUESTION:
Isn't it true that epidemiological studies have not demon strated a risk of lung cancer among family or household exposures? QUOTE: POPULATIONS AT RISK . . .So far, epidemiological studies have investigated lung cancer risk only for occupational groups--factory workers, insulators, miners and millers, shipyard workers, and others in the panolpy of asbestos trades. Studies of lung cancer risk for those less intensely exposed (e.g., family contacts) have not yet been completed. Irving J. Selikoff, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE (Text), Chapter 14: Occupational Respiratory Diseases, 1986, John M. Last, Editor, p. 529
A-F-17
QUOTABLE QUOTES: GASTROINTESTINAL CANCER
QUESTION;
What criteria should be met in order to establish a cause and effect relationship between an agent such as asbestos and a certain disease?
Do you agree with the criteria for establishing a cause and
effect relationship between an agent and a disease stated by
Selikoff and Lee as:
,
(1) a statistically significant association be established between exposures of subjects to the agent (asbestos) and the subsequent development of the syndrome:
(2) some degree of dose response relation should be demon strable ;
(3) in the event thatthe agent or its metabolic product can be shown in tissue, the concentration in exposed subjects should be greater than in unexposed subjects:
(4) the demonstration of pathological changes in animals after exposure to the agent, similar to those seen in man, would strengthen the evidence for causation, but the failure to obtain such changes would not negate other evidence supporting a causative relation: and
(5) the role of numerous attendant circumstances capable of influencing the appearance of manifestations of the
. disease initiated by the agent should be evaluated.
Isn't it true that:
1....there is no consistent statistical association between exposure to asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer?
2....the dose response relationship between asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer has not been demon strated?
3....the results of ingestion studies in laboratory animals with asbestos have been negative for gastro intestinal cancer?
4....tha criteria set forth in Selikoff 4 Lee to estab lish a cause and effect relationship between asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer have not been demonstrated in the literature?
5....the epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies provide insufficient evidence 'to support a cause and effect relationship between exposure to asbestos and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract?
A-F-18
fir-Us 7
QUOTE:
DISCUSSION
The criteria that should be met to establish cause and effect relation have been stated in many different ways by numerous investigators. These criteria as restated by Selikoff and Lee40 are that:
(1) a statistically significant association be established between exposures of subjects to the agent (asbestos) and the subsequent development of the syndrome;
(2) some degree of dose response relation should be demon strable ;
(3) in the event that the agent or its metabolic product can be shown in tissue, the concentration in exposed subjects should be greater than in unexposed subjects;
(4) the demonstration of pathological changes in animals after exposure to the agent, similar to those seen in man, would strengthen the evidence for causation, but the failure to obtain such changes would not negate other evidence supporting a causative relation; and
(5) the role of numerous attendant circumstances capable of influencing the appearance of manifestations of the disease initiated by the agent should be evaluated.
The present evaluation found no consistent statistical asso ciation between exposure to asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer, a dose response relation was not apparent, and results of inges tion studies in laboratory animals were negative. In terms of these criteria the findings of the present evaluation do not support a cause and effect relation between exposure to asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer. The third criterion was not evalua ted since studies have not been conducted to evaluate the concen tration of asbestos fibres or bodies in the gastrointestinal tissues of asbestos exposed and non-exposed subjects. Although various factors associated with an increased risk of gastrointes tinal cancer have been identified, none of the 32 studies made any adjustments to the risk estimates for gastrointestinal cancer for any of these factors. Based on the epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies evaluated, there is no evidence to support a cause and effect relation between exposure to asbestos and cancer of any gastrointestinal site.
Edelman, D., "Exposure to Asbestos and the Risk of Gastrointestinal
Cancer: A Reassessment", British Journal of Industrial Medicine,
1988, Vol. 45, p. 81
..
A-F-19
QUOTABLE QUOTES: MESOTHELIOMA
QUESTION:
Isn't it true that:
large proportion of mesotheliomas have no known cause?
2....about 50% of mesotheliomas in men have no known
cause?
-
3.... that 95% of mesotheliomas in women have no known caue?
QUOTE:
MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA Epidemiology
However, a large proportion of mesotheliomas (probably about 50% of tumors, in men and 95% of tumors in women) have no known cause.
Andrew Churg, M.D., Chest, Vol. 89, No. 4, April, 1986, p. 367S
A-F-20
IF IT'S KOT MESOTHELIOMA. IT18 NOT A8BE8TOS RELATED An Updated Survey of the Epidemiologic Studies of Cancers Other than Mesothelioma and Lung Carcinomas Among Allegedly Asbestos-Exposed Populations
by Gary D. Elliston Stephanie L. Spardone DeHay & Blanchard
Dallas, Texas
C-l
r
' C-2
fiwTn.v i iKifc .rttiaia niir iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
jm'FRODUCTION
!. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
A. Epidemiologic Method B. Results C. Healthy Worker Effect D. Critical Review E. Epidemiology and Asbestos Related Disease
1. Problems of Extrapolation 2. Occupation and Exposure Distinctions ` 3. Latency 4. Best Evidence v. Death Certificate 5. Reliance on Subject Memory
II. CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY
A. Mortality in the General Population B. Occupational Cancer C. Incidence of Non-Lung Related Cancers D. Smoking v. Asbestos Exposure - The
Proper Perspective E. Environmental Carcinogens
III. ASBESTOS AND "OTHER" CANCERS
A. Selected Studies/Publications: 1960-1979
1. Selikoff, Churg and Hammond 1964 2. Selikoff, Hammond and Churg 1968 3. Selikoff, Cuyler, Hammond and Churg 1972 4. Meurman, Kiviluoto and Hakama 1974 5. Lumley 1976 6. Doll, Peto, Howard, Kinten and Lewinsohn 7. Selikoff and Lee 1978 8. Nicholson, Selikoff, Seidman, Lilis
and Formby 1979 9. Rubino, Piolatto, Newhouse, Scanscoti,
Arsini and Murray 1979 10. Selikoff, Lilis and Nicholson 1979 11. Selikoff, Hammond and Seidman 1979
B. Selected Studies/Publications: 1980-1990
1. Beaumont and Weiss 1980 2. Rossitter and Cole 1980 3. McDonald, Liddell, Gibbs, Eyssen
and McDonald 1980
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.19.
20
Thomas, Benjamin, Elwood and Sveetwood 1982 Dement, Harris, Symons and Shy 1983 Acheson, Gardner, Winter and Bennett 1984 Berry and Newhouse 1983 Kolonel, Yoshizawa, Hirohata and Myers 1985
Levine 1985 Doll and Peto 1985 Morgan, Foliart and Wong 1985 Hodgson and Jones 1986 Enterline, Hartley and Henderson 1987 Sanden and Jarvholm 1987 Edelman 1988 Churg and Green 1988 Mossman, Bignon, Corn, Seaton and Gee 1989 Selikoff 1990 Seidman & Selikoff 1990 Brown, Hoskins, Miller and Mossman 1990
C-44 C-4 5 C-46 C--48 C-48 C-50 C-50 C-51
C--53 C-55 C-57 C-58 C-61 C--62 C--62 C-66 C-68
IV. ASBESTOS AND SPECIFIC CANCERS
A. Pharyngeal Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
B. Laryngeal Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Alcohol and Tobacco 3. Risk Factors 4. Asbestos Exposure
C. Esophageal Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Alcohol and Tobacco 3. Dietary Factors 4. Asbestos Exposure
D. Stomach Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
E. Small Intestine Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
C-68
C-68
C-68 C-69 C-72
C-74
C-74 C-74 C-76 C-76
C-85
C-85 C-86 C-86 C-87
C-91
C-91 C-91 C-93
C-97
C-97 C-97 C-97
a u n w tt*
C-4
L
i iiiunpt ,i. L
F. Colo-Rectal Cancer 1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
G. Rectal Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
H. Pancreatic Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Alcohol and Tobacco 4. Asbestos Exposure
I. Prostate Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
J. Kidney Cancer
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
L. Lymphoma
1. Description and Etiology 2. Risk Factors 3. Asbestos Exposure
USE AND RECEPTION OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN THE COURTROOM
A. Introduction B. The Burden of Proof C. Risks D. Minimizing Risks
CONCLUSION
FViUWfiuin.tt.ao'
C-98
C-98 C-98 C-100
C-107
C-107 C-107 C-107
C--108
C-108 C--109 C-lll C-lll
C-114
C-114 C-114 C-115
C-116
C-116 C-116 C-119
C-121
C-121 C-121 C-122
C-125
C-125 C-125 C-125 C-127
C-130
1KTR0D0CTI0N
Epidemiology does not establish causation in an individual case. Yet, six or twelve lay jurors are sometimes asked to consider epidemiological evidence and decide whether asbestos exposure was a producing or proximate cause of an individual's cancer. Our goal in this paper is to provide a brief discussion of general epidemiological principles and review alleged associa tion between asbestos and various cancers including pharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal, stomach, colon, rectal, pancreatic, pros tatic, and kidney cancer as well as lymphoma.
Despite numerous studies, there is still substantial debate in the medical profession about whether asbestos is a cause of certain cancers. Although there are many problems associated with epidemiological studies of asbestos exposure and disease in general, it is widely accepted that heavy exposure to asbestos may increase the risk for mesothelioma and lung cancer when antecedent asbestosis and smoking are present. Whether asbestos exposure increases the risk for other cancers is disputed. The medical literature discussed herein provides a strong evidence that asbestos does not cause or enhance an individual's risk for lymphoma or cancer of the:
A. pharynx B. larnyx C. esophagus D. stomach E. small intestine F. colon G. rectum H. pancreas I. prostate or J. kidney
C-6
!. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL principles
- Epidemiology is the study of the incidence and distribution of disease in human populations and the factors that influence these patterns. ' It combines concepts and methods from statistics, sociology, and biology to study disease. Lilienfeld, A.M., and Lifienfeld, D.E., Foundations of Epidemiology, p. 4 (1980).
The task of the epidemiologist is to detect unusual patterns of disease and to associate those patterns with certain environ mental or biological risk factors. The ultimate goal of the epidemiologist is to establish causation. However, due to its statistical foundations, epidemiologic data is most useful in recognizing increased rates of affliction in different groups, rather than to identify the specific cause of a disease in a specific individual. Thus, epidemiological studies address the question whether exposure to X increases the incidence of disease Y, not whether exposure to X causes disease Y.
The data obtained from the epidemiologic study is typically
used in one of three ways. First, such data is used to clarify
the etiology of a specific disease by combining epidemiologic data
with data from other scientific disciplines such as genetics,
biochemistry, or microbiology. Second, epidemiologic studies may
be used to evaluate pre-existing data with etiologic hypotheses for
consistency. Finally, epidemiologic data can be instructive in
developing and evaluating preventive measures and public policy.
Id. at 5.
f
A. EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHOD
As in all areas of scientific research, the experimental study yields the most methodologically valid and reliable results. In the experimental study, a suspected risk factor is either introduced or eliminated. The results of a properly conducted experimental study are likely to allow conclusions regarding causation. Schottenfeld, D., Fraumeni, J.F., Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. 3 (1982). Because implementa tion of the experimental method is not ethically feasible in human research, non-experimental studies compose the largest body of human cancer information.
Two types of non-experimental epidemiologic studies are
employed in cancer research; the analytic and the descriptive.
The descriptive or observational study examines the incidence
and prevalence of a certain disease in a given population over
time. The occurrence of disease is examined according to
time, place and person and may be measured according to
incidence or mortality. See id. at 3-6.
-
The analytic study takes the results obtained by the descriptive study and formulates a hypothesis which is then
C--7
evaluated by additional observational studies. Depending on the type of population studied, there are two forms of analytic studies; cohort and case control. The cohort study identifies subjects by their exposure while the case-control study identifies subjects by disease. The results derived from a cohort study may be expressed quantitatively as either attributable risk (the difference between the two incidences), or relative risk (the ratio of the two incidences). Id at 6 7.
Analytic studies, whether case control or cohort, may be
either cross-sectional, retrospective, or prospective. See
Lilienfeld at 193-195.
In the retrospective study the
epidemiologist identifies individuals who have and do not have
the disease being studied. He then may obtain, through a
variety of methods, their history of past exposure to -the
suspected risk factor under study. In the cross-sectional
study, although the same groups are under study, disease ex
perience is examined at a given point in time. Finally,
prospective studies identify individuals with a certain
exposure and then track their future morbidity or mortality.
Id at 226.
B. RESULTS
As mentioned earlier, the goal of epidemiology is to establish causation. Note, however, that the identification of an association and its quantitative estimation does not establish causation. Alternative explanations for the results obtained must be considered and adjustments made for chance errors and confounding factors. See Schottenfeld and Fraumeni at 10. Adjusting for errors of chance is achieved by accom panying quantitative risk estimates with statistical con fidence limits. Observed values of risk which include one (1.0) do not establish association. Id.
Errors in selection and/or classification may also explain a relative risk greater than one. When individuals are classified incorrectly as to the exposure under study, either a false-positive or a false-negative may result. Id. at 11. Errors may also arise from over-inclusion of subjects who are not representative of the group under study. Although these errors occur most frequently in case-control studies, they may also occur in prospective cohort studies where all cases occur after the population group has been identified. Id. Because the retrospective study examines exposed and nonexposed subjects after an effect has already occurred, selection bias is hard to avoid. The natural tendency is to include all those with the disease in the population. Id. Relative risk may also be artifactual due to the presence of various confounding factors, which are variables other than those under study. Id at 10. Age, sex, and socioeconomic
C-8
status are common confounding variables in almost all studies. The task of the epidemiologist is to separate the effect under study from the effect of extraneous or confounding factors which may be associated with the study factor. This is most efficiently achieved through matching, which is a process where both study subjects and control subjects are matched according to confounding factors. Id. at 12. If subjects are matched correctly, any differences in results may be more strongly explained in terms of the exposure under study rather than the confounding variable.
C. HEALTHY WORKER EFFECT
* As mentioned above, age is a confounding factor routinely
associated with disease risk and exposure frequency. The
standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was developed to account
for age. This is an age-standardized relative index of
mortality which compares the mortality experience of the study
population to that of a comparison or standard population;
generally the total U.S. population.
McMichael, A.J.,
"Standardized Mortality Ratios and the Scratching Beneath the
Surface," Journal of Occupational Medicine, 1976, Vol. 18, pp.
165-168, 165. It is the use of the general population as the
comparison group which produces the "healthy worker effect"
in occupational epidemiologic studies. Since the population
at large includes disabled, elderly, and sick people; their
mortality experience is usually greater than the occupational
population under study. Thus, the relative risk for the
occupational cohort under study might be artificially low.
Adjustments can be made to offset this "healthy worker
effect," but one must necessarily allow for variation since
the "healthy worker effect" does not act consistently across
different age groups, races, work-status groups, causes of
death, and/or periods of observation. Id. at 168.
D. CRITICAL REVIEW
Before the results of a study are considered authorita
tive, the study should undergo critical review.
During
critical review the methodology and results of a study are
reviewed and critiqued by others in the scientific community.
The results of epidemiologic studies may be evaluated on
many different levels.
Sir Bradford Hill suggested the
following criteria for determining the strength of the causal
inference:1
1. Strength: This criterion refers to the
magnitude of the incidence ratio.
Strong
associations are more likely to be causal
because if the association were due to some
other bias or confounding factor, such factor
C--9
presumably would also be identifiable. How ever, weak associations cannot be automati cally ruled out, but should be viewed relative to other possible causes.
2. Consistency: Have subsequent studies of
different populations in different circum
stances observed the same association? Re
peated observations of similar results rules
out the potential effects of chance and other
errors.
.
3. Specificity: A cause should lead to a single, not multiple effect. Given that many diseases have multiple etiologies, this is not a plausible measure.
4. Temporality: The logical necessity that the cause, or the exposure in the occupational setting precede the effect or disease in time.
5. Biologic gradient: This criteria refers to the dose-response relationship. Thought to be the strongest positive evidence of an occupational hazard, dose-response refers to the relationship between intensity of exposure and subsequent incidence of disease. Unfor tunately, outside of the laboratory setting, the measurement of intensity is very dif ficult.
6. Plausibility: Is causal inference bio logically plausible? This criterion is of little value since what is biologically plaus ible depends on the biological knowledge of the day.
7. Coherence: Logical coherence requires that a cause and effect relationship not conflict with what is known of the natural history and biology of the disease.
8. Experiment: Does experimental evidence exist to support the causal inference? As mentioned earlier, experimental data is rarely available for human populations. Occasional ly, crude semi-experimental data may be de rived if some preventive action is taken, such as reducing dust levels. Strong support for the causal inference is found when the disease incidence subsequently decreases.
C-10
9. Analogy: Illustrated as, "if one drug can cause birth defects, perhaps another may as well." The importance of this criterion seems minimal.
Hill, Sir Austin Bradford, "The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation?" Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine - Section of Occupational Medicine, (1965), pp. 295-300.
Hill admitted that none of the "nine viewpoints can bring indisputable evidence for or against the cause-andeffeet hypothesis and none can be required as a sine qua non." Id. at 299. In any event, the results of all epidemio logical studies should be evaluated with similar criteria.
E. EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ASBESTOS RELATED DISEASE
1. Problems of Extrapolation
Use of epidemiological studies in an attempt to es tablish an association between asbestos exposure and a par ticular disease can be quite problematic for a variety of reasons. First, the studies from which most of the available information was derived examined cancer rates in heavily exposed factory workers, shipyard workers, and insulators. Although some of these studies examined incidence of cancers other than mesothelioma and lung cancer, the majority'focused on lung-related diseases. Furthermore, extrapolation of data from such studies which investigated non-routine cancer incidence can be misleading. Recent exposure levels may be quite different from the heavily exposed shipyard worker, insulator, or factory worker of the past. The fact that dose-response relationships have not been established for most non-lung related cancers, together with the exposure variance between the workers of the past and the Plaintiff of the 1990's, must be carefully considered when attempting to extrapolate epidemiological data.
2. Occupation and Exposure Distinctions
The degree, type, and duration of exposure are also important considerations. Exposures in one industry cannot necessarily be applied to those in another industry. Workers in various industries were exposed to different types and levels of asbestos under many different working conditions.
Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, when discussing asbestosis, acknowledged differences between the various occupational exposures:
C-ll
Information currently available concerning asbestosis has been derived largely from studies of employees of asbestos textile factories and should properly be referred to such individuals. It is inadequate to speak now of "asbestos workers." With the growth of asbestos utilization, including rapid multiplication of the number and variety of its applications, it would perhaps be more accurate to categorize workmen exposed to asbestos as "asbestos textile workers," "asbestos-cement workers," etc. The different occupations vary widely in important respects; in intimacy, intensity and duration of exposure, in variety and grade of asbestos used, in working conditions, in concomitant exposure to other dusts or inhalants. The importance of this distinc tion and parallel obligation to evaluate and study the experience of asbestos exposure in other trades, is emphasized by the fact that asbestos textile workers are now a minority of those exposed during the industrial use of asbestos.
Selikoff, I.J., Churg, J., and Hammond, E. C.: "The Occur rence of Asbestosis Among Insulation Workers in the United States," Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1965, Vol. 132, p. 139.
Dr. Wtilliam Rom has also written that the type of oc cupational exposure may affect the risk of disease:
The biological effects of asbestos differ not only with the kind of asbestos but also with the type of occupational exposure -- for example, mining and milling, manufacture, and insulation work.
Rom, William N., Environmental and Occupational Medicine, p. 159, (1983).
Dr. Raymond Parkes indicated that valid comparisons between different asbestos industries are not possible for asbestosis:
Accurate statistics of the incidence and prevalence of asbestosis are few, and valid comparisons between similar and dissimilar asbestos industries in one country or in different countries are not possible.
Parkes, Raymond W. , Occupational Luna Disorders, pp. 248-249, (1982).
i
t
i 1
C-12
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L
3. Latency
An additional complication which must be considered in the use of epidemiological studies is the long latency period between exposure and the manifestation of symptoms. Dr. Selikoff reports that the latency period between onset of asbestos exposure and death can be anywhere from two, three, four or more decades. Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, E.C., and Seidman, H., "Latency of Asbestos Disease among Insulation workers in the United States and Canada," Cancer, I960, Vol. 46, PP- 2736-2740, 2740.
4. Best Evidence v. Death Certificate
Another problem associated with certain studies is reliance on best evidence as opposed to death certificates. Since national mortality statistics are based on cause of death as reported on death certificates, when standardized mortality ratios are computed according to "best-evidence," valid comparison is impossible.
Drs. Morgan, Foliart, and Wong discussed the confound ing effect of using best evidence in their review of eighteen cohort studies which provided data on gastrointestinal cancers:
Although diagnostic inaccuracy is troubling, it is
not easily remedied.
Selikoff has used "best
evidence" from numerous sources, rather than the
certified cause of death, to calculate standardized
mortality ratios (SMRs). However, 'best evidence'
data cannot properly be compared with national
mortality statistics, which are derived solely from
death certificates. Unless one can also correct the
statistics from the U.S. reference population,
comparisons are invalid because of the underlying
principle that both study and reference populations
should have similar ascertainment and classifica
tion of death. Another statistically questionable
practice is attributing to cancer those deaths
previously certified as due to a cause other than
cancer, but where cancer was present (Selikoff
communication quoted by Miller). Again, without a
similar mechanism for including cancer as a contri
buting cause of death in the national mortality
statistics, such comparisons will either create an
apparent excess of cancer in the study population
or will exaggerate any excess already there.
Morgan, R.W., Foliart, D.E., and Wong, 0., "Asbestos and
Gastrointestinal Cancer," Western Journal of Medicine, 1985, Vol. 143, p. 61.
C-13
. 5. Reliance on Subject Memory Retrospective or cross-sectional studies are frequently
, employed, therefore great reliance must be placed on the subject's recollection. The extent to which the subject accurately relates information about his background, family, health, and dietary habits is potentially confounding and can lead to an incorrect association. Since there can be multiple risk factors for disease, and exposure to such risk factors may act either alone or in concert, the epidemiologist must rely on the subject's recollection. The obvious way to avoid any confounding is to undertake a prospective study and control for confounding factors.
II. CANCER INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY A. MORTALITY IN GENERAL POPULATION Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. population. Cancer accounted for approximately 22.1 percent of deaths in 1985, 22.3 percent of deaths in 1986, and 22.5% of deaths in 1987. The mortality rates for leading causes of death in the United States in 1985, 1986, and 1987 are demonstrated in the following charts.
C-14
MORTALITY 707 LEADING C.'.YSES 07 DIATK - 1985
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C-17
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The American Cancer Society has projected that there will
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(110.000) , New York (85,000), Florida (73,000), Pennsylvania
(65.000) , and Texas (59,000) will lead the nation ir. total new
cases.
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55 OK 5 SCC
: oo
1 34.000 1 19.100 . 10 500 j 31.500 | 1.500
v
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4 500 309C 1 400 3,<00
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3.305 <57
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7 740 e4? 774 5X
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vsetes:
I !
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ex vex
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e?
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5 SC X
! 1 IX.05? 17*. so: ki.so: 101.000 30 IX 44.000 173 OX 3? OX :t.7oc 7i oc:
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. - - . -..................................................................................... 1
Ca-A Career Journal for Clinicians, Jan./Feb. 1991, Vcl. 41,
c-is
30.
The Anerican Cancer Society also predicts over 500,000 deaths caused by cancer of all sites in 1991 with Cali^o'-nia (52,000), New York (39,500), Florida (34,000), Pen nsylvania (30,500), and Texas (27,500) again leading the
nation.
ZS7IMA7ZL CAL'CZr. DZ.A7HS F0?. AIL S : PLUS MAJOR SI7ZS, BY S7A7
1991
i |
1 S>>*
! * i*`*>
* too roc*
t HMK C** 4
c. ('*>
> S--
Ci Umii
(*>
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1 L*v>>t**>
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'
. rar* 500
7 090 5 700 : coo 4 soc : 400 i.CC 1.70C 3< 000
i: J00 1.4X *..700
7* *00 12 000 4.200 4.900 e too 9.000 7.S0C
9 tK
19.400 (.303 4.400 11.490 l.4 2.730 ?.ax :n
I7t 09 t44 1C7 Ut 144 *72 If? T"" 1(2
174 Ut t*5 tti 17) tu u: '( m
1C* 175 17C 04 tu 171 UO IS* Ui 179
444 40
SO 0C 4.CC; 4C
7co is: 140 2.700
9CC 40
94C 400 7c: 450
no 740 290
4.it?
l.lK 125 105
2.09C 1 100
440 440 42C IX :gc
'..290 225 200
3 700 i.*oo
900 400 S4C t.009
8
1 *5C 1.4C0
K 40c 1.000 124 274 175 232
7.'9t t 400 2 030 <cc:
toe 7.303
225 *43 224 SOC
2 7W 175
1.909 1.909 12 902 1.200 1.(30
371 U0
70.303
*143 10 74 75
IX 75
725 30 40
esc
2.400 475 450
4 400 2.SCO >.402 7.20C 7.400 3.70?
eo:
24C
40
24
225
112715
4?
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71
2.490 2 400 t>00
1 90? 1.400 3.400
403 BSC 740 40?
140
202 190 102 140 30 30 40 0
7 75 10
*25 50 1.002 75
125 30 SC 440
2?!
30 40 440 225 190 IX 143 225 70
574 20
4*0 225 2.203 333 <25 IX 140 :?
bo: 90 135
l.*00 743 440 335 475 45C 143
175 225 250
153 103 200 40
40 40 40
550 403 1.200 400
240 735 125 200
IX 140
IX 10 90 70
BOO 40 IX 20 SC
440
IX 70 30 275 125 40 70 90 93 3?
IX 175 153 93
40 135 33
X 30 24
440 25
375 775 3.703 253 425
50 to 1.70C
550 X
IX 1.7X
sx 325 275 2X 475 125
2X
25
7X
7X
7 SOC
175
725
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1
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275
274
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XX IX 12S 1W X 125 70
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4.4C0 1.490 teto; 77 XC t.ico t too to tc: t 992 4 70? 9 *50
414.090 4.000
115 144 t?7
1144 *1 ic: K4 14* 199 It'
no IS3 175 t it: t?7 m 04 Hi ill 14*
17 121
:x
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700 1700
400 SCO 2 SOC 240
:.c
275 i.233 1 40C
14C 2.000
740 440 3 90S 224
SOC >35 (SC 3.700 174 734 1.103 ?i: 3i: f?. 71
TOG 293 1.200 2.700 725 124 tax 94C 540 1.200
4C
44.40S 4C.400 750 34C
4.90C 443
1C 30? 2.900
OHS 4.993 2.ICO 1.4X f IX
44C
3C0 30
70G 225
24 340 125 IX 375
4?
2?l 1.102 225
IX 400
4C 175 32 134 IX
IX ; 4oc ISO 3.002 1.3X
1253 900 IX (40 OS
30 125
?
4? 70
400 l 403 775 uco CX
174 9C 103
*0134 40 1 1.10044C 1.400 375 >0s; 15C 30
325 300 ,400 tx
275 775
1.900 275
2.40c 7.700
324 32! 3.(o; ? 400
1.400 2.M0
174
175
. 70 140 400 2*
70 203 125
50
15100
140 443 IX
3X TSC
75 124 74
X 12
7SC SOC 150
SX 400
SOC 1.403 350 1.330 1.0X
40 140 35
X tc
70 90 70
X 4*.
275 430 IX 125 440 124
550 425 30C
IX 775
40
175 700 135
?C 43 10
3CC ix SOC 375
40 X
142.000 e.tsc to.oo: 33.00C 4.500 2i.30i II.IX
440 175
tsc
221
35
' * * MSai
*> *> III )IIIV Mi>l * "S *f*
... ive %n c>*wi
>
Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Jan/Feb 1991, Vol. 41,
p. 30.
C-1S
B. OCCUPATIONAL CANCER
Since all forms of cancer are prevalent in the general
population, the real question is whether plaintiff's occupa
tion or exposure to asbestos contributed to cause plaintiff's
cancer. Some general education about cancer and occupational
risk of cancer can be effective and beneficial to establish
a proper perspective for the jury.
Maintaining proper
perspective on occupational cancer is emphasized by Drs.
Morgan and Seaton:
Before discussing preventive measures, it is
important to place occupational cancer in
perspective.
First, cancer is generally a
disease of the elderly, and it has been calcu
lated that if all forms of cancer were eradi
cated in the United States, average life
expectancy would rise by only two (2) years.
Second, there does not seem to be an epidemic
of cancer, the only important type noted to be
on the increase being bronchial carcinoma.
Third, any occupational factor in bronchial
carcinogenesis pales in significance when
compared with the effect of tobacco, which may
be calculated to cause some 120,000 to 125,000
excess deaths from cancer each year in the
United States, including an excess of about
80,000 to 85,000 lung cancers.
Morgan & Seaton, Occupational Luna Diseases, p. 662 (1984).
Since 1775, certain occupational exposures have been recognized as causing cancer. For example, British surgeon Sir Pervical Pott (1714-1788) observed that a unique tumor, scrotal carcinoma, often developed in chimney sweeps. Since that time, exposure to various carcinogens in the work place has been the subject of great interest and debate in the scientific and medical community.
. In 1959, R. E. Eckardt, assembled a compilation of data pertaining to various historical studies linking cancer to exposure to industrial carcinogens on a world-wide basis.
C-20
Table 15.1 Historical Oata on Occupational Cancer*
Year -
First Reported By
Reported Agent or Process
Site
Probable Total Hurtw of Cases Reported
To Date
1775 1822 1875 1876 1876 1879 189*
1695 1898 1906 1910
1911 1917
1926 1929 1932
1935
1952
Pott Paris Volkmam Volkmarm Bell Marring l Hesse Unrta
Rehn Mackenzie Frieben Wilson
Pfeil Leymam
Pnnes Martland Grenfell
Lynch t Smith
Weil et al
Soot Arsenic Crude Wax from Coal Coal Tar Shale Oil Ionizing Radiation Ultraviolet Radiation Aromatic Amines Creosote X-rays Shale Oil and Mineral Oil LiAricants Chromate Producing Crude Anthracene (coal tar?) Saltpeter Radius Nickel Refining
Asbestos Production with Asbestosis Isopropyl Alcohol Manufacture
Scrotun Skin Skin Skin Skin Lung Skin
Bladder Skin Skin Skin
Lung Skin
Skin Bone
Ling t
Sinuses Ling
Sinuses
190 <25 254 >3000
>200
>300 Unknown
>1200 20
>125
2000
140
20
17 9
135
59
10
By permission. From Industrial Carcinogens, Modem Monographs in Industrial Medicine. Grune t
Stratton, New York, 1959
Eckardt, R. E.: "Industrial Carcinogens: Modern Monographs in Industrial Medicine," Grune and Stratton , New York, (1959).
Drs. Rutherford 1T. Johnstone and Suwarde E. Miller also referred to and incorporated Eckardt's 1959 compilation with the caveat that they had not accepted arsenic, salt peter, or asbestos as adequately proven carcinogens, but rather they were believed to act only as cocarcinogens. Johnstone and Miller, Occupational Diseases and Industrial Medicine, p. 323.
Surveys in England and Wales have shown that, although
certain occupations are associated with a greater or lesser
cancer risk than occurs in the general population, almost
ninety percent of such variation disappears when comparison
is made between individuals of similar habits and social
class.
Registrar General (1978), Office of Population
Censuses and Surveys: Occupational Mortality.
Decennial
Supplement for England and Wales, 1970-72. Long; HMSO. Fox
and Adelstein, "Occupational Mortality: Work or Way of Life?"
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, (1978), Vol. 32,
pp. 73-78. The cancers which are of non-occupational origin
are primarily related to "life style" factors - these being
understood as the "total cultural, behavioral and dietary
environment" of the individual. Parkes, W. R., Occupational
Lung Disorders. p. 499 (1982).
C-21
*"-v'ifc|J5V,.t`WSl^<J*^l(J!^^l^3^^^^5J^4!J0^j:4w^.-f- - ........_- . - ..---
A majority of the available medical evidence indicates
that industrial carcinogens are responsible for only a small
portion of cancers. Doll and Peto, The Causes of cancer:
Quantitative Estimates of Avoidable Risks of Cancer in the
United States Today. (1981).
While it is true that the
continuing search for occupational hazards has uncovered more
human carcinogens than any other approach, this is far from
saying that these carcinogens are responsible for most human
cancer. The evidence available from epidemiological studies
indicates that both the age standardized incidence and
mortality for all forms of cancer are beginning to fall and
that the existence of an "epidemic" of cancer is fallacious.
Howard, J. K., "Occupationally Related Cancer," The Prac
titioner, 1981, Vol. 225, p. 810.
Dr. John Higginson, then director of the International
Agency for Research on Cancer, originally proposed that 80
percent of cancers were dependent on environmental factors
relating them to a wide range of factors such as life style,
social habits, diet, and cooking methods, and not primarily
to the result of industrial activity.
Dr. Higginson has
subsequently remarked that the "over emphasis on chemical
carcinogens has distorted an approach to the environmental
theory for many years." Higginson, J., "Proportion of Cancers
Due to Occupation," Preventive Medicine, 1980, Vol. 9, pp.
180-188.
It is critical to convince the jury that the mere presence of carcinogens in the work place proves little. Various studies demonstrate that carcinogens are present in not only the work place, but virtually every aspect of our life. Therefore, there is inherent difficulty in diagnosing
a particular cancer as being a result of exposure to a specific agent, such as asbestos. Seldom is it possible to say with probability or certainty that the plaintiff's cancer is related to occupational exposure.
C. INCIDENCE OF NON-LUNG RELATED CANCERS
When defending any cancer case, it is imperative that the jury be educated on the overall incidence of the specific disease. Although the lung is a common site for cancer it is not the most common site in males or females. In men, 22 percent of new cancers occur in the prostate, while only 19 percent occur in the lung. In women, 32 percent of cancers occur in the breast with only 11 percent occurring in the lungs. However, lung cancer accounts for 34 percent of cancer deaths in men and 21 percent of cancer deaths in women. In 1991, the American Cancer Society estimate that the most common cancer sites will be the prostate (22%), lung (19%), colon/rectum (14%), urinary (10%), leukemia and lymphoma (7%), oral (4%) and pancreas (3%). In women the more common sites are estimated to be the breast (32%), colon/rectum (14%), lung (11%), uterus (8%), leukemia and lymphoma (6%) and oral (2%).
C-22
melanoma
OF SKIN 3% ORAL 4% LUNG 19%
PANCREAS 3%
STOMACH COLON L RECTUM U%
PROSTATE 22% ' urinary iotc'
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMAS 7%
ALL OTHER IS1*
'Excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer and carcinoma m suu.
MELANOMA 3% OF SKIN
2% ORAL
..
32% BREAST
1% LUNG
3% PANCREAS
COLON l 1% RECTUM
4% OVARY 8% UTERUS
4% URINARY
LEUKEMIA l 6% LYMPHOMAS
13% ALL OTHER
SKIN 2%, ORAL 2%,__ __ l LUNG 34%-_Z^
PANCREAS <%_____ j STOMACH ;%.
COLON L n% RECTUM PP.CSTATE 12% URINARY 5%
LEUKEMIA l LYMPHOMAS 8%
ALL OTHER 19%
5S3SEES3SEL-^; xi5iiiiic3JiSiL
1% SKIN 1% ORAL .18% BREAST.
21% LUNG
S% PANCREAS COLON t
13% RECTUM
5% OVARY
<% UTERUS J ` 3% URINARY'
LEUKEMIA & 7% LYMPHOMAS 22% ALL OTHER
Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Jan/Feb. 1991, Vol. 41, p. 19.
C-23
*'V'v^-x^ASrji^>u
In 1991 the estimated new cases of cancer are as follows:
; s.
1 Atl Sue*
BwCC>< Cavity 4 Pharyna (ORAL) L>9 Tcncu* Mouth Pna*vn*
Oryam Etopnayus Stomacn Small intestine
LV|f ltet:in \ (COLON 4
Rectum
/ RECTUM?
Ltv*r 4 Biliary Passay** Pancreai
Other 4 UnSMcilaC D^tiint
Retoirsiory Syitem Caryna LUNG Other 4 UnsoeciJied Respiratory
&0n
Connective Tissue
SKIN
BREAST
Genital Oryant
5*""*
} IUTERCSI
Cor Owl 4 UnsoecitieO 1
Chart Otner 4 Unsoeeiiied Genital Female Prostate Testis
4 Unsoecdied Genita:. Ma>*
Urmarv Organs Blaooer Kdntr 4 Other Unnary
Eve
6?am 4 Central Nervous Svstem
Endocrme Glands Thyroid Other Enoecnn*
Leweemits Lvmonecvtic Leveem* Granutocvtic Lewaenua Other 4 UmoecilvO Lrwrtmn
Owe* Btooo 4 Lvmon Tissues Heoftini Orseese tdnnoOftiai Lvmohpmet Mwisifti* Mvetoma
At: Otner 4 Onsoecriied Sues
Tot*.
V100.90C*
30 EOC 3 SCO C.700 11 COP 400
340 ECO . 10500
23.tX 3500
113000 tiSOQ 1S000 36.300
2.500
178.000 13.S0C
141.000 4500 :ooc
6.800
32.09C*'
175 900
301.000 13 000 33 000 30.700 sooo
133.000 6.100 1.300
7S500 60.30C 35.300
1.700
>6.700
13.90C j trace ; : soc
. 28.00C 1 11.700 j 11.6CC | 4.700
j 56500 | 7.00 j 37.300 1 12500
| *1.000
M#i
SAt.000-
30 COO 3 10C 3500 6.900 6 700
i;t 400 7.600
14.W0 1500
64.000 26.000
7.600 13,700
1500
114.000 10.000
101.000 3.000 i.ioc 3.100 17,000* '
900
139.300
123.000 6.100 ' .300
S3 500 37.COO 16.800
BOC
9.000
4.100 3.3CC
toe
1E.S0C 6 SCO 6.300 7.700
30.000 4.300
19 600 6.300
3* OC0
F imni
Hi COC-
ic roc 600
7 300 < 700 3700
115 400 3.300 SJCC * .300
66 000 30.600
7.300 14.600
1530
64.003 2.SCO
60.000 1.500
900 2 700 is.cco*-
175.000
71700 13000 33 00C 70700
5X100
32700 13.200 9 S0C
BOO
7.700
9.800 6.100
70C
::.ooo 4 500 5.300 2.500
36 5CC 3.300 17.COC t.100
70.uuC-
...........
Note ACS s<> mator sues apoear m bo*ciace cms.
*Cacmoma *r. mu and nonmelanoma ttm cancels ai not mcivoeo C*rcmoma m tiiu of tn# u:*nn* cv> *ccown*j *o aooui SO 00C nw case* annwa- ca'ce'nm* m *:. c* me iemi* :*aasi aicrvrts c* aoow 15.000 new cases annvt>i> anc m*ianma {i>(nomi m : accounts to* aeou: 4.000 nem cases annwauy 0*era. about 100 000 n casas o' carcinoma * wt, ot a" sues c: cart** a< cocnosec eacryea\ Basai ano souamows ca s*n cant** accounts to* mor* man 6CC.000 n* cases anr.waiw
'Melanoma on*y
tnoe*c# alienates a*a oaseo on fates itom KCi SEER progiam 1985-196V
n
11
1 1 1 | 1 !
u a.
a-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Jan/Feb. 1991, Vol, 41, . 28.
C-24
The chart belov derails cancer death rates over the last 3C years anc indicates vhich cancers have decreased and/or increased as the cause cf death per 100,000 population:
31..via;: t::is'0S in' aCE-aDJuSTED CanCEi: DEaTh Kates ntc lou.otm population ^V51` -iin
' S1T15
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J W*o* *nc*a <n coin iimv *n*n imm| rs | *** vnanowi
! (wn*iow *woMfwo*r* o*** *wfn t t*tw w<iiioir mi w n*mit 1 Vw**r. (npOw*wop>i: cwnt no rnar* I 4*o* *(i*w* n W*M Mart, hmmi | MMIWI.
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no* intC bf^vtr ihf * not miiwAfful
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^eticar. Canter Society: "Cancer Fee os & Figures - 1989," P. 29 C-25
r
D. Smoking v. Asbestos Exposure
The Proper Perspective
Without question or debate smoking is the single most preventable cause of cancer in the U.S.. The table below provides estimates regarding additional etiological factors in the causation of cancer in man:
Table 1 -
Etiological factor* in the causation of cancer in men (estimates compiled from several sources)
Estimated percentage Causative Factor of all cancer cases
Males Females
Congenltal/genet1e Environmental
Diet and life-style Smoking Alcohol Stnlight Occupation Radiation Hedicat ion/drugs Unknown
22
35 60 30 8
33 <6 <8
52 11 <1 <1 15 15
Howard, J., "Occupationally Related Cancer," The Practitioner (1981), Vol. 225, p. 810.
It should be emphasized that 30 percent of ALL cancer
deaths are caused by tobacco not limited to lung cancer
deaths.
Further, it should be emphasized that 4 percent
refers to ALL occupations not just occupations involving
asbestos exposure. A table taken from Doll and Peto's article
estimates the percentage of cancer deaths caused by various
factors:
By far the largest reliably known percentage is 30% of the current U. S. cancer deaths are due to tobacco, although it is possible that some nutritional factor(s) may eventually be found to be of comparable importance.
The proportion of current U. S. deaths attribu table to occupational factors is provisionally estimated at 4%, lung cancer being the major contributor to this.
C-26
Table 20 - Proportions of cancer deaths attributed to various different factors
Text Section
NO.
Factor or class of factors
Percent of all
cancer deaths
Range of
Best
acceptable
estiaate stiMtes
5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5
5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9
5.10 5.11 5.12
Tobacco Alcohol Diet Food additives Reproductive and sexual
behavior Occupation Pollution Industrial products Medicines and aedical
procedures Geophysical factors Infection Unknown
30 3
35 <1
7
4 2 <1 1
3 10 7
7
25-40 2-4
10-70 -5 -2
1-13
2-8 <1-5 <1-2 0.5-3
2-4 1-7
7
Doll, R. and Peto J.. The Causes of Cancer. Quantitative Estimates of Avoidable Risks of Cancer in the United States Today. (Oxford Univ. Press, p. 1196, 1256 (1981).
This chart may be useful not only because it demon strates that tobacco causes 30 percent and occupation only 4 percent of all cancer deaths, but in addition, that alcohol causes 3 percent of all cancer deaths, almost as many as all occupations combined. Furthermore, diet causes 35 percent of cancer deaths, almost nine times as many as occupation. This may assist defendants' efforts to put the alleged cancer risk from asbestos in perspective.
In a recent study, the National Cancer Institute estimated that cigarette smoking will cause more than 157,000 cancer deaths this year. Lung cancer, therefore, now kills more smokers than does heart disease. This new study also implicates smoking in cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pancreas, larynx, bladder, and kidney. According to this study smoking is the main risk for 91.5 percent of oral cancer cases among men and 86.7 percent of larynx cancer cases among women. Significantly, the study reported that the statistical risk of dying from lung cancer has doubled in the last three decades for male smokers and quadrupled for their female counterparts. "Smoking, Cancer Cases Studied," Dallas Morning News, Aug. 22, 1991, p. 7A.
The American Cancer Society also provides strong evidence of the overwhelming effects of tobacco.
C-27
The American Cancer Society estimates that cigarette smoking is responsible for 85% of lung cancer cases among men and 75% among women - about 83% overall. The cancer death rate for male cigarette smokers is more than double that of nonsmokers, and the rate for female smokers is 67% higher than for nonsmokers. The American Cancer Society estimates that 40% of male smokers and 28% of female smokers die prematurely, or about 35% overall. The higher cancer rates for men reflect the fact that in the past, more men than women smoked, and smoked more heavily. In recent years, howev er, the gap between male and female smoking has been narrowing.
Smoking also has been implicated in cancers of
the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pan
creas, cervix, uterus and bladder.
Smoking
accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths,
is a major cause of heart disease, and is
linked to conditions ranging from colds and
gastric ulcers to chronic bronchitis and
emphysema.
Smoking*is related to 390,000 deaths each year. A September 1985 study by the U. S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment estimates the cost of smoking to the economy from $38 bil lion to $95 billion, with a middle estimate of $65 billion. This amounts to $2.17 in lost productivity and the treatment of smokingrelated diseases for each pack of cigarettes sold.
American Cancer Society, "Cancer Facts and Figures - 1989," P. 20
In an editorial on dust, disability, and death. Dr. Keith Morgan compares the role of occupation to smoking in cancer causation:
"That the role of occupation relative to other factors as a cause of respiratory disease has been unduly exaggerated is all too evident from the most recent publications of Doll and Peto and the Surgeon General (3,4).
C-28
Finally, the study of Foxmar. and colleagues places in perspective the relative contribu- tions of dust versus cigarette smoking. This should indicate to those whose responsibility
is to devise the most effective means of reducing morbidity and mortality that a rela tively greater effort must be made to control cigarette smoking than to control dust levels. This is not to say that the latter can be ignored, but clearly, if priorities are to be established on sound scientific principles, it is far more important to dissuade workers, and indeed everybody else, from smoking than it is to lower dust levels by 20 to 25 percent."
Morgan, W.K.C., "American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1986, Vol. 134, pp. 539-641.
E. ENVIRONMENTAL CARCINOGENS
Dr. Bruce Ames has reported on an exhaustive database of
animal cancer tests. The studies indicated that of the 392
chemicals tested in both rats and mice at the maximum toler
ated dose levels, more than 50 percent were carcinogenic in
at least one species of animals. His study concluded that the
proportion of chemicals found to be carcinogens is strikingly
high.
Dr. Ames predicted from considerations of car
cinogenesis mechanisms, that it is plausible that a large
proportion of all chemicals tested in the future, both natural
and man made, will prove to be carcinogens. Ames, B., "What
are the Major Carcinogens in the Etiology of Human Cancer,"
Important Advances in Oncology (J.B. Lippincott Co. - 1989).
Below is Dr. Ames' table reflecting a ranking of possible carcinogenic hazards:
C-29
Rjr.kir.c of ?05sib.`< Carr.njjienir Haiarbs*
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Diih livfiun CxjMntff
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o.om:o my GGOC^
c.oo; OCOc 0.003 0 02
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:rn snd Ort.-- Frzzsvr:
PCS: Ca:lv eictsrv make
PCBj. C.3 Pt IV3S averapo
DDE'DDT. fiaijv oiciarx intake EDS ca::> otcisrv intake (from prams and train
DDE. 3.3 *p It'S a'xrape' Ethviene dieromide. 0 %3 pt (CS
products;
tvenpej
fr'iuurcl PmiCion out D:ttcry 7a\ir;
Sjcca. roo.ro f 100 rj
Dimcin.mufou.Tnnc. 0.;- ,,f
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Sake (350 mi) Corairev her? ter (1 cvzi
brr.hanr. -3 S'-mphMne. 34- pf (750 pt of
pyrroinidine aikaloios)
Print: boner (31 f: one sandwich 1 Dncr scv>. roricd m pas o e.t (5- t)
A^jtOMh. f- r.p (L'S averape. 3 ppb) Dimciminurcvamine. 7.? pi
Brown mustard (5 &<
AIM ;sotmocvana:c. *.6 m;
Banl < 1 s o< once leafi
Estratoic. 3.S rr.f
.Mushroom. one n*-{AfancMj b/S!*nts 15 {
Mixture p hydmmcs. etc.
Natural root eetr 03 our.cn; 35- ml: no** banneC)
Ssfrole. G.c rr.p
Be?:, before 1579 M3 ounces: :S ml)
Dimctr.vtmtrosamine. 1 pt
Brer < I2 ounces: 35^ ml)
aicono). If n>;
'Vine (350 ml) Com:rc'-pcwr. tablets intne iai?')
Ethvt aiccho:. M* ml Comire\ roo;. 3700 mp
Confre? *p??sir. :aa:cu mr.e ca:> '
Sympny:*nr. I f mp
An-3: Ci.:* ctftar. intake before car.mr.p Die; colj t!3 ounces: 35*1 mi)
n,w
A.r-3 ifcrxlfunmicrt ^.f up Saccr.arrr.. 95 fre
Pnrnacr.m pin laverap? dose: Mtircr.-.caiole (tneraocuuc 0os?i Isomaxti ?:il tprophvtamc cose) P.nenoteraiai. one s*eeom( pill Oohcraic ti*rapr eail> dose:
Dr.ir:
'
Phenacr.m. 300 mp
hlftrcniiuoir. 3tJ mp
lsor.^i:i. 30C* m;
Phenoaaron:. fO mp
Ctono.T.t. 3COO m;
Occuynttmd .ifmtuttr
Fcrmaiirh^cc workert' aerapc iaK intake
Fonnaksenxcc. G l mp
EDS w-o^rn cat;? tn:a.e (hiph esaesu'e
EtnOf-f cioromic:. :*0 nt
hfponicc * * rerrr.nMOfi tftT. ap.j. |\. Map* s. C*e* _$ lsA.4ir.( tVrt*iO* cjrc*OftAc ruajici ?****.' 33*j 3* >>'VC- 'f
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hs"
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1
;
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c.. V
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ft...
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Ames, B.N., Important Advances in Oncology. "What are the Major Carcinogens in the Etiology cf Human Cancer," p. 239 (J.B. Lippincort Co. - 1989).
C-3C
ASBESTOS AND "OTHER" CANCERS
Ill-
A Selected Studies/Publications: 1960-1979
1. selikoff, Churg, and Hammond 1964
In 1964, Drs. Selikoff, Churg, and Hammond in their
landmark article, "Asbestos Exposure and Neoplasia,"
suggested the possibility of a relationship between
asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer.
The authors
stated:
Gastrointestinal Cancer - Rather to our surprise, the death rate from cancer of the stomach and the death rate from can cer of the colon and rectum were higher among the asbestos workers than would be expected from the rates reported for the US white male population, calculated in the same way as for lung cancer. Twelve deaths from gastric cancer occurred among the asbestos workers, as compared with only 4.3 expected. Seventeen deaths from cancer of the colon and rectum occurred among the asbestos workers, as compared with 5.2 expected.
Cancer of All'Other Sites. - The combined death rate from cancer of all sites other than lung and pleura, and stomach, colon, and rectum was not increased. Twentyone such deaths occurred among asbestos workers, as compared with 20.5 expected.
"Gastrointestinal Carcinoma - Isolated in
stances of gastrointestinal carcinoma in
the presence of asbestosis have been
known, but there have been no data to
indicate that these were more than
coincidental findings. Among the asbes
tos workers studied here, cancer of the
stomach, colon, and rectum was three times
as frequent as expected.
These data
suggest that there may perhaps be an
etiological relationship between indust
rial asbestos exposure and carcinoma of
the gastrointestinal tract.
(emphasis
added)
_
Selikoff, I.J., Churg, J. and Hammond, C. , "Asbestos Exposure and Neoplasia," Journal of the American Medical Association, 1964, Vol. 188, pp. 22-26, 25-26.
C-31
2. Selikoff, Hammond, and Churg 1968
In 1968, Drs. Selikoff, Hammond and Churg reported on deaths among 632 members of the International As sociation of Heat & Frost Insulators and Asbestos Work ers. The death rates reported from cancer of the sto mach, colon, and rectum were higher than expected; but the authors acknowledged that this may have been due to chance.
Cancer of Stomach, Colon, and Rectum - In our
earlier study of asbestos workers, there were
more deaths than expected from cancer of the
stomach, colon and rectum (9.4 . expected, 29
observed).
As compared with a total 1.8
expected deaths from these causes, there were
eight observed deaths in this study, due to
cancer of the following sites:
stomach,
three; colon, four? and rectum, one.
Although this bears out our earlier findings, the number of deaths from these causes was so small that ve still refrain from drawing any conclusion at this time. (emphasis added)
Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, C.E., and Churg, J., "Asbestos Exposure, Smoking, and Neoplasia," Journal of the Ameri can Medical Association, 1968, Vol. 204, pp. 106-112, 108.
3. Selikoff, Hammond, and Churg 1972
In 1972, Dr. Selikoff, et al. published "Car cinogenicity of Amosite Asbestos" which tracked the mortality experience of 230 amosite asbestos factory workers. The study stated:
We have investigated the mortality experience
of a group of workmen occupationally exposed
solely to amosite whose employment started
between Jupe 1941 and December 1945.
This
cohort has been observed through June 30,
1971.
It may be of interest that more deaths from cancer of the stomach, colon and rectum have occurred than expected. The increase is only threefold, however. As with similar previous experiences, further observations are required before this association can be regarded as clearly established. (emphasis added)
Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, C.E., Cuyler, E. , and Churg, J., "Carcinogenicity of Amosite Asbestos," Archives of Environmental Health, (1972), Vol. 25, pp. 184-185.
C-32
4 Meurman, Kiviluoto, and Hakama 1974
In 1974, Dr. Meurman reported on 1,092 Finnish anthophyllite asbestos workers whose cancer rates were compared to control group and Finland death rates. They found no excess in the numbers of gastrointestinal cancers among asbestos miners. Workers with more than 10 years of exposure experienced only two gastrointes tinal cancers when 2.1 were expected.
TABLE 3 OBSERVED AND EXPECTED1 NUMBERS OF LUNG CANCER AND CANCER OF OIGESTIVE ORGANS IN DEATHS
AMONG ASBESTOS EMPLOYEES AND CONTROLS, BT AGE
Lung Cancer
Cancer of Digest ve Organs
Age
Asbestos
Controls Expected
Asbestos
Controls Expected
15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-
-- -- 0.0 -- 0.1
1 -- 0.7 10 6 3.4 7 4 5.6 3 3 2.6 -* -- 0.2
~ -- 0.0
-- 0.3 1 * 1.2 1 4 3.2 1 1 5.3 4 4 4.2
"" 0.7
All ages
21
13 12.6
7 9 14.9
Vssusing age-specific rates for deaths from lung cancer and cancers of digestive organs in Finland 1958. -
TABLE 4 OBSERVED AND EXPECTED1 NUBMERS OF LUNG
CANCER AND OF CANCER OF OIGESTIVE ORGANS IN DEATHS AMONG ASBESTOS EMPLOYEES UITH MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPOSURE, BY AGE
Age
Ling Cancer
Observed
Expected
Cancer of Digestive Organs
Observed
Expected
35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74
1 5 2 *
0.0 ..
1.0 1 1.0 -0.4 1
0.0 0.8 0.8
0.5
Total
8
2.4 a.
2.1
xAssuiing age-specific rate for deaths front ling cancer and cancer of digestive organs in Finland 1958
Meurman, L.O., Kiviluoto, R., and Hakama, M. "Mortality and Morbidity Among the Working Population of Anthophyilite Asbestos Miners in Finland," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1974, Vol. 31, pp. 105-112, 108.
C-33
6. Peto, Doll, Howard, Kinten, and Lewinsohn 1977
- In 1977, Dr. Peto and others reported on 1,106 men
and women who worked at English textile factory. The
subjects were divided into five groups based upon
duration of work. Cohorts one and two consisted of those
men with twenty or more years of exposure at least 10 of
which were worked prior to the implementation of asbestos
regulations in 1932. They found excesses of lung cancer
and mesothelioma but no excess of gastrointestinal
cancer.
Only sixteen (16) cases of gastrointestinal
cancer were reported when 15.7 were expected. Peto, J.,
Doll, R., Howard, S.V., Kinten, L.J., and Lewinsohn,
H.C., "A Mortality Study Among Workers in an English
Asbestos Factory."
British Journal of Industrial
Medicine, 1977, Vol. 34, pp. 169-173, 171.
7. Selikoff and Lee 1978
In his text Asbestos and Disease Dr. Selikoff states:
The evidence for carcinogenic or cocarcinogenic action of asbestos in tumors developing in the gastrointestinal tract is highly sug gestive but not conclusive; for tumors in other sites the evidence so far is equivocal, (emphasis added)
Selikoff, I. J. and Lee, D.H.K., Asbestos and Disease. (Academic Press, 1978), p. 301.
8. Nicholson, Selikoff, Seidman, Lilis, and Formby 1979
In 1979, Dr. Nicholson and others reported on 544 asbestos miners and millers and found no increased incidence of gastrointestinal cancer. They found only 10 gastrointestinal tract cancers when 9.5 were ex pected. There was a deficit of all cancers other than lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and mesothelioma. Table 5 from this study summarizes the results:
C-36
1?T'.W".,^1?-'Ky,;i"Wt,y*'`'*-^>^-7-*;"?..`>1-^,^"r
............. ..
Table 5
EXPECTED AND OBSERVED DEATHS AMONG SU ASBESTOS MINERS ANO MILLERS. THETFORO MINES, QUEBEC. JAN. - NOV., 1961-AUG. 1977***
Total deaths Total cancer all sites
Lung cancer Pleural sesotheliaaa Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract All other cancers Total Honinfectious pulaonary diseases Asbestosis All other causes Person-years
Exp.
159.9 36.7 11.1 . 9.5 16.1
6.7 * 116.5
Total
Obs.
178 49 28 1 10 10
30 26 99 7,408
O/E
1.11 1.34 2.52
-
1.05 0.62
4.48 -
0.85
*Expected deaths are based ipon age-specific death rate data for Canadian white sales. **Deeth rates not available but these have been rare causes of death in the general
population.
Nicholson, W.J., Selikoff, I.J., Seidman, H., Lilis, R. and Formby, P., "Long-term mortality experience of chrysotile miners and miller in Thetford Mines, Quebec," Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1979, Voi. 330, pp. 11-21, 16.
9. Rubino, Piolatto, Newhouse, Scanscoti, Arsini, and Murray 1979
In 1979, Dr. Rubino and others reported on the mortality experience of over 900 workers first employed at a chrysotile mine between 1930 and 1965, and found an excess of laryngeal cancer but no statistically sig nificant excess of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or gastrointestinal cancer:
C-37
Table 3 Muifcer of deaths observed and expected by period since first exposure, and cause. (Period of observation fro* 1946 to 1975)
Period since first exposure (yr).
Person-years observation
Cause of Death
All Causes
Up to 19
20 and over
Total
12683
8776
21459
Obs. Exp. SMR
Obs. Exp. SMR
Obs. Exp. SMR
112 54.2 207** 220 160.2 137** 332 214.4 155**
All Malignant neoplasas (140-205)
Ling and pleura (162-163) Larynx (161) fiastrointestinal (151-159) Other sites
12 10.0 120
1 1.7 59 2 0.4 500
4 4.8 83 5 3.1 161
38 37.0 103
10 8.7 115 4 1.5 267
15 14.5 103 9 12.3 73
50 47.0 106
11 10.4 106 6 1.9 316*
19 19.3 98 14 15.4 91
Non-nalignant respiratory
diseases (470-527)
12 2.3 522** 20 11.8 169*
32 14.1 227**
Influenza and pneimonia
(460-493)
8 1.6 500** 4 4.6 87
12 6.2 194*
Other respiratory diseases (470-475, 500-527) Asbestosis (S23.2)
4 0.7 571** 16
2 ... --
7
7.2 222** *'* ...
20 9
7.9 253** ... ...
Tuberculosis of the lung (001-008)
Cardiovascular diseases (400-468)
Cirrhosis of the liver (581)
Accidents (600-999) All other causes Unknown
13 3.9 333**
5
22 14.8 149
100
9 2.1 429** 30 7.8 385**
9 13.3 68 5 ... ...
22 15 17 3
3.3 152 67.7 148**
18 122
7.8
9.5 23.1
...
282** 158
74 ...
31 45 26
8
7.2 150**
82.5 148**
9.9
17.3
36.4 ...
313** 260**
71 ...
p0.0S; ** p<0.01.
These nuibers include one suspected case of aesotheiiem of the pleura. Figures in parentheses sre ICO (7th Revision) Code nuibers.
Rubino, G.F., Piolatto, G.F., Hewhouse, M.L., Scanscoti, G., Arsini, G.A., and Murray, R., "Mortality of Chrysotile Asbestos Workers at the Balangero Mine, Northern Italy," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1979, Vol. 36, pp. 187-194.
10. Selikoff, Lilis ,and Nicholson 1979
Drs. Selikoff, Lilis, and Nicholson studied asbestos disease in U. S. shipyards and found no statistically significant excess of gastrointestinal cancer or other cancers except lung cancer and mesothelioma:
As a first approximation to evaluation of the problem, we have investigated the mortality
C--38
experience of insulation workers in U.s. shipyards, to ascertain whether this experience reflected the sort of asbestos-associated diseases seen with asbestos exposure in general and whether such experience varied substantially from that of in sulation workers not employed in shipyards.
Table 10 Deaths Aaong WO U.S. Shipyard Insulation Workers
Observed Prospectively January 1, 1967 - Janaery 1, 1977
Nutter of Ben Nan-years of observation
WO 3906
389 2876
Cause of Death
Observed
Expected"
Observed
Total deaths
79
Cancer-all sites
39
Lung Cancer
21
Pleural stesotheliona
3
Peritoneal stesothelioma
5
C.I. Cancer
3
All other cancer
7
Noninfectious pulmonary disease 14
Asbestosis
13
All other causes
26
75.2 16.2
5.7 ** *
3.1 7.4 3.2
55.8
73 37 20
3 5 3 6 14 13 22
Expected
66.4 14.4
5.1 . #
2.8 6.5 3.0
49.0
* Expected deaths are based upon tJtite Bale age specific anrtality data of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics for 1967-1976.
** These are rare causes of death in the general population.
Table 11 Deaths Aaong 12,051 insulation Workers in the U.S. and Canada *- with Twenty or More Tears from Onset of Exposure,
January 1, 1967 - January 1, 1977 (Cooparisen of shipyard with nonshipyard eaployatent)
Insulators: Shipyard
Insulators: other than Shipyards
Nutter of nen Man-years of observation
38911,662 287674,515
Cause of Death
Observed
Expected"
Observed
Expected
Total deaths Cancer-all sites
Luig Cancer Pleural aesotheliosa Peritoneal nesotheliona C.I. Cancer Alt other cancer Noninfectious pulmonary disea Asbestos is All other causes
73 37 20
3 5 3 6 14
13 22
66.4 14.4
5.1 **
2.8 6.5 3.0 **
49.0
1873 875 430 58 104 90 193 190 147 808
1309.7 262.7 88.6 * **
50.4 123.7
51.0
996.0
* Expected deaths are based tpon uhite Bale age specific mortality data of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics for 1967-1976.
** These are rare causes of death in the general population.
Selikoff, I.J., Lilis, R., and Nicholson, U.J., "Asbestos Disease in the United States Shipyards," Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1979, Vol. 330, pp. 295-311, 301 302.
C-39
11. Selikoff, Hammond, and Seidman 1979
In "Mortality Experience of Insulation Workers in the United States and Canada 1943-1976" Drs. Selikoff
Hammond, and Seidman noted that colon-rectal cancer-
ranked third as cause of cancer death among asbestos workers and that the mortality ratios ranged from 1.59 to 1.81:
It must be emphasized that only one group of asbestos workers is included in this investi gation, namely members of the insulation workers union, ... mortality ratios ranged from 1.59 to 1.81, the mortality ratios having been calculated from four different sets of figures. In this particular case, all four sets of comparisons led us to the conclusion that death rates from colon-rectum cancer are increased by exposure to asbestos dust, but it would be folly to suppose that we have pre cisely determined the degree of association even in this group of asbestos workers (em phasis added).
Table 3 Expected and Observed Deaths Among 632 llett Tort-New Jersey * Asbestos Insulation Workers Jaraary 1, 1943 - Dece^ier 31, 1776
(13,925 Nan-years of Observation)
Underlying Cause of Death
Expected*
Observed
Total deaths, all causes
326.9
Total cancer, all sites
57.0
Cancer of ling
13.3
Pleural nesotheliorea Peritoneal mesothelioma
Cancer of esophagus
1.4
Cancer of stomach
5.4
Cancer of colon-rectua
8.3
Cancer of larynx, pharynx, buccal cavity 2.8
Cancer of kidney
1.3
All other cancer
24.5
Noninfectious pulmonary diseases, total
9.3
Asbestosis
All other causes
262.6
478 210
93 11 27
1
19 23
6 2 28 45 41 223
* Expected deaths are based ipon white sale age-specific U.S. death rates of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 1949-1976. Rates for specific cause of death for 194301946 were extrapolated from rates for 1949-1955.
** Rates are not available, but these have been rare causes of death in the general population.
Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, C.E., and Seidman, H., "Mor tality Experience of Insulation Workers in the United States and Canada 1943-1976, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1979, Vol. 330, pp. 91-116, 94.
i
'
(
*i 1 i
} : ' *
C-4 0
selected Studies/Publications: 1980-1990
1. Beaumont and Weiss 1980
In 1980, Drs. Beaumont and Weiss reported on the mortality of welders, shipfitters and other trades in two shipyards and field construction as compared to the U.S. death rates for white males. The authors found a low risk for all digestive cancers primarily due to a deficit of cancer of the large intestine:
Table 3
All workers: standardized mortality ratios (SMO for selected disease classifications
Disease classification*
All causes (000-999) All malignant neoplasms (140-205) Malignant neoplasms of buccal cavity and
pharynx (140-148) Malignant neoplasias of digestive organs
and peritoneua (150-159) Malignant neoplasms of respiratory system
(160-164) Malignant neoplasms of prostate (177) Malignant neoplasms of kidney (180) Malignant neoplasms of bladder (181) Malignant neoplasms of brain and other
central nervous system (193) lysphopoietfic cancer (200-205) Mental, psychoneurotic, and
personality disorders (300-327) Vascular lesions of the central nervous
system (330-334) Diseases of circulatory system (400-468) Respiratory diseases (470-527) Diseases of digestive system (530-587) Accidents (800-962) Suicide (963, 970-979)
SMR
0.99 1.01
1.00
0.84
1.17 1.10 1.14 1.13
1.27 0.92
1.99
0.88 0.86 1.2S 1.08 1.14 1.26
(No. observed)
(2019) (396)
(13)
(100)
(147) (32) (11) (15)
(13) (34)
(17)-
(143) (845)-- (146)-- (102) (114)
(46)
'International Classification of Diseases, Adapted (Seventh Revision). "p < 0.01.
Beaumont, J.J. and Weiss, N.S., "Mortality of Welders, Shipfitters, and other Metal Trades Workers in Boiler makers' Local No. 104, AFL-CIO", American Journal of Epidemiology, 1980, Vol. 112, pp. 775-786, 779.
2. Rossiter and Coles 1980
In a study of 6,300 shipyard workers, no statis tically significant excess mortality due to gastrointes tinal cancers was found by Drs. Rossiter and Coles.
C-41
To investigate the effect of occupational exposure to asbestos on mortality, names of all 6292 men born on or after 1 January 1910 and employed as industrial workers in the Royal Naval Dockyard, Devonport on 1 January 1947 were submitted to the Office of Popula tion Censuses and Surveys for tracing. Fol low-up continued until the end of 1978: over 99% were traced; 3% emigrated; and there were 1043 (17%) deaths.
On the basis of the mortality in England and Wales for each five years of age and each five calendar years, the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 96. Adjusting the rates for the lower mortality in southwest England, the SMR was 104. No relation was found between SMR and date of birth, and there was only a very slight excess among those more heavily exposed to asbestos.
Table 2. Observed and expected deaths by cause aanng dockyard workers
Cause of death
Ho. of deaths
Enaland t Vales Expected SMR*
Southwest estimates"
Exoected
SMR
All deaths All cancers
1043 265
1081.2 96 998.4 282.1 94 255.6
104 104
Mesotheliome ling cancer
31c 84*
0.5 119.7
6400 70
0.4 100.3
7700 P 0.001 84
Gastrointestinal cancer
Others
63 87*
83.3 78.6
76 111
76.2 78.7
63 111
Asbestosis, pulaonary fibrosis
9
Other respiratory diseases
67
Circulatory diseases
518*
0.03 27,000
97.3
69
< 64.2
112
0.03 2,000 P 0.001
81.9
82
440.8
118 P < 0.001
Other causes
174 237.6 73 220.1 79 P < 0.01
Unknown causes
10
--
-
-
* SMR, standardized Mortality ratio
Estimated deaths rates in Southwest Britain (including Devonport) * Three also had asbestosis * One also had asbestosis
Rossiter, C. E. and Coles, R.M., "H. M. Dockyard, Daven port: 1947 Mortality Study, Biological Effects of Mineral Fibr^<=," IARC. Sci. Pub., Vol. 2, pp. 713-21, 715, 1980.
C-42
*''-8;M' :-&*-f
V
3. McDonald, Liddell, Gibbs, Eyssen, and McDonald 1980
In 1980, Dr. McDonald and others reported on a cohort of 11,379 asbestos miners and reported some excess of mortality from upper gastrointestinal tract cancer but no excess of lower gastrointestinal cancer:
We report a further follow-up of a birth cohort of 11,379 workers exposed to chrysotile. The cohort consisted of all 10,939 men and 440 women, bom 1891-1920, who had worked for at least a month in the mines and mills of Asbestos and Thetford Mines in Quebec."
7(d) Gross Service: 20 or More Tears
Cause of death (see table 2)
Accumulated dust xpocure (see table 4)
Low 0 SNR
Mediui 0 SNR
High 0
SNR
Very High 0 SNR
All causes
367
Pneunoconiosis
4
Mali grant neoplasms:
Lung
`
28
Oesophagus and stomach 17
Colon and rectua
7
Other abdominal
10
Larynx
2
Other
33
Heart disease
138
Respiratory tifeerculosis 5
Other respiratory
18
Cerebrovascular
32
Accidents
16
All other known causes 52
Cause not known
5
0.98 10.49
1.21 1.36 0.56 1.18 1.07 1.23 0.87 1.01 0.92 1.15 0.82 0.92
253 7
20 6 4 3 1 16
115 5
10 18 19 29 0
0.89 23.75
183 5
1.08 0.64 0.43 0.46 0.69 0.79 0.95 1.31 0.68 0.89 1.16 0.68
24 8 1 2 0
11 77
3
14 10
9 18
1
1.07 30.10
2.20 1.44 0.18 0.51 0 0.90 1.06 1.27 1.62 0.84 0.85 0.70
295 20
32 19
9 6 1 19 94 9 17 22 12 33 2
1.50 101.51
2.65 2.89 1.39 1.35 1.03 1.36 1.12 3.06 1.74 1.58 1.01 1.10
As in earlier reports on the Quebec cohort,
the patterns of gastrointestinal cancer are
difficult to interpret.
There was unques
tionably a substantial excess in mortality from
cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract in
men most heavily exposed.
This excess was
confined to Thetford Mines where most of the
long and heavy exposures occurred.
The
exposure-response curves were far from regu
lar, however, and it appears that some other
I C-43
important factors were also operating -perhaps environmental. The SMR for cancer of the lower gastrointestinal tract for the complete cohort was 0-.78 {table 6); nevertheless, there was some evidence of an exposure response trend.
McDonald, J.C., Liddell, F.D.K., Gibbs, G*"*' Eyssn G.E., and McDonald, A.D., "Dust Exposure and Mortality in Chrysotile Mining, 1910-75," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1980, Vol. 37, pp. 11-24, 18, 22.
4. Thomas, Benjamin, Elwood, and Sweetwood 1982
In 1982, Dr. Thomas and colleagues reported on 1592 Welsh asbestos cement factory workers employed for six months or more from 1936 to 1977 and found no excess of gastrointestinal cancer:
Table 2 Mortality by all causes, all neoplasae, and selected concerns for the total stale population, oen alive IS years or longer after first expo sure, and for men employed in 1535-4
Cause of Death (ICO)
Study Croup
ExpectedObserved Deaths Deaths
Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR)
All cases
Total population Alive 15 years after
first exposure Employed in 1935-6
343.3
243.2 88.3
All neoplasms (140-239)
Total population Alive > 15 years after
first exposure Employed in 1935-6
80.7
61.0 21.5
Cancers of Itrtg and/ pleura <142, 163)
Total population Alive > 15 years after
first exposure Employed in 193S-6
33.0
25.8 9.2
Cancers of gastroin testinal tract (151-154)
Total population Alive > 15 years after
first exposure Employed in 1935-6
19.6
14.1 5.0
351 261
83
74 58 22
30 24
7
18 14
6
102 107 94
92 92 103
93 93 76
92 99 120
t
C-44
Deaths due to cancer of the gastrointestinal tract were not increased in the total male population (SMR 92) or in those men alive 15 or more years after first exposure (SMR 99). The raised SMR (120) for men employed in 1935 and 1936 is due to one extra death (6 ob served, 5.0 expected). These figures do not suggest that the chrysotile asbestos cement workers are at an excess risk of gastrointes tinal cancer, a finding consistent with the results of studies of chrysotile miners and millers and chrysotile asbestos textile work
ers .
Thomas, H.F., Benjamin, I.T., Elwood, P.C., and Sweetnam, P.M., "Further Follow-up Study of Workers from an Asbestos Cement Factory," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1982, Vol. 39, pp. 273-276, 274, 275.
5. Dement, Harris, Symons, and Shy 1983
In 1983, Dr. Dement and colleagues in "Exposures &
Mortality Among Chrysotile Asbestos Workers Part II:
Mortality," studied 1,261 males with one month or more
in textile production operations and found no statisti
cally significant cancer of the digestive system
(SMR=131).
Cancer incidence cancer for "all other
sites" besides the digestive system and the lung were
not elevated. A total of 33,141 person-years at risk
was experienced by this cohort between 1940 and 1975.
The results of this study have been set out below in
Table II.
C-45
TABLE II. Observed and expected Deaths by Cause for Wiite bale Asbestos Textile Workers 1940. 1975.
Cause of Death
1CDA 7th list No.
All causes
Malignant neoplasas Digestive systeai Trachea, bronchus, All other sites
ling
Vascular lesions affecting the central nervous system
Diseases of the circulatory system
All tuberculosis
Noraalignant respiratory diseases
Acute upper respiratory
infection
Influenza
.
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Other respiratory disease
Accidents
Other violent deaths
All other known causes
Unknown causes including 17 aliasing death certificates
150-159 162*165
330-334 345
400-468
001-019
470-475
480-483 490-493 500-502 510-527
800-962 9*3-964 970-985
Observed
Expected
SNK
308
205.66
150*
59
35.06
168*
13
9.89
131
35
11.10
315*
11
14.07
78
15
10.97
137
105
83.74
125*
6
3.48
172
28
9.53
294*
0
0.03
*
0
0.04
-
4
4.19
95
0
0.55
-
24
4.35
552*
34
25.38
134*
9
9.37
96
29
26.91
108
23
2.55
*.
*p < 0.05.
Dement, J.M., Harris, R.L., Symons, M.J. and Shy, C.M.,
"Exposures and Mortality Among Chrysotile Asbestos
Workers Part II:
Mortality, American Journal of In
dustrial Medicine, 1983, Vol. 4, pp. 421-433, 424.
6. Acheson, Gardner, Winter, and Bennett 1984
In 1984, Dr. Acheson and others studied the
mortality of 5,969 men. Four thousand eight hundred and
twenty (4,820) men were involved in the manufacture of
asbestos containing products. An excess mortality among
asbestos workers was virtually limited to cancer of the
lung and pleura.
There was no large or significant
excess of cancer of all other sites combined. A total
of 48 deaths were observed compared to 45.3 expected.
C-46
When the SMRs for individual sites are considered, none were significantly increased.
TABLE 5 Observed deaths, expected deaths and SMRs from cancer by site amongst asbestos and other workers
Asbestos workers (68922)*
Other workers (16609)*
Cancer of:--
Oesophagus (150) Stomach (151) Colon (153) Rectim (154) Pancreas (157) Lung (162,163)' Skin (172,173) Prostate (185) Testis (186) Bladder (188) Other Urinary (189) Brain etc. (191,192) Hodgkin's disease (201) Leukaemia (204-208) Other cancers
Obs
2 7 6 4 3 61* 1 2 0 2 2 5 1 4 9**
Exp
2.0 7.5 4.4 3.2 3.1 29.1 1.0 2.1 1.1 2.2 1.4 3.0 1.6 2.6 10.0
SMR
100 94 137 124 96 210** 102 94
0 89 139 165 64 154 90
Obs
1 4 2 0 0 10 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
C*P
0.6 2.5 1.4 1.1 1.0 9.4 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.4 0.7 2.9
SMR
161 159 142
0 0 106 0 218 377 124 0 0 0 0 103
All malignant neoplasms (140-209)
109 74.4
147**
24
23.5
102
* 4 of the 61 deaths were from mesothelioma of the pleura. ++1 of the 9 deaths was from mesothelioma of the peritoneua. * significant at 5X level. significant at IX level. * the SMR for luig cancer for the District in which the factory is situated was 107 during 1968-78.
Another difference between our findings and
those of the Patterson workers is that men in our study have no evidence of excess risks of cancers other than lung cancer for example of
cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum and pancreas. 8-9
It has been suggested that the excess mor tality from for example, cancer of the stomach and large bowel experienced by the Patterson workers, American insulators and certain British factories may be due to substances other than asbestos in the working environ ment.1,10 Although some such cases may repre
sent misdiagnosed peritoneal mesotheliomas this is unlikely to account for all of them.10
Acheson, E.D., Gardner, M.J., Winter, P.D., and Ben
c.,nett,
"Cancer in a Factory Using Amosite Asbestos,"
International Journal of Epidemiology, 1984, Vol. 13,
PP- 3-10.
C-47
7. Berry and Newhouse 1983
In 1983, Drs. Berry and Newhouse reported on 13,460
British friction products workers. The only type of
asbestos used was chrysotile, except during two well-
defined periods before 1945 when crocidolite was used.
Over 90 percent of the population was traced. In excess
of two-thirds started work by 1960 and thus would have
been followed for at least 20 years. Of the workers
studied, no excess of gastrointestinal cancer was re
ported.
The results of this study are reported in
Tables 7 and 8 below.
Tabic 7 Observed and expected mortality after 10 years frae first exposure, (timber of pleural aesotheliomas included in parentheses)
Cause of Death
Mo/Sibiect-vears
Hen
Women
7474/104193
3708/58816
Obs.
Exp.
Obs.
Exp.
All causes Ling and pleural cancer Gastrointestinal cancer Other cancers Other causes
1339 151(8) 103 77
1008
1361.8 139.5 107.2 87.7
1027.4
299 8(2)
29 51 211
328.0 11.3 27.4 60.0
229.3
Table 6 Observed and Expected mortality after conpleting 10 years employment.
Follow-up after 10
years' exposure (years)
No/Subject-Tears
.
Hen 0-10
2484/21860
Cause of Death
Obs.
Exp.
All Causes Ling A Pleural Cancer Gastrointestinal Cancer Other cancers Other causes
185 23 23 7
132
195.7 21.3 16.3 12.6
145.5
>10
1808/19025
Obs.
E*P.
432 58(7) 25 21
328
450.8 47.4 35.8 28.2
339.4
0-10
Women
627/5578
Obs.
Exp.
14 21.3 0 0.7 0 1.8
3 4.5 11 14.3
>10
457/6377
Obs
Exp.
76 2(1) 8
14 52
66.5 2.2
5.7 10.7 47.9
Berry, G., and Newhouse, M.L., "Mortality of Workers Manufac turing Friction Materials Using Asbestos," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1983, Vol. 40, pp. 3-4.
8. Kolonel, Yoshizawa, Hirohata, and Myers 1985
In 1985, Dr. Kolonel, et al. reported on 7,971 men employed at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard with follow up for up to 29 years. They found an increased risk of lung cancer for those with greatest exposure and longest
C-48
latency period (1.77 RR).
However, they found no
significant increases for any other cancers, including
gastrointestinal cancers (45 observed/47 expected):
Selikoff and Hammond (24) followed a cohort of 440 shipyard insulators in the United States and found a somewhat higher risk ratio of 3.9 for lung cancer after a minimal interval of 20 years from onset of employment; there was no increase in gastrointestinal cancers.
The relationship of asbestos exposure to cancer risk has been the subject of much epidemiological research. Of special concern in recent years has been the extent to which workers in naval shipyards, in particular, are at increased risk. One reason for this inter est is the very large size of shipyard work forces, particularly at certain periods in the past [an estimated 4.5 million United States men worked in shipyards during World War II, for example (20)].
Table 6 Mortality from gastrointestinal cancers (esophagus, stomach, colon, rectus) among shipyard workers by duration of exposure and latency interval For person-years at risk. Table 3.
Duration of exposure <yr>
Latency
Observed
Expected
Interval
deaths
deaths
SNR 95X Cl
(yr)
Monexposed
0-19 20-29
30
5 4 9 18
7.8 7.7 10.1 25.6
0.6 0.5 0.9 0.7
0.2-1.5 0.1-1.3 0.4-1.7 0.4-1.1
< 15
0-19 20-29
30
8 12 11
31
13.2 9.5 4.9
27.6
0.6 0.3-1.2
1.3 0.7-1.1 2.2 1.1-4.0 1.1 0.8-1.6
> 15
15-19 20-29
30*
0 4 10 14
1.8 7.9 9.7 19.4
0.0 0.5 0.1-1J 1.0 0.5-1.9 0.7 0.4-1.2
Kolonel, L.M., Yoshizawa, L.N., Hirohata, T., and Myers, B.C., "Cancer Occurrence in Shipyard Workers Exposed to Asbestos in Hawaii,*' Cancer Research, August, 1985, Vol. 45, p. 3927.
C-49
*f~;0-tp*.4i;a|i0,-!.;i
9. Levine 1985
In 1985, Dr. Levine posed the question "Does
Asbestos Exposure Cause Gastrointestinal Cancer?"
The
abstract of his article indicated the jury is still out:
The relationship between asbestos exposure and
gastrointestinal malignancies is unlike the
well-established correlation between occupa
tional asbestos exposure and the subsequent
development of pleuropulmonary neoplasms and
mesotheliomas.
Cohort studies on occupa
tionally exposed workers suggest an associa
tion between asbestos and gastrointestinal
cancer, but evaluation of dose-response,
tissue analysis, animal experiment, and cell
culture data yield inconsistent conclusions.
No simplistic cause-effect relationship can be
ascribed to asbestos at the present time, and
the answer to the question, "Does asbestos
exposure cause gastrointestinal cancer?" must
await the results of additional studies.
Levine, D.S., "Does Asbestos Exposure Cause testinal Cancer?", Digestive Diseases and 1985, Vol. 30, pp. 1189-1197, 1189.
Gastroin Sciences,
10. Doll and Peto 1985
In 1985, Drs. Doll and Peto again expressed doubt that gastrointestinal cancer was caused by asbestos.
The laboratory evidence weighs against the possibility that asbestos causes cancer in sites other than the lung, pleura, peritoneum.
More importantly, asbestos has failed to produce gastro-intestinal or any other type of cancer in animals when given by mouth. (Bolten et al 1982; Condie, 1983).
The simplest explanation of the excess mor tality of gastrointestinal cancer, however, and in our opinion the most likely one, is that it results largely or wholly from mis diagnosis of cancer of the lung and mesotheli oma of the pleura or peritoneum. We cannot,
C-50
of course, rule out the possibility that
asbestos may cause a small number of cancers
in many different organs, even though there is
no strong evidence that it does.
In par
ticular, we do not wish to rule out the pos
sibility that it may cause cancer of the
oesophagus. The diagnosis is usually easy,
misdiagnosis in place of cancer of the lung is
rare, and in several studies the relative risk
attributed to it is notably raised (Selikoff,
Hammond, and Seidman, 1979; McDonald et al,
1930; Peto et al, 1985).
Doll, R. and Peto, J., "ASBESTOS - Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos," Health and Safety Commission, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1985, p. 6.
11. Morgan, Foliart, and Wong 1985
In 1985, Drs. Morgan, Foliart and Wong reviewed more than 45 published articles and discussed whether asbestos caused gastrointestinal cancer:
To determine the role of occupational asbestos exposure in the risk of gastrointestinal cancer, we attempted to identify all relevant publications from the indexed literature.
Exposure to asbestos is among several factors
cited as possible causes of esophageal,
gastric and colo-rectal cancer. More than 45
published studies have presented mortality
data on asbestos-exposed workers.
For each
cohort, we listed the observed and expected
rates of deaths from types of gastrointestinal
cancer based on the latest published follow
up.
Summary standardized mortality ratios
(SMRs) were then derived. Finally, we calcu
lated summary SMRs for total gastrointestinal
tract cancer for three occupational groups;
asbestos factory workers, insulators/shipyard
workers and asbestos miners.
Statistically significant elevations in summary SMRs were found for esophageal, stomach and total gastrointestinal tract cancer in all asbestos-exposed workers. Esophageal cancer summary SMR remained sig nificantly elevated when data were reanalyzed
C-51
to include only those cohorts with death
certificate diagnoses for cause of observed
deaths.
However, summary SMRs were not
statistically significant for stomach and
total gastrointestinal tract cancer after
reanalysis.
Summary SMRs by occupational
group showed a significant elevation for total
gastrointestinal cancer in insulators/shipyard
workers. The elevation was not significant
after reanalysis.
Based on the results after reanalysis,
the elevations in summary SMRs for stomach and
total gastrointestinal tract cancer are of a
magnitude that could result from diagnostic
investigator error.
We conclude that more
studies are required before stomach and colo
rectal cancers are documented as asbestos-
related diseases.
Table 3. -- Sumiary SMRs
Site of Cancer
Obs Exp
9SX Confidence
SHR
Intervat** References
Esophagus.................................................. 21 9.8 21*** Stomach.......................................................*3 23.5 183* Coloeectal............................................. 176 156.* 113 Total gastrointestinal tract.912 840.9 108**
SHR * standardized mortality ratio
132.6-327.6 2***.
17,22
132.4-2*6.5 2***.
17,22
96.5-130.* 2***. 17, 22 , 33 101.5-115.7 2***, 7, 8, 12
13, 17. 22, 2*
28, 33, 38, *1
**, *6, *8
* Reference 5*. ** P < .05. *** NY-MJ cohort and U.S. Canadian cohort.
Table *. -- Stannary SMRs Oeleting 'Best Evidence' Oata
Site of Cancer
Obs Exp
9SX Confidence SMR Interval* References
Esophagus..................................................20 8.4 238** Stomach...................................................... 2* 18.1 133 Colorectal............................................. 153 1*8.1 103 Total gastrointestinal tract.869 825.8 105**
1*5-368 85-197 88-121 98-113
SMR standardized mortality ratio
2***. 17, 22 2***, 17, 22 2**. 17. 22, 23 2***, 7, 8, 12, 13. 17. 22, 2*.
**, * ,28. 33. 38, *1, 6 *8
Reference 54. ** P < .05. *** U.S-Canadian cohort; KY-NJ cohort excluded.
C-52
Although there are statistically significant
elevations of SMR for esophageal and gastric
cancer for all groups and for total gastroin
testinal tract cancer for insulators and
shipyard workers, we are not convinced of the
relationship to asbestos exposure, especially
for stomach cancer, where the finding is
inconsistent and possibly erroneous in the
largest positive study.
For colo-rectal
cancer, at this time there is no discernible
relationship to asbestos exposure. We hope
that the occupationally exposed cohorts now
under study will provide more conclusive
evidence soon - refuting or supporting such an
association.
Morgan, R.O., Foliart, D.E., and Wong, 0., "Asbestos and Gastrointestinal Cancer," Western Journal of Medicine, 1985, Vol. 143, pp. 61-65.
12. Hodgson and Jones 1986
In 1986, Drs. Hodgson and Jones published a study on 31,150 male asbestos workers in England and Wales and found no excess incidence of gastro intestinal cancer:
The question as to whether, exposure to as
bestos leads to increased risk of cancers of
the alimentary tract was initially posed by
Selikoff's report on the mortality of U.S.
insulation workers, in which a threefold
excess of gastrointestinal cancer was ob
served. The evidence from later studies is
mixed, with some cohorts showing significant
excesses and others not. The small size of
many of these studies no doubt explains a
certain amount of this variability, but
clearly there are genuine differences between
the observed results.
In a recent review,
Doll and Peto conclude that where excesses of
alimentary tract cancer have been observed,
these are most probably due to misdiagnosis of
mesothelioma. This hypothesis is consistent
with the fact that the strongest excesses of
gastrointestinal cancers have been recorded in
cohorts that also display a high risk of
peritoneal mesothelioma.
i
C-53
Table 2
The present study shows no excess from cancer
at any of the four main alimentary tract sites
examined (oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum),
either overall or in association with increas
ing exposure to asbestos nor among insulation
workers, who showed heavy excesses of the
established asbestos related diseases.
The
present results therefore weigh against the hypothesis that exposure to asbestos is
responsible for an increase in the incidence
of cancer of the alimentary tract. (emphasis
added)
Mortality of workers exposed to asbestos before and after 1969 regulations
Cause of Death
Exposure before Regulations
Total period of follow <jp
Exposure only after regulations
Excluding follow up for initial 10 years after 1st exposure to asbestos
Total period of follow 141
Excluding follow
up for initial 10 years after 1st exposure to asbestos
0/E ,
SMR 0/E
SMR 0/E
SMR 0/E SMR
All causes
897/1011.8
Cancer of: Oesophagus
6/9.4
Stomach
27/27
Colon
6/16.7
Rectus
10/12.9
Ling Circulatory
diaease Respiratory
disease Asbestosis Hesothe-
lie*
157/121.0
426/509.7
64/92.4 11(1.IX)
34(3.4X>
*p < 0.05; "p 0.01.
88.7"
834/931.6
63.7 100.2 36.0"
6/8.8 24/24/9 5/15.4
77.3
9/12
129.7" 152/112.1
83.6"
395/471.5
69.3"
61/85.4
11(1.2X> 1(.04X)
34(3.6X) 1(.04X)
89.5"
231/273.7
68.5
1/2.3
96.3
5/6.1
32.5*
4/4.1
75.0 135.6"
0/3.1 29/26.9
83.8"
71.4" 0
101/122.3 14/20.7
0
84.4"
44 82.7 97.2 -- 108.0 82.6 67.6
9/9.5
94.8
0/0.9 0/ .2 0/ .2 0/.1 1/1.0 6/4.6 1/.8
96.2 129.6 123.5
C-54
I
Table 3. Mortality at selected alimentary tract cancer sites by emulative exposure
OBS/EXP (SHR)
emulative exposure (years)
< 10
10-20
> 20
All exposures
Cancer of: Oesophagus Stomach Colon Rectua
Total
0/1.4
6/4.0 (ISO)
1/2.5 (40)
1/1.9 (52)
8/9.8 (82)
2/3.14 (65)
10/8.6 (116)
2/5.5 (36)
2/4.2 (47)
16/21.4 (75)
4/5.0 (80)
11/14.3 (77)
3/5.6 (35)
7/6.8 (103)
25/34.7 (72)
6/9.4 (64)
27/26.9 (100)
6/16.7 (36)
10/12.9 (77)
49/65.9 (74)
Hodgson, R.T. and Jones, R.D., "Mortality of Asbestos Workers in England and Wales 1971-81," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1986, Vol. 43, pp. 158-164.
13. Enterline, Hartley, and Henderson 1987
v Dr. Enterline and others conducted a study of asbestos workers who retired between 1941 and 1987 from a U.S. asbestos company. The authors found some eleva tions in cancer incidence.
The mortality experience of 1,074 white men
who retired from a United States asbestos
company during the period 1941-67 and who were
exposed to asbestos working as production and
maintenance employees for the company is re
ported to the end of 1980 when 88% of this
cohort was known to be dead.
As noted in
earlier reports, the mortality for respiratory
and gastrointestinal cancer was raised.
A
more detailed examination of causes of death
shows that the excess in gastrointestinal
cancer was largely due to a statistically
significant excess in stomach cancer.
A
statistically significant excess was also
noted for kidney cancer, cancer of the eye,
and non-malignant respiratory disease.
C-55
Table 2
Observed end expected deaths and SMs for 1074 retirees from a United States asbestos coapany by cause of death mi-SO
Cause of Death (7th revision codes)
All causes of death
Tuberculosis (001*019) .
All malignant neoplasas (140-205)
Buccal cavity A pharynx (140-148)
Digestive organs A peritoneum (150-159)
Oesophagus (150)
Stoamch (151)
Large intestine (153) Rectum (154)
Biliary passage A liver (155-156)
Pancreas (157)
All other digestive organs.(residual)
Respiratory system (160-164)
Larynx (161)
Bronchus, trachea, lung (162-163)
All other respiratory system (residual)
Prostate (177)
testis A other male genital (178-179)
Kidney (180)
Bladder A other urinary (181)
Malignant melenema of skin (190)
Eye (192)
Central nervous system (193)
Thyroid gland (194)
Bone (196)
All lymphatic A hematopoietic tissue (200-205)
Lymphosarcoma, reticulosarcoma (200)
Hodgkins (201)
Leukaemia A aleukemia (204)
All other lymphatic (202, 203, 205)
AH other amlignant neoplasms (residual)
Benign neoplasas (210-239)
Diabetes emllitus (250)
Stroke (330-334)
All heart disease (440-443)
Rheumatic heart disease (400-416)
Coronary heart disease (420)
Hypertensive heart disease (440-443)
All other heart disease (residual)
Hypertension without heart disease (444-447)
Non-amiignant respiratory disease (470-527)
Influenza A pneumonia (480-493)
All other respiratory disease (residual)
Asbestosis (523.2)
Ulcer of stomach A duodenum (540-541)
Cirrhosis of liver (581)
-
Chronic nephritis (592)
All external causes of death (800-998)
Accidents (800-962)
Motor vehicle accidents (810-835)
All other accidents (residual)
Suicides (963, 970-979)
Homicides A all other (residual)
All other causes of death (residual)
Unknown
Obs
944 14
208 5
64 4
20 14 9 4 8 5 79
2 77
0 17 0 7 5 0 2 3 0 0 9 2 0 3 4 17 3 15 85 395 6 315 21 53 7 86 27
59 22
3 13
2 22 16
6 10 6 0 57 34
Exp
762.77 4.47
129.87 3.60
45.70 2.95
11.09 14.24
5.66 3.52 7.37 0.87 30.57 1.75 28.44 0.38 18.17 0.34 2.54 6.13 1.74 0.13 1.19 0.28 0.66 10.76 2.24 0.74 5.36 2.44 8.06 1.19 11.62 92.00 353.87 4.11 280.80 21.92 47.04 4.96 49.35 24.23 25.12 --
5.65 6.30 4.23 24.82 18.95 6.30 12.65 5.10 0.77 74.U ***
SMR
123.8** 313.1** 160.2** 139.0 140.0* 135.6 180.4*
98.3 159.0 113.6 108.6 571.4* 258.4** 114.1 270.7**
93.6 -- 275.8*
81.5 -- 1544.5* 251.2 -- -- 83.7
89.4 --
56.0 163.9 210.9** 251.6 129.0
92.4 111.6* 146.0 112.2*
95.8 112.7 141.2 174.3** 111.4
...234.9**
53.1 206.3*
47.3 88.6 84.4 95.2 79.1 117.7 ---
.7..6.6*
p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.
Enterline, P.E., Hartley, J., and Henderson, V., "Asbestos and Cancer: a Cohort Followed Up to Death," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1987, Vol. 44, p. 397.
C-56
14. Sanden and Jarvholm 1987
In 1987, in a group of Swedish shipyard workers with
more than 20 years since first exposure, Drs. Sanden and
Jarvholm found no increased incidence of gastrointestinal
cancer.
The authors concluded that it was highly
improbable that workers in that shipyard had an increased
risk of gastrointestinal cancer due to asbestos exposure.
Table 2. Cancer aorbidity in 1978-1983 in shipyard workers
Site
All 95Z confidence interval of rate ratio
All (140-209)*
lung (162) Pleural aesotheiicna (163) Peritoneal aesotheiioma (158)
Gastrointestinal tract (150-158) Stomach (151) Colon/rectua (152-154) Urinary bladder (188) Kidney (189) Prostate (185)
Observed
SA*
11 4 0 11* 3 3 6 2 10
Expected
66.2 9.8
22.2 3.4 7.8 4.5 3.3 8.5
0.61-1.1 0.56-2.0
___
0.25-0.89 0.18-2.6 0.08-2.6 0.49-2.9 0.07-2.2 v0.57-2.2
P < 0.05 *There is no incidence of data for calculating expected values
In addition to the sites aientioned there were four cases of pancreatic cancer and one case each of lymphoma, leukemia `Figures in parentheses, ICO nuifcer 8th revision
Table 3.
Cancer aorbidity in shipyard workers where at least 20 years have elapsed since onset of asbestos exposures
Site
All
Heavy or very heavy exDosure to asbestos*
Observed
All 49
Ung
10
Mesothelioaa
4
Gastrointestinal 8
stomach
3
rectus
3
Urinary bladder 6
Kicktey
1
Prostate
9
Expected
54.5 8.2 b
14.2 2.8 6.6 3.8 2.7 7.4
Observed
16 3 3 5 1 2 1 0 4
Expected
25.6
3.9b
6.7 1.3 3.1 1.8 1.3 3.5
'
IV III %ll
k ' WIWII C Wl IIMC
*Dta lacking for calculation of expected values
C-57
Some studies indicate an increased risk of
gastrointestinal cancer in workers exposed to
asbestos, while others do not find such an
association. In a previous study, covering
1961-1979, we found no increased risk of
gastrointestinal cancer. In the present study
the number of cases was significantly lower
than expected (95% confidence interval of the
rate ratio of 0.2 to 0.9).
It thus seems
highly improbable that workers have an in
creased risk of gastrointestinal cancer due to
asbestos exposure in the shipyard industry.
The increase of gastrointestinal cancer found
in some other studies might be an effect of
other contemporary exposure, or exposure to
other types of asbestos.
Sanden, A. and Jarvholm, B., "Cancer Morbidity in Swed ish Shipyard Workers 1978-1983", International Archives of Occupational Environmental Health, 1987, Vol. 59, p. 461.
15. Edelman 1988
In 1988, David Edelman published a review article on 32 cdhorts of asbestos workers. He concluded that asbestos workers do not have an increased risk of gas trointestinal cancer.
ABSTRACT. In 1964 it was first reported that
asbestos workers had a higher risk of gastro
intestinal cancer. This notion has persisted
despite several studies that have found no
increased risk. The risks of gastrointestinal
cancer to workers exposed to asbestos were
reassessed, based on the results of published
studies on 32 independent cohorts of asbestos
workers.
Not all studies provided risk
estimates (SMRs) for all gastrointestinal
sites (ICD codes 150-159).
No consistent
evidence was found to indicate that exposure
to asbestos increases the risk of gastroin
testinal cancer. Generally, the higher SMRs
came from studies conducted in the United
States or Canada and might reflect factors not
related to exposure to asbestos. In studies
in which asbestos exposed and non-asbestos
exposed workers were evaluated the SMRs were
not consistently higher for the group exposed
to asbestos.
There was no apparent dose
C-58
response relation between accumulated asbestos dose and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer. It is concluded there is no dose response relation between exposure to asbestos and the risk of gastrointestinal cancer, and asbestos workers are not at an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer. (emphasis added)
Study Methods
Thirty-two cohorts of asbestos-exposed workers
were identified that provided data on their
risks of gastrointestinal cancer.
Table 1
summarizes the types of occupational exposures
to asbestos of cohorts evaluated.
Table 1 Occupational Exposures to Asbestos ef Cohorts Evaluated
Industry Occupational Exposure
Asbestos cement
.
Insulation work
Manufacturing: Gas masks
Paper, millboard, friction products, etc.
Textiles
Mining and milling
Murie acid production plant
Railroad
Shipyard dockyard
Workers reported to registries, pneunocomosis panels or applying for workman's conpensation
No. of Cohorts
4 1
2 9 2 5 1 1 3
4
Numerous articles have identified factors that might place an increased risk of cancer to any gastrointestinal site (ICD codes 150-159). These risk factors include smoking; diet
C-59
including
alcohol,
beer,
and
beef;
familial/inheritance factors - for example,
adenomatosis; history of ulcerative colitis;
and place of residence.
Small but significantly increased relative
risks (relative risks less than 2, for ex
ample) may occur because of spurious associa
tions or failure to account for the effects of
other risk factors, such as diet or smoking,
that might affect the relative risk.
For
relative risks that lie between 1 and 2 it is
extremely difficult to disentangle the various
contributions of biased information, confound
ing of two or more factors, and cause and
effect.
If asbestos has a carcinogenic effect on the gastrointestinal tract it should be possible to show this effect through lifetime ingestion studies in laboratory animals. Selikoff and Lee noted that "attempts to induce carcinoma in the intestinal epithelium or mesothelioma in the peritoneum by feeding asbestos have been uniformly disappointing...." In a later review of published studies of asbestos ad ministered by mouth Condie concluded, "the bulk of the experimental evidence indicates that the long-term, high-level ingestion exposure to various types of asbestos fibres failed to produce any definite, reproducible, organ-specific carcinogenic effect.
Doll and Peto noted that unless local death specific rates are used, ratios (SMRs) under 1.5 may be largely or wholly artifactual.
The present evaluation found no consistent
statistical association between exposure to
asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer, a dose
response relation was not apparent, and re
sults of ingestion studies in laboratory
animals were negative.
In terms of these
criteria the findings of the present evalua
tion do not support a cause and effect rela
tion between exposure to asbestos and gastro
intestinal cancer. The third criterion was
not evaluated since studies have not been
C--60
conducted to evaluate the concentration of
asbestos fibres or bodies in the gastroin
testinal tissues of asbestos exposed and non-
exposed subjects.
Although various factors
associated with an increased risk of gastroin
testinal cancer have been identified, none of
the 32 studies made any adjustments to the
risk estimates for gastrointestinal cancer for
any of these factors. Based on the epidemio
logical, clinical, and experimental studies
evaluated, there is no evidence to support a
cause and effect relation between exposure to
asbestos and cancer of any gastrointestinal
site. (emphasis added.)
Edelman, D., "Exposure to Asbestos and the Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Reassessment", British Jour nal of Industrial Medicine, 1988, Vol. 45, p. 81.
16. Churg and Green 1988
Dr. Andrew Churg, in his text on occupational lung disease, confirmed there is no pathological means to determine if a gastrointestinal tract cancer is caused by asbestos.
QTHER NEOPLASMS CLAIMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
For the pathologist, the problem is one of
dealing with tumors which are common in the
general population, and which, in many in
stances, clearly have other strong etiologic
associations.
Carcinoma of the larynx in
particular is related to cigarette smoke,
esophageal cancers to smoking and alcohol
consumption, and stomach and colon cancers to
a variety of postulated dietary factors.
Given the lack of uniformity in regard to the question of whether these tumors are even associated with asbestos exposure, and given their common occurrence in nonexposed popula tions, I know of no scientific way for the pathologist to associate a specific case of one of these neoplasms with asbestos exposure. Certainly, there are no pathologic or mineralogic findings that permit the pathologist to decide that an individual case was caused by asbestos exposure. (emphasis added).
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Churg, A. and Green, F., Pathology of Occupational Disease, p. 319, (1988).
17. Mossman, Bignon, Com, Seaton, and Gee 1989
In their famous 1989 Science article, Drs. Mossman and others questioned whether gastrointestinal cancers are caused by asbestos:
Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, larynx,
and other organs including the kidney, ovary,
pancreas, pericardium, eye, and lymphatic
system, have been reported in some cohorts of
asbestos workers.
In general, the enhanced
SMRs for these tumors are not statistically
distinguishable from normal SMRs and have not
been confirmed in most cohorts.
Both
laryngeal and gastrointestinal tumors have
other etiologies such as smoking, alcohol,
diet, and intestinal polyposis that confound
the interpretation of epidemiologic data.
Mossman, B. T. , Bignon, J., Corn, M., Seaton, A., and
Gee, J.B.L., "Asbestos:
Scientific Developments and
Implications for Public Policy," Science, Vol. 247; P.
295-296
18. Selikoff 1990
Dr. Selikoff has presented updated statistics on 17,800 insulators in "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease: Exposure to Asbestos in Place." He followed the entire membership of International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers for twenty years beginning January 1, 1967 through December 31, 1986. Selikoff did not find an increased incidence of any of the following cancers: bladder, urinary, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, brain, or liver. There fore, Dr. Selikoff agreed that the notion that asbestos produces cancer in every organ it reaches is fallacious:
Spectrum of asbestos-associated diseases
On January 1, 1967, the entire membership of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers was registered in a prospective epidemiological investigation, undertaken by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the American Cancer Society. The observation of this group con tinues.
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-*U,
i
4 a
From January 1, 1967 to December 31, 1986, 4,951 deaths occurred among the 17,800 men originally listed. These have been analyzed and the results are contained in Tables 1-4, covering 301,592.6 person-years of obser vation.
Of both practical and theoretical interest, these experiences did not demonstrate an
increased incidence in a variety of other
cancers (urinary bladder, prostate, leukemia,
lymphoma, melanoma, brain tumors, primary
cancer of the liver) (Table 4). Theoretical
interest, because some thought has been given
to the possibility that a carcinogenic agent
such as asbestos would be likely to produce
cancer in whatever organ it was found.
At
least in the present investigation, this was
not the case.
Selikoff, I.J., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease: Exposure to Asbestos in Place", Copyright 1990, Andrews Communications, Inc., p. 3.
Dr. Selikoff further states that clinically evident
asbestos associated disease is not generally found less
than 20, 30, 40 years from first exposure.
He also
admitted that his earlier calculations of 8 to 10
thousand asbestos associated excess cancer deaths
predicted each year have to be modified. In fact, the
relative risk ratio for all cancer and lung cancer is
decreasing.
(1) All Cancer Risk (Best Evidence)
167-1722 3.41
73-179
3.09
so-'se 2.74
(2) Lung cancer:
5.16
4.57
3.81
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Various tables concerning the mortality experience in the cohort of insulation workers are reproduced below:
Table 2
Deaths among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the United States and Canada
January 1, 1967 - December 31, 1986
Principal cause of death
Cause of Death
Expected Deaths1
Observed Death Certificate Number SMR
deaths
Best Evidence2
Number
SMR3
All causes
All cancer Lung cancer PI. meso4
3453.50
761.41 268.66
. -----
4951 2127 1008
89
143c 279e 375c ------
4951 2295 1168
173
143e
301 435c
------
Perit. meso4
--
92 -------'
285
--
G.I. Cancer5 G.I. Cancer-extended6 Non-Infectious respiratory disease Asbestosis
135.69 191.66
144.82 --
188 324
465 201
139c 169c
321c ------
189 269
507 427
139c 140e
350 ------
All other causes
2547.27
2359
93c
2149
84e
1. Expected deaths based upon death rates; 1967-1986 of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, for white males.
2. Ascertained after review of autopsy, surgical and clinical material. Where no such data were available. death certificate diagnosis was utilized except for mesothelioma. Cases were accepted for this diagnostic category only after Mount Sinai's histopathology review and confirmation.
3. Calculated for information only, since it utilized "best evidence vs. death certificate" diagnoses, not strictly comparable due to different quality of ascertainment and verification.
4. Rates are not available since these have been rare causes of death in the general population.
5. Includes cancer of stomach, esophagus, colon/rectum. 6. Includes cancer of stomach, esophagus, colon/rectum, liver, gall bladder and bile ducts. Probability levels = p<.05 bp<.01 cp<.001
Table 3
Deaths among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the United States and Canada
January 1, 1967 - December 31, 1986
Less cocoon asbestos-associated cancers
ffuse of Death Cancer of Larynx Cancer of Oro-pharynx Cancer of Kitkiey Cancer of Pancreas Cancer of Esophagus Cancer of Stomach Cancer of Colon/rectun Cancer of Call
bladder, bile ducts
..
Expected Deaths1 10.57 22.02 18.87 39.52 17.80 29.36 88.49
5.37
Observed deaths
Death
Certificate
(DC)
Nurber
Ratio
17 1.61 38 1.73k
32 1.70b
92 2.33*
29 1.63*
34 1.16 125 1.41'..
13 2.42*
Best Evidence Number2
18 48 37 54 30 38 121
14
Ratio* 1.70* 2.18* 1.96* 1.37* 1.68* 1.29 "1.37*
2.61fc
1. Expected deaths based upon death rates 1967-1986 of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, for white dales.
2. Ascertained after review of autopsy, surgical and clinical aaterial. Where no such data were available, death certificate diagnosis was utilized.
3. Calculated for information only, since it utilized "best evidence" vs. "death certificate" diagnoses, not strictly comparable due to different quality of ascertainment and verification.
Prob. - Range -
<.001 - c <.01 - b <05 - a
.001 but less than .009 .010 but less than .0S0
Table 4
Deaths among 17,800 Asbestos Insulation Workers in the United States and Canada
January 1, 1967 - December 31, 1986
Cancers Not Fond With Increased Incidence
Cause of
Death
Cancer of bladder Cancer of prostate Leukemia Lymphoma Melanoma (skin) Brain tuaors (all)
Cancer
'
Cancer of liver
- Expected - peaths1
20.77 52.56 28.74 43.24 12.65 26.35
22.55 11.06
Death Certificate Humber
17 59 32 33 11 40 29 31
(DC) Ratio
0.82 1.12 1.11 0.76 0.87 1.52*
1.29 2.80*
Observed Deaths
Best
Evidence
(BE)2
Number
Ratio:
22 1.06
61 1.16
33 1.15
39 0.90
9 0.71
3 1.25
7 1.20 12 1.00
1. Expected deaths based upon death rates 1967-1986 of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, for whits dales.
2. Ascertained after review of autopsy, surgical and clinical daterial. Where no such date were available, death certificate was utilized.
3. Calculated for information only, since it utilized "best evidence" vs. death certificate diagnoses,
not strictly comparable due to different qualify of ascertainment and verification.
Prob - Levels - <.001 * c < .01 b < .05 = a
C-65
tootitan
>
Table 8
Deaths of gastro-Intestinal cancer* among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the United States and Canada, 1967-1986
Years from onset iyearsl
<15 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50+
Personyears
61,655.4 52,709.5 57,595.4 50,518.7 37,165.8 20,340.0 10,200.5
5,256.5 6.151.0 301,592.6
Duration from onset of caolovent
_____________________________ Observed and expected
__________ _______Observed deaths______
(DC)1
(Bi7
Expected deaths
2.34 5.72 12.54 20.75 25.71 21.90 15.56 10.64 20.53 135.69
Nurtoer
1 5 25 29 31 25 27 18 27 188
Ratio
0.43 0.87 1.99* 1.40 1.21 1.14 1.741' 1.69* 1.32 1.39
Ninber
1 6 25 28 32 32 25 14 26 189
Ratio
0.43 1.05 1.99* 1.35 1.24 1.46* 1.61* 1.32 1.27 1.39c
1. Expected deaths are based upon age and year specific death rates 1967-1986 of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, for white males ("DC"),
2. Best evidence ("BE"). Ascertained after review of all available autopsy, surgical and clinical material. Where no such data were available, death certificate diagnosis was utilized.
3. Calculated for information only, since observed deaths are based on best evidence while expected deaths are those calculated from death certificate rates of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics 1967-1986 for white mates. The two are not strictly comparable since they reflect different quatity an precision of ascertainment (death certificate diagnosis are not generally subjected to investigation and verification).
4. Includes cancer of stomach, esophagus, colon/rectum (and 2 cases of cancer of the small intestines). Prob. Range - <,001 - c <.01 - b <.05 - a
Selikoff, I.J., "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease: Exposure to Asbestos in Place," Andrews Communications, Inc., p. 11, (1990).
19. Seidman and Selikoff 1990
In their 1990 article, "Decline in Death Rates Among Asbestos Insulation Workers 1967-1986 Associated with Diminution of Work Exposure to Asbestos," Drs. Seidman and Selikoff again reported on the mortality experience of the 17,800 American and Canadian insulation workers. Mortality figures as of 1986 were compared to those in 1972 and 1979 in Table 7 below. Notably, the SMR's for gastrointestinal cancers show a consistent decline over the years.
C-66
i j
'i
<i
3
Table 7. Observed and Expected Deaths among 17,800 Asbestos Insulation Workers in the United States and Canada, 1967-1986: Deaths in Three Periods of Time, 1967-1972, 1973-1979, 198019B6.
Expected and Observed Deaths. 1967-1972
Observed DC Cause of Death
All causes
All cancer Ling cancer Pleural mesothelioma Peritoneal mesothelioma G.l. cancer G.I. cancer-extended
Observed BE Expected
945.35
173.19 55.39 * 32.82 46.59
No. SNR
1395 148
553 319 255 460
21 ' 14 57 174 100 215
NO.
139
591 286
30 63 62 83
SNR
148
341 516 -
-
189 178
Hon-infectious respiratory disease Asbestosis
31.85 *
111 349 46
132 414 105
All other causes
740.31
731 99
672
91
Expected and observed deaths. 1973 -1979
Alt causes
1195.13
1749 146
1749
146
All cancer Lung cancer Pleural mesothelioma Peritoneal mesothelioma G.I. cancer G.I. cancer-extended
259.48 91.51 -
46.51 65.65
740 361
27 19 62 112
285 394
133 171
803 418
61 94 61 86
309 459
131 133
Non-Infectious respiratory disease Asbestosis
47.06
167 355 69 -
172 365 145 ' '
All other causes
888.59
842
95
774 87
Expected and observed deaths. 1980 -1986
All causes
1313.02
1807 138
1807
138
All cancer Ling cancer Pleural mesothelioma Peritoneal mesothelioma G.I. cancer G.I. cancer-extended
328.74 120.96
-
56.35 79.42
834 254
391 322 41 45 69 122
112 141
901 464
82 128
66 99
274 381
-
-
117 125
Non-infectious respiratory disease Asbestosis
65.91
187 284 86
203 177
308
*
All other cases
918.37
786 86
703
77
p = .05, p = .01 and p = .001 levels under the Poisson distributions with Program 13 in Rothman et al. Populations at risk are emmerated in Table 6 and include 301,592.6 person-years at risk 1967-1986.
Seidman, H. & Selikoff, I.J., "Decline in Death Rates Among Asbestos Insulation Workers 1967-1986 Associated with Diminution of Work Exposure to Asbestos," Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1990, Vol. 609, p. 308.
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20. Brown, Hoskins, Miller, and Mossman 1990
In 1990, Brown and Associates concluded that efforts to link other cancers to asbestos were poorly justified:
"The health consequences of exposure to asbes tos and other mineral fibres can include the excessive deposition of collagen (fibrosis) at various thoracic sites, tumours of the pleura or peritoneum (mesothelioma) and lung cancer. Attempts have been made to link asbestos exposure to tumours at other sites but these are problematic and poorly justified (Mossman & Gee, 1989)."
Brown, R.C., Hoskins, J.A., Miller, K., and Mossman, B.T., "Pathogenic Mechanisms of Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibres," Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Vol. 11, 1990, p. 326.
IV. ASBESTOS AND SPECIFIC CANCERS
A. PHARYNGEAL CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
The pharynx is the part of the alimentary canal
which is located behind the nose, mouth, and larynx.
(Gray's Anatomy, p. 889-890 (1974)). It is a musculo-
membranous tube that extends from the base of the skull
to the lower border of the sixth cervical vertebra where
it meets the esophagus. The four and one-half inches of
the pharynx may be divided into the nasal, oral, or
laryngeal.
The nasal pharynx performs respiratory
functions only. The oral pharynx serves as a passageway
for food as well as air and the laryngeal pharynx serves
as a passageway for food only. Id.
The mouth and pharynx are lined by a mucous mem
brane which is composed of the epithelium, a basement
membrane, and the fibro-elastic lamina propria.
The
wall of the pharynx is composed of a mucous membrane, a
muscle layer and a thin fibrous sheath that attaches the
pharynx to the adjacent structures.
Only 3 percent of all cancers in the United States
are cancers of the oral cavity.
In 1989, it was es
timated that there would be 31,000 new cases of oral
cancer.
American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and
Fiqures-1989. p. 11 (1989).
The incidence of mouth
cancer is twice as high in males as in females, and is
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most frequently found in men over the age of 40. Oral cancer can affect any part of the oral cavity, including the lip, tongue, mouth, or throat. In 1989, it was es timated that there would be 8,650 deaths due to oral cancer. Id. at 9.
The five year survival rates for oral cancer vary
substantially depending upon the site in the oral cavi
ty.
Rates range from 32 percent for patients with
J
pharyngeal cancer, to 91 percent for patients with lip
I
l
cancer.
Overall the five year survival rate is ap
\ proximately 51 percent. Id.
t
2. Risk Factors
Users of tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or smokeless tobacco are at an increased risk for developing oral cancer as are heavy alcohol drinkers.
The synergistic effect of alcohol and tobacco is well recognized. Many authors have concluded that the relative risk of contracting cancer is 2 and 1/2 times that expected if the effects of alcohol and tobacco were merely added together. Keane, et al., "Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancers," The Laryngoscope, 1981, Vol. 99, pp. 2037-2045, 2041. The effects of alcohol and tobacco may account for 75% of the oral cancers of men in the United States. Table 1 demonstrates some of the agents \ that are allegedly associated with cancers of the oral cavity. Id. at 2042.
.'H P V 'r'W /,;
C-69
TABLE t.
Agents Associated with Cancer in the Head and Neck.
Agent AfLatoxin Arsenic
Circumstances
Food, dust
Manufacturing, mining. medication, pesticides
Anatomic Site Nasal sinuses Lung, pharynx
Asbestos
Manufacturing, mining. insulation, environment
Ling, larynx
Bis (Chloromethyl) ether
Chemical manufacturing
Lung
Chromiun Ethanol Mustard gas
Manufacturing Diet Manufacturing
Lung, nasal sinuses
Pharynx, larynx
Lung, nasal sinuses, larynx, pharynx
Nickel
Manufacturing
Lung, nasal sinuses, larynx
Polycyclic hydrocarbons
Manufacturing, environment
Lung, nasal sinuses, larynx, pharynx
Quid
Radiation (ionizing)
t
Chewing
Medical treatment. X-ray technique (mesothoriun), dial painters
Oropharynx
Nasal sinuses, pharynx, lip
Tobacco
Chewing, smoking
Pharynx, larynx, ling
Wood and leather dust
Manufacturing
Nasal sinuses
Oils and chemical, vinyl, chloride, hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, benzene, isopropyl oil, naphthylamine. aniline, dyes, carbon tetrachloride.
Manufacturing
Ling, nasal sinuses, larynx
Keane, et al., "Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancers," The Laryngoscope, 1981, Vol. 99, 2042.
In their large case-control study of California and New Jersey residents, Blot and Associates examined the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer in smokers and drink ers. They reported the following:
A case-control study of oral and pharyngeal cancer conducted in four areas of the United States provided information on the tobacco and
C-7 0
alcohol use of 1,114 patients and 1,268 popu lation-based controls. Because of the large study size, it could be shown that the risks of these cancers among nondrinkers increased with amount smoked, and conversely that the risks among nonsmokers increased with the level of alcohol intake. Among consumers of both products, risks of oropharyngeal cancer tended to combine more in a multiplicative than additive fashion and were increased more than 35-fold among those who consumed two or more packs of cigarettes and more than four alcoholic drinks/day.
Blot, W. J., McLaughlin, J.K., Winn, D.M., et al., "Smoking and Drinking in Relation to Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer," Journal of Cancer Research, 1988, Vol. 48, pp. 3282-3287, 3282.
Individuals with diets low in vitamins A and C as
well as beta-carotene are at a substantial risk for
pharyngeal cancer.
McLaughlin, J.K., Gridley, G.,
Block, G., et al. "Dietary Factors in Oral and Pharyn
geal Cancer," Journal of the National Cancer Institute,
1988,, Vol. 80, pp. 1237-1243; Rossing, M. ; Vaughan,
T.L. , McKnight, B. , "Diet and Pharyngeal Cancer," Inter
national Journal of Cancer, 1989, Vol. 44, pp. 593-597.
Mustard gas production workers have been shown to be at an increased risk of contracting respiratory tract carcinomas, including cancers of the oral pharynx and nasal pharynx. Keane, et al., "Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancer," The Laryngoscope, 1981, Vol. 91, pp. 2037 45. Also occupationally at risk are those working in nickel refining, woodcrafting and shoe making. Id. at 2038.
Workers exposed to formaldehyde, wood dust, nickel, chromium, and other occupational agents have been shown to be at an increased risk for cancer of the naso pharynx and nasal sinus cavities. Olsen, et al., "Oc cupational Formaldehyde Exposure and Increased Nasal Cancer Risk in Man," International Journal of Cancer, 1986, Vol. 34, pp. 639-644. Table III below lists sub stances that have allegedly been associated with an increased risk 'of cancer of the nasopharynx or sinuses with occupational exposure. Id. at 640.
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TABLE III - CARCINOMAS OF THE SI NONASAL CAVITIES AND NASOPHARYNX IN RELATION TO OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
Exposure
Sex
Exposure frequency
among controls(X)
Carcinomas of the
Sinonasat cavities
RR
95% C.L.
RR
Nasooharvm 95% C.L.__
Formaldehyde
M F
Uood dust
M F
Leather dust
M F
Nickel, chromiua
H F
Chlorophenois
M F
Textile dust
H F
Man-made mineral fibers M F
Asbestos
M F
Metal work
'
M F
Paint, lacquer and glue manufacture
H F
Plastic manufacture
M F
Silage manufacture
M F
4.2 o.i
5.8
0.0
0.1 0.0
7.2
0.0
1.9
0.0
1.9 2.5
3.7
0.0
2.3
0.0
9.9
0.0
8.4 1.4
1.2 0.0
3.5
0.0
2.8 2.8
2.5 *-
1.7
1.8
1.2
*-
1.4 *'
0.7 1.3
0.9 *
1.5
-*
1.4 --
2.1
1.9
1.1 2.8
1.0
1.8- 4.3 0.5-14.3 1.7- 3.7
0.5- 6.3 0.2-17.2 0.8- 1.9
0.6- 3.0
0.2- 1.9 0.5- 3.5 0.5- 1.8
0.7- 3.0
1.0- 1.5
1.4- 3.0 0.6- 5.8 0.4- 3.1 0.5-14.3 0.5- 1.9
0.7
2.6
0.4
00
--
1.1
--
0.5
0.9 1.5
1.0
--
0.9
1.3 2.7
0.7 0.9
1.2 2.6
0.4
*
0.3- 1.7 0.3-21.9
0.2- 1.0
0.6- 2.0
0.1- 2.1
0.2- 2.6
0.4- 5.2 0.4- 2.2
0.3- 2.6
0.8- 2.0
0.3-22.4 0.4- 1.3
0.1- 6.S
0.4- 4.2 0.3-21.8 0.1- 1.4
Olsen, et al., "Ocupational Formaldehyde Exposure and Increased Nasal Cancer Risk in Man," International Journal of Cancer, 1984, Vol. 34, pp. 639-644 , 641.
3. Asbestos Exposure
In Dr. Lumley's proportional study of cancer registrations for dockyard workers, no significant excess of pharyngeal cancer was identified. Of the more than 1,300 dockyard workers employed between 1960 and 1969, 53 cases of cancer of the buccal cavity and pharynx were reported versus 51.3 ex pected yielding an insignificant SMR at the 103.3
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3 1 )
level.
Lumley, K.P.S,
"A Proportional Study of
Cancer Registrations of Dockyard Workers," British
Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1976, Vol. 33, pp.
108-110.
In "Mortality Experience of Insulation Workers in the United States and Canada, 1943-1976," Drs. Selikoff, Hammond and Seidman reported only 1.7 deaths caused by cancers of the larynx, pharynx, and buccal cavity where 2.0 were expected. Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, E.C., Seidman, H., "Mor tality Experience of Insulation Workers in the U.S. and Canada, 1943-1976," Annals of the New York Academy of Science, Vol. 330, pp. 91-116, 94.
The results of Dr. Enterline's study of 1,074
retirees from a U.S. asbestos company is consistent
with previous studies showing a statistically
insignificant excess of cancer deaths caused by
pharyngeal cancer. Five cases were observed where
3.60 were expected (SMR=139).
Enterline, P.E.,
Hartley, J., Henderson, V., "Asbestos and Cancer -
a Cohort Followed up to Death," British Journal of
Industrial Medicine, 1987, Vol. 44, pp. 396-401,
397.
In his recent report on the mortality of 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the U.S. and Canada, Dr. Selikoff reported an increased risk for cancer of the oropharynx as compared to his 1979 report. Dr. Selikoff reported a relative risk of 1.73 for cancer of the oropharynx with 38 cases reported compared to 22.02 expected. Selikoff, I.J., "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease: Exposure to Asbestos in Place," Andrews Communications, Inc. (1990). Significantly, Dr. Selikoff's failure to control for alcohol or tobacco casts a dark shadow on these results given the important etiological role these factors play in carcinogenesis.
The epidemiological evidence concerning as bestos exposure and pharyngeal cancer is varied and conflicting. Despite Dr. Selikoff's recent report, studies which account for smoking and alcohol have failed to convincingly establish an association between asbestos exposure and pharyngeal cancer.
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B. LARYNGEAL CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
The larynx is the organ of voice which lies between the trachea and the base of the tongue.
(Gray's Anatomy, p. 955).
Laryngeal cancer is
relatively uncommon with peak incidence occurring
during the seventh decade of life. Laryngeal tumors may be categorized into three groups depending on
anatomical origin: supraglottic, glottic, and
subglottic.
See Schottenfeld, D., and Fraumeni,
J.F., at pp. 554-55.
These tumors occur in the
United States at an approximate ratio of 40:59:1,
respectively. Id. The most common form of laryn
geal cancer is of the squamous cell type with the
majority of these being moderately or well differen
tiated.
(Cowles, 1983). Laryngeal cancer occurs
predominantly in men.
Of those diagnosed with
laryngeal cancer in the United States, 60 percent
of cases involve tumors still localized to the
larynx, 25 percent are not diagnosed until the
cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and 15
percent are not diagnosed until the cancer has
spread to more remote parts of the body.
The
prognosis for those with laryngeal cancer is favor
able with 64 percent of the white males diagnosed
between 1967 and 1973 reaching the five year sur
vival rate.
Survival rates for white males are
slightly better than for white females and blacks.
Id.
2. Alcohol and Tobacco
Drs. Chan and Gee reported on the importance of alcohol and tobacco use in the etiology of laryn geal cancer:
There has been a gradual increase in laryngeal cancer rates in the United States over the last four decades. Part of the increase may be attributable to more accurate reporting of the disease or increased detection, but smoking and alcohol drinking have been consistently shown to be the two most important en vironmental factors for this neoplasm. The dose-response relationships which support causality between smoking, al cohol , and laryngeal cancer have been
C-74
elegantly demonstrated by Wynder, et al and
Rothman, et al.
Flanders and Rothman also
reported a synergistic effect between smoking
and alcohol consumption for laryngeal cancer;
the interaction being such that a one pack-a-
day smoker who also consumes a moderate amount
of alcohol (more than 6 ounces of liquor per
day) has a greater than twenty-fold increased
risk of developing laryngeal cancer.
Chan, C.K. and Gee, J.B., "Asbestos Exposure and Laryngeal Cancer; An Analysis of the Epidemiologi cal Evidence", Journal of Occupational Medicine, 1988, Vol. 30, p.23.
David Edelman reported on the effect of smoking on the incidence cancer.
overwhelming of laryngeal
Smoking is associated with a high rela
tive risk of laryngeal cancer.
In the
study of U.S. veterans, the risk of death
from cancer of the larynx was 11.5 times
higher for smokers and 4.8 times higher
for ex-smokers compared to never smokers.
In the American Cancer Society study of
over one million men and women the mor
tality ratios for men with a history of
cigarette smoking compared to those who
never smoked regularly were 6.1 for men
aged 45 to 64, and 9.0 for men aged 65 to
79.
Edelman, D., "Laryngeal Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos", International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1989, Vol. 61, p. 226.
There is strong epidemiological data to sup port the assertion that tobacco and alcohol are the primary risk factors for laryngeal cancer.
Tobacco and alcohol are both major causes of laryngeal cancer and an excess on the order of 50 percent could possibly be due to above average consumption of either.
Doll, R. , and Peto, R. , "Asbestos - Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos," Health & Safety Commission, London: HMSO 1985.
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3. Risk Factors
Risk factors identified in the literature for laryngeal cancer include exposure to nickel, mus tard gas, strong alcohol, wood dust, irradiation, grain, and foundry materials.
Pederson, et al. reported nearly a six-fold increase in observed to expected deaths among workers at a Norwegian Nickel refinery. See Peder son E., Hogetveit A.L., Anderson, A., "Cancer of Respiratory Organs at a Nickel Refinery," Norway International Journal of Cancer, 1943, Vol. 12, pp. 32-41.
Wada et al. reported an increased mortality from respiratory tract cancer including laryngeal cancer, among Japanese workers manufacturing mus tard gas between 1929 and 1945. See Wada S., Miya Nishi, M., Nishimoto, Y., et al., "Mustard Gas as a Cause of Respiratory Neoplasia in Man," Lancet, 1968, Vol. 1, pp.1161-1165.
Lynch et al. found a significant excess of
laryngeal cancer among workers involved in the
manufacture of ethanol in which high concentrations
of dimethyl sulfate was used.
See Lynch, J.,
Harris, N.M., Bird, M.G., et al., "An Association
of Upper Respiratory Cancer with Exposure to Dime
thyl Sulfate," Journal of Occupational Medicine,
1979, Vol. 21, pp. 333-341.
Wynder et al. found a strong association between exposure to wood dust and laryngeal cancer in a retrospective case control study of laryngeal cancer patients. Although their findings have not been confirmed by others, they reported a relative risk among non-smokers of 24 (4.9070 C.L. = 8-70). See Wynder, E.L., Covey, L.S., Mabuchi, K., et al., "Environmental Factors of Cancer of the Larynx - A Second Look," Cancer, 1976, Vol. 38, pp. 1591 1601.
Dietary factors also associated with laryngeal cancer include deficiencies in vitamins A and C. (Cann and Fried, (1984)).
4. Asbestos Exposure
A relationship with laryngeal cancer was suggested by a retrospective case control study in 1973. Drs. Stell and McGill studied 119 patients
C-7 6
diagnosed with squamous laryngeal carcinoma. Thirty-three patients reported significant asbestos exposure. The authors admitted the weaknesses of their study:
Whilst the results quoted above suggest that there is an association between exposure to asbestos and laryngeal car cinoma, it has to be admitted that this conclusion is based on a retrospective study, with all the disadvantages of such a study. We would also like to point out that this report is based on a small number of male patients who may have been influenced by the prospect of compensa tion.
Stell, P.M. and McGill, T., "Exposure to Asbestos and Laryngeal Carcinoma," Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 1975, Vol. 89, pp. 513-517, 515.
In their study stratified for tobacco use,
alcohol consumption, and asbestos exposure, Hinds
et al. found no increased risk from asbestos ex
posure alone.
To elucidate the importance of
adjusting for smoking and alcohol, the unadjusted
odds ratio for laryngeal cancer associated with
asbestos exposure was somewhat high but statisti
cally insignificant at the 1.76 level, however after adjustment the ratio became 1.0. In their
discussion, the authors conclude:
This study found, as have others, that
the most readily identifiable risk fac
tors for laryngeal cancer are tobacco and
alcohol consumption. 9.20,21 The find
ings in this study, however, are not
supportive of the hypothesis that asbes
tos exposure is an important risk factor
for cancer of the larynx, although the RR
of 1.75 found is consistent with a small
risk associated with asbestos exposure.
Both the studies of Stell and McGill 17
and Shettigara and Morgan 15 found very
high relative risks for laryngeal cancer
associated
with
asbestos
exposure
(RR=14.5 and , respectively).
It is
difficult to understand why such a strong
relationship would have been missed in
the current study if it is a real one.
Hinds, M.W. and Thomas, D.B., O'Reilly, H.P., "Asbestos, Dental X-rays, Tobacco and Alcohol in the Epidemiology of Laryngeal Cancer," Cancer, 1979, Vol. 44, pp. 1114-1120.
C-7 7
Selikoff, et al., in 1979, reported a relative
risk of 1.91 for laryngeal cancer in the cohort of
17,800 United States and Canadian insulation work
ers.
Unfortunately, neither tobacco nor alcohol
was considered.
Selikoff, I.J., Hammond, E.c.
Seidman, H. , "Mortality Experience in Insulation
Workers in United States and Canada 1943-1976,", Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1979'
Vol. 330, pp. 91-116.
'
An increased risk of 3.16 was reported by
Rubino, et al. in their mortality study of 900
Northern Italian chrysotile miners. Although all
six of the cases were smokers, smoking was not
considered. Notably, standardized mortality ratios
of 2.53 and 3.13 were found for non-malignant
respiratory diseases and cirrhosis of the liver
respectively, thus clarifying the need for adjust
ment for both alcohol and tobacco. Rubino, G.F.,
Pivlatto, G. , Newhouse, M.L., et al., "Mortality of
Chrysotile Asbestos Workers at the Balangero Mine,
Northern Italy,"
British Journal of Industrial
Medicine, 1979, Vol. 36, pp. 187-194.
Burch, et al. conducted a case control study
of laryngeal cancer in 204 newly diagnosed subjects
and controls which were matched for age, sex, and
residence. Burch, J.D., Howe, G.R., Miller, A.B.,
Semenciw, R., "Tobacco, Alcohol, Asbestos and
Nickel in the Etiology of Cancer of the Larynx: A
Case-Control Study,"
Journal of the National
Cancer Institute, 1981, Vol. 67, pp. 1219-1224.
Smoking history, alcohol use and asbestos exposure
were the factors under study.
A dose-response
relationship with relative risks of 1.0 for non
smokers, 2.0 for those with life-time consumption
of less than 150,000 cigarettes, 4.5 for those who
smoked 150,000-299,000 cigarettes, and 5.4 for
those who consumed 300,000 cigarettes or more was
found. Consumption of alcohol was also examined,
yielding relative risks from 1.3 for consumption of
more than four drinks of spirits per day to 4.8 for
consumption of more than four drinks of beer per
day.
Finally, Burch and Associates examined asbes
tos exposure.
Subjects were categorized as "ex
posed" or "unexposed" based both upon their per
sonal opinion and that of an occupational epidemio
logist.
Twenty-three of 204 subjects and seven
controls were classified by the occupational epi
demiologist as exposed, yielding a relative risk of
C-7 8
2.3 after adjustment for smoking.
Although an
increased relative risk was found, this result is
of little validity since the number of those
"definitely exposed" was so small. Furthermore, no
concrete information was provided as to duration or
time since first exposure. The authoris discussed
the inherent limitations of the case-control study
as it relates to laryngeal cancer:
...the case-control study, is subject to three methodologic problems: the relative infrequency of larynx cancer and exposure to asbestos in the population, the difficulty in the assessment of whether or not an individual really has been exposed to asbestos when one relies on in terview data, and the need to adequately control for the possible confounding effects of tobacco and alcohol. In view of these problems it is hardly suprising that RR estimates ranging from 1.4 to 13 have been obtained from case-control studies (3, 5, 8, 15).
Burch, J.D., Howe, G.R., Miller, A.B., Semenciw, R., "Tobacco, Alcohol, Asbestos and Nickel in the Etiology of Cancer of the Larynx: A Case-Control Study," Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1981, Vol. 67, p. 1224.
Newhouse has conducted two studies yielding
statistically significant relative risks of 5.41
and 3.70. Although numerically impressive, these
results are of little value given the fact that
only two and three cases of laryngeal cases were
present.
Furthermore, the combined effects of
alcohol and tobacco were not considered even though
the author admits that tobacco use is positively
associated with laryngeal cancer. Newhouse, M.L.,
"A Study of the Mortality of Workers in an Asbestos
Factory," British Journal of Industrial Medicine,
1969, Vol. 26, pp. 294-301; Newhouse, M.L., Berry,
G., Wagner, J.C., "Mortality of Factory Workers in
East London 1933-1980," British Journal of In
dustrial Medicine, 1985, Vol. 42, pp. 4-11.
Drs. Chan and Gee conducted a critical analy sis of the studies allegedly establishing a causal relationship between asbestos exposure and laryn geal cancer in 1988. Concluding that the available epidemiological data does not support a causal association bet-vc^n asbestos exposure and laryngeal
C-7 9
cancer, Chan and Gee suggest that the leading studies claiming such a link are biased to the extent they did not take into account the smoking and alcohol habits of their subjects. Chan and Gee suggest.that:
.. . much of the evidence derives from epidemiologic studies which have simply examined the relation between asbestos and laryngeal cancer without any regard to other known potent carcinogenic fac tors, specifically cigarette smoking and ethanol consumption, and second that the evidence implicating asbestos is minimal or absent.
... In sharp contrast to other incontro vertible hazards of asbestos,1'2 the foregoing evidence inculpating asbestos in larynqeal cancer is weak or non existent. '13, 21-34 With a few exceptions, ' n, 27-33 discussed above, the SMRs for laryngeal cancer in asbestos workers are all small.3-8' 23-26
If only 10% of an asbestos worker population were to smoke more than one pack a day or to smoke one pack a day and drink 6 oz. of ethanol a day, then the SMR for laryngeal cancers in the whole population would approach three times that of a nonsmoking, nondrinking popula tion. (emphasis added)
Chan, C.K. and Gee, J.B., "Asbestos Exposure and Laryngeal Cancer: An Analysis of the Epidemiologic Evidence," Journal of Occupational Medicine, 1988, Vol. 30, pp. 23-27, 23,26.
Dr. Raymond Parks reported on laryngeal carcinoma, stating:
Carcinoma of the larynx is known to be linked with cigarette smoking but an association between asbestos exposure and an increased incidence of this tumour which appears to develop ten years ear lier than in patients with no known as bestos exposure was reported by Stell and
C-80
McGill (1973 and 1975).
Other studies
have suggested that the association with
asbestos, which is largely confined to
smokers, is stronger than the associa
tion with smoking alone, (Libshitz, et
al., 1974; Morgan and Shettigara, 1976).
However, in 4463 deaths among 11,379
chrysotile production workers followed
from 1926 to 1975 there was no excess due
to laryngeal carcinoma - 21 cases in all
(McDonald et al., 1980). And no evidence
of a relationship between the tumour and
asbestos exposure was found in an un
selected group of 305 male and 206 female
patients attending a London Hospital
(Newhouse, Gregory and Shannon, 1979); in
47 males with laryngeal cancers in Wash
ington State (Hinds, Thomas and O'Reilly,
1979); and in 60 cases investigated in
Italy (Bianchi et al., 1978). The impor
tance of the combination of alcohol with
smoking and development of the tumour has
been emphasized by McMichael (1978) who
also noted ethnic associations.
At present, therefore, it is incorrect to regard asbestos exposure as a proven cause of this uncommon tumour.
Parks, W.R., "Silicates and Lung Disease," Chapter 9, Occupational Lung Disorders, 2nd Edition, 1982, p. 294, 295.
Of 11,379 miners exposed to chrysotile fibers in Quebec, Canada, McDonald, et al., found no excess deaths from laryngeal cancer (RR 1.07). McDonald, J.C., Liddell, F.D.K., Gibbs, G.W., et al., "Dust Exposure and Mortality in Chrysotile Mining 1910-1975," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1980, Vol. 37, pp. 11-24. These results were confirmed by Hodgson and Jones whose review of over 30,000 asbestos insulation workers in 1981 found no excess deaths due to laryngeal cancer. Hodgson, J.T., Jones, R.D., "Mortality of Asbestos Workers in England and Wales, 1971-1971," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1986, Vol. 43; pp. 158-164.
While tumors have been reported in the larynx
in some cohorts of asbestos workers, other etiolo
gies such as smoking and alcohol confound the
determination of epidemiologic data.
Mossman,
C-81
di
B.T., Bignon, J., Corn, M. Seaton, A., and Gee, J.B.L., "Asbestos: Scientific Developments and Implications for Public Policy.." Science, Vol. 247, p. 295-96.
Significantly, no statistically significant
increased risks have been identified of those stu
dies which have controlled for alcohol and tobacco.
In his study entitled "Laryngeal Cancer and Occupa
tional Exposure to Asbestos," Edelman reviewed data
derived from 13 cohort and eight case-control
studies,
and
concluded that
none of them
established an increased risk of laryngeal cancer
for asbestos workers.
In 1973 Stell and McGill first suggested that occupational exposure to asbestos may be associated with a higher risk of laryngeal cancer.
A 1980 review of the aetiology of laryn
geal cancer concluded there was a posi
tive association with asbestos exposure.
However, the results of studies published
since 1980 do not support this point of
* view.
The apparent contradictory data
between asbestos exposure and laryngeal
cancer might be related to how other risk
factors for laryngeal cancer (principally
smoking and alcohol consumption) were
taken into consideration in the data
analyses.
Some studies totally ignored
these risk factors while others made
adjustments to the risk estimates.
Overall, the results from cohort studies do not indicate any higher risk of laryn geal cancer mortality for asbestos-ex posed workers.
None of the studies published since 1979 have found a significantly higher risk of laryngeal cancer among persons with occupational asbestos exposure. In these studies the relative risk estimates rang ed from 0.3 to 1.8 and the SMPs ranged from 0.56 to 1.74. These findings do not point to an association between laryn-
C-82
P
m w ? w m TM r r . i *n ' r^TTrr7i -v y v ~ ---y -^ r
i . >..
*
. -
rI
geal cancer and occupational exposure to
asbestos.
The finding of some inves
tigators of a higher risk of laryngeal
cancer for asbestos workers must be at
tributed to some aspects of the method
ologies used, and to the failure of the
investigators to account adequately for alcohol and tobacco consumption: two risk
factors for laryngeal cancer that have
been demonstrated in many studies.
Edelman, D., "Laryngeal Cancer and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos", International Archives Occupational Environmental Health, 1989, Vol. 61,
p. 225-226.
Drs. Churg and Green also confirm that there is no pathological means to determine if laryngeal cancer, among others, is caused by asbestos. Given the common occurrence of such cancer in the nonexposed population, there is no scientific way for a pathologist to link a specific case of laryngeal cancer to asbestos exposure. Churg, A. and Green, F., Pathology of Occupational Lung Disease, p. 319, (1988).
In "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease -
Exposure to Asbestos in Place," Selikoff's results
support the assertions expressed by other re
searchers that asbestos does not place an in
dividual at an increased risk of developing laryn
geal cancer.
For the recent follow up period,
Selikoff reported 17 deaths due to laryngeal cancer
where only 10.57 were expected, yielding a statis
tically insignificant relative risk of 1.61.
Selikoff, I.J., "The Third Wave of Asbestos
Disease: Exposure to Asbestos in Place," 1990.
However, this risk might be articially high since
neither alcohol nor tobacco use was controlled for.
Furthermore, the studies which did control for
tobacco and alcohol support the position that
asbestos exposure is not an important factor in the
development of laryngeal cancer.
In 1990, Dr. F.D.K. Liddell commented on the varying results of the epidemiologic studies which have examined asbestos exposure and laryngeal
cancer in an editorial published in the British Journal of Medicine:
To summarize the findings:
C) those
from the case-referent studies are routua-
C-83
lly inconsistent; (2) those from the
cohort studies, while not demonstrably
inconsistent, do not indicate a major
excess of laryngeal cancer mortality in
cohorts of asbestos workers; and (3)
exposure-response relations were unob
tainable or equivocal.
No experimental
evidence has been proffered.
Estimates
of the RR of cancer of the larynx ob
tained from the various surveys are so
divergent that it is impossible to find
a merged value without violating esta
blished epidemiological principles. The
disease has seldom been found among non
smoking asbestos workers and there is no
evidence as to whether these few cases
were also non-drinkers.
Thus it is my opinion that the evidence
on the link between exposure to asbestos
and laryngeal cancer definitely fails to
satisfy the criteria for causation set by
Bradford Hill.
Furthermore, even if
asbestos cannot be disregarded as one of
the subsidiary causes of laryngeal cancer
the risk of such cancer after exposure to
asbestos (relative to its asbence) is
? lower than that for lung cancer; and as
the absolute risk of laryngeal cancer is
much less than that of lung cancer, the
absolute risk attributable to asbestos
must be extremely small.
Finally, ex
cesses appear quite unlikely in relation
to exposure to chrysotile, although this
fibre was and is by far the most common
form of asbestos.
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (UK) has recently recommended that, on the balance of the evidence, cancer of the larynx should not be added to the schedule of prescribed diseases in re spect of occupations involving exposure to asbestos.
Liddell, F.D.K., "Laryngeal Cancer and Asbestos," British Journal of Medicine, 1990, Vol. 47, pp. 290-291.
Of the prospective epidemiological studies undertaken which claim statistically significant relative risks for asbestos exposure and laryngeal
C-84
cancer, all are flawed in that either alcohol
and/or tobacco use was not controlled for or the
number of cases reported on was too small to be of
any representative value.
The studies which did
control for tobacco and alcohol support the posi
tion that asbestos exposure is not an important
factor in the development of laryngeal cancer.
C. ESOPHAGEAL CANCER 1. Description and Etiology.
The esophagus starts in the neck as a downward
continuation of the pharynx. The esophagus extends downward from the neck through the mediastina of
the thorax and joins the cardia of the stomach at
the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra. Gray's
Anatomy, pp. 891-92. When viewed from the front,
the esophagus assumes the form of a gentle "s"
curve. The length of the esophagus can vary, but in the average individual it is approximately 24
centimeters or, ten inches, long.
The average
resting width of the esophagus is approximately two
centimeters. Id.
The incidence of esophageal cancer varies
greatly among countries. In China, the occurrence
of esophageal cancer is about 50 per 100,000 men
and is responsible for 18 percent of all cancer
deaths. Esophageal cancer is less frequent in the
United States, with an incidence of 10 per 100,000
men which translates into about 8,000 - 9,000 new
cases per year and about 8,000 deaths each year.
Esophageal cancer occurs almost three times more
frequently in males than females.
Although the
etiology of esophageal carcinoma is far from well
defined, certain pre-disposing factors and condi
tions have been identified.
Smoking and alcohol
ingestion are identified risk factors, as is the
drinking of hot tea.
Known pre-disposing condi
tions include a history of previous squamous cell
carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract (particularly
the head and neck area) ; the presence of a Bar
rett's, or columnar, epithelium within the distal
esophagus; a history of lye ingestion; and esopha
geal achalasia. The common element of these pre
disposing factors is chronic irritation of the
esophageal epithelium.
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2 . Alcohol and Tobacco
Heavy tobacco and alcohol use has been shown
to increase the risk for esophageal cancer.
in
fact a well defined dose-response relationship
exists for both of these factors. In North America
and Western Europe, 90 percent or more of the risk
for esophageal cancer can be attributed to these
factors alone.
Different types of alcohol have
been shown to lead to different risks as well.
Wynder & Bross found a higher risk for heavy whis
key drinkers than for heavy beer drinkers among men
smoking between 15-34 cigarettes per day. Wynder,
E.L. and Bross, I.J., "A Study of Etiological
Factors in Cancers of the Esophagus," Cancer, 1961,
Vol. 14, pp. 389-413.
La Vecchia and Negri considered the role of
alcohol in non-smokers and tobacco in non-drinkers
in their 1988 study of individuals in northern
Italy. Of the 250 patients interviewed with con
firmed esophageal cancer who were under the age of
seventy-five, 38 were classified as non-smokers and
30 as non-drinkers. They found no difference in
risk between non-drinkers and moderate (more than
four drinks per day) drinkers, however the risk increased from 2.1 to 3.6 for those consuming more
than eight drinks per day.
A statistically sig
nificant association was also found in non-drinkers
who smoked. The risk estimates were 2.0 for smok
ers of less than 15 cigarettes, 3.9 for those that
smoked 15-24 cigarettes and 6.2 for smokers of 25
or more cigarettes per day.
LaVecchia, C. and
Negri, E., "The Role of Alcohol in Oesophageal
Cancer in Non-Smokers, and of Tobacco in Non-Drink
ers," International Journal of Cancer, 1989, Vol.
43, pp. 784-786.
3. Dietary Factors
As with other gastrointestinal cancers, diet
plays a large role in the development of esophageal
cancer.
Despite the methodological problems as
sociated with tracking dietary habits over time
through use of a questionnaire, various foods,
vitamins and trace elements have been correlated
with esophageal cancer.
Some have proposed that
the ingestion of hot food and drink sensitizes the
esophagus to carcinogenic exposure. However there
is no firm evidence to support this hypothesis.
For example, in the Soviet Union, native Northern
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and Eastern Siberians have high esophageal cancer incidence and are also reported to be heavy drink ers of strong hot tea. Kolicheva, N.I. "Epidemio logy of Esophagus Cancer in the USSR," Joint USA/ USSR Monograph on Cancer Epidemiology in the USA and USSR, 1980.
Nicotinic acid, and trace elements of zinc,
molybdenum, and magnesium are all reported to have
a beneficial effect, while copper is reported to
increase risk for esophageal cancer.
Vitamin A
deficiency has been shown to impair the structure
of the esophageal epithelium. Further, vitamin A
supplementation in animals has been shown to in
hibit carcinogenesis.
Low riboflavin levels have
also been associated with increased risk of esopha
geal cancer in different parts of the world.
There is some evidence that ionizing radiation
and ingestion of the bracken fern are associated
with an increased risk for esophageal cancer as
well. Hirayama, T., "Diet and Cancer," Nutritional
Cancer, 1979, Vol. 1, pp. 67-81. Also suspected of
increasing risk of esophageal cancer are vitamin
and mineral deficiencies including zinc, riboflav
in, thiamin, pyridoxine, vitamin C, and perhaps
iron. See Schottenfeld and Fraumeni at 613-614.
Consumption of hard, crusty breads and very hot tea
are also related to an increased risk of esopha
geal cancer.
This combination can irritate the
esophageal mucosa and is thought to predispose the
esophagus for cancer over long periods of time.
Swaroop, V., Damle, S.R., et al., "Nutrition and
Esophageal Cancer," Seminars in Surgical Oncology,
1989, Vol. 5, pp. 370-372.
Animal
protein,
green vegetables,
fresh
fruits, dairy products, butter, margarine, and oils
containing polyunsaturated fats have been found to
be associated with a low risk for esophageal can
cer. On the other hand, pork, wheat, corn, maize,
and dried salted fish have been associated with an
increased risk for esophageal cancer. See Id.
4. Asbestos Exposure
Drs. Selikoff, Churg and Hammond first sug gested that esophageal cancer may be associated with asbestos exposure in their 1964 study. They found 29 deaths which were attributed to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon, or rectum, where only 9.7 were expected. Selikoff, I.J., Churg, J.,
C-87
r
i t
and
Hammond,
E.C.,
"Asbestos
Exposure
and
Neoplasia," Journal of the American Medical
Society, 1964, Vol. 188, pp. 106-112.
However,
subsequent studies have failed to replicate these
findings.
In 1987, Yu et al., conducted a study of
confirmed cases of esophageal cancer in Los Angeles
County.
Cases were identified through a local
cancer surveillance program which recorded all
microscopically verified cases as well as those
mentioned on death certificates.
Controls were
selected from the cases' neighborhood. Of the 488
cases identified, 275 agreed to participate in the
study. In addition to questions regarding dietary
and tobacco habits, the subjects were interviewed
regarding workplace exposure to dusts. While there
was a significant excess among cases of exposure to
metal dust (42 cases: 29 controls = 2.2 R.R.), no
association was found between occupational exposure
to asbestos and esophageal cancer risk (18 cases:
25 controls = .6 R.R.).
Noticeably, Yu, et al.,
identified a particularly strong association be
tween beryllium exposure and esophageal cancer (12
cases: 2 controls = 6.0 R.R.). The results of this study may be attacked since no information was
available as to the date of last exposure and
duration of exposure, or the amount of exposure.
However, these results are consistent with other
studies which have also failed to confirm an as
sociation between asbestos exposure and esophageal
cancer. Yu, A.C., Garabrant, P.H., Peters, J.M., and Mack, T.M., "Tobacco, Alcohol, Diet, Occupa
tion, and Carcinoma of the Esophagus," Cancer
Research, (1988), Vol. 48, pp. 3843-3848.
Dr. Enterline's study of 1,074 white male
asbestos company retirees did not find a statisti
cally significant excess of esophageal cancer. A
slightly high, but statistically insignificant SMR
of 135.6 was computed for esophageal cancer as four
were observed when 2.95 were expected.
Although
exact fiber levels could only be estimated, the
fact that the subjects in Enterline's study were
exposed before threshold limit values were lowered in the 1960's, coupled with the fact that follow
up began after age 65, and the average exposure
period was 25 years, lend some reliability to Dr.
Enterline's findings.
Dr. Acheson et al., reported on cancer in cidence among English men working in an amosite
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i
asbestos plant. Of the almost 6,000 men who were employed between 1947 and 1979, Acheson et al., reported no statistically significant excess cancer mortality with the exception of five deaths which were due to mesothelioma. In fact, an SMR of one {1.0) was recorded for esophageal cancer in the asbestos workers, where an SMR of 1.61 was calcu lated for the control group. Exact information on exposure level and smoking history was not avail able. The results of the Acheson et al.'s study have been set out in Table 5 below.
TABLE 5 Observed deaths, expected deaths and SMRs from cancer by site amongst asbestos and other workers
Asbestos workers <68922 ^ +
Other workers
(16609}+
Cancer of:--
Obs
Exp
SMR
Obs Exp
SMR
oesophagus (150) Stomach (151) Colon (153) Rectum (154) Pancreas (157) Lung (162,163)A Skin (172,173) Prostate (185) Testis (186) Bladder (188) Other Urinary (189) Brain etc.(191,192) Hodgkin's disease
(201) Leukaemia (204-208) Other cancers
2 7 6 4 3 61+ 1 2 0 2 2 5
2.0 7.5 4.4 3.2 3.1 29.1 1.0 2.1 1.1 2.2 1.4 3.0
1 4 9++
1.6 2.6 10.0
100 94
137 124
96 210** 102
94 0
89 139 165
64 154
90
l 4 2 0 0 10 0 2 1 1 0 0
0 0 3
0.6 2.5 1.4 1.1 1.0 9.4 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.8
161 159 142
0 0 106 0 218 377 124 0
0.4 0.7 2.9
0 0 103
All malignant neoplasms
(140-209)
109
74.4 147** 24 23.5 102
+ 4 of the 61 deaths were from mesothelioma of the pleura. ++1 of the 9 deaths was from mesothelioma of the perito neum. * significant at 5% level. **significant at 1% level. A the SMR for lung cancer for the District in which the factory is situated was 107 during 1968-78.
Acheson, E.D., Gardner, M.J., Winter, P.D., and Bennett, C. , "Cancer in a Factory Using Amosite Asbestos," International Journal of Epidemiology, 1984, Vol. -13, pp. 3-10, 6.
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Drs. Hodgson and Jones tracked a small decrease in the mortality experience of esophageal cancer in workers in England and Wales exposed to asbestos before the threshold limit values were lowered in 1969. Of those
workers employed more than twenty years, only four (4) cases of esophageal cancer were observed when five (5)
were expected.
The present study shows no excess from cancer
at any of the four main alimentary tract sites
examined (oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum), either overall or in association with increas
ing exposure to asbestos nor among insulation
workers, who showed heavy excesses of the
established asbestos related diseases.
The
present results therefore weigh against the
hypothesis that exposure to asbestos is re
sponsible for an increase in the incidence of
cancer of the alimentary tract.
Hodgson, J.T. and Jones, R.D., "Mortality of Asbestos Workers in England and Wales 1971-81," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1986, Vol. 43, pp. 158-164.
f
Despite his initial findings that asbestos exposure
may increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer,
Dr. Selikoff in "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease -
Exposure to Asbestos in Place," reported a relative risk
of only 1.63 for esophageal cancer among the 17,800
asbestos insulation workers tracked since 1967.
This
represents a slight decline in relative risk from ear lier studies. Once again, smoking and alcohol were not
examined in persons developing esophageal control for its effect on incidence rates.
cancer to
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D< STOMACH CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
The stomach is a reservoir of the digestive tract
in which food is soaked in gastric juices, and then
released spasmodically into the duodenum.
See Gray's
Anatomy, pp. 905-911. The form and size of the stomach can vary considerably depending upon the position of the
body and degree of filling.
The stomach is entirely
covered by a peritoneum. The lining of the stomach is
a reddish gray mucous membrane composed of a single surface layer of epithelial cells. The muscles of the
stomach wall consist of smooth muscle fibers that are
arranged in three layers. Id.
Deaths due to stomach cancer have decreased drama
tically over the last fifty years in the United States.
In fact, in 1930 stomach cancer was the leading cause of
death among U.S. males.
The American Cancer Society
projected that approximately 13,900 people died from
stomach cancer in 1989, representing a decrease in
excess of 50 percent since 1930. American Cancer Soci
ety, "Cancer Facts & Figures," 1989, p. 29.
2. Risk Factors
Biological factors associated with stomach cancer
include genetic history, * anemia, and gastric ulcer.
Graham and Lilienfeld conducted a family aggregation
study and concluded that family members of individuals with gastric cancer are two to three times more likely
to develop stomach cancer than the average individual.
Graham, S. and Lilienfeld, A.M., "Genetic Studies of
Gastric Cancer in Humans: An Appraisal," Cancer, 1958,
Vol. ll, pp. 945-958.
Other environmental factors
studied in association with stomach cancer include:
socioeconomic status, tobacco and alcohol use, radiation
exposure, diet, and exposure to nitrate and related
compounds. Tables 88.1 and 88.2, below, contain a list of other factors which are thought to play a role in the development of gastric cancer.
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TABLE 88.1 .
Dietary and endogenous factors implicated in the etiology of gastric cancer.
Highly spiced, salted, and pickled foods Polycyclic hydrocarbons, especially those generated by
high-temperature pyrolysis of animal fat and aromatic amino acids in grilled and barbecued meats Inorganic dusts (miners and potters) High consumption of animal fats High salt consumption (osmotic damage to the gastric mucosa) Protein malnutrition (may lead to achlorhydria) Viral infections (may damage the gastric mucosa and cause temporary achlorhydria) Excess alcohol consumption Tobacco smoking Dietary nitrites Refluxed bile acids (especially after gastric surgery) Bacterial overgrowth in the stomach Selenium deficiency
TABLE 88.2
Recognized risk factors in the development of gastric carcinoma
Gastric polyps Atrophic gastritis Type III intestinal metaplasia Dysplasia Previous gastric surgery Giant rugal hypertrophy (Menetrier's disease) Genetic factors
Blood group A Familial hypogammaglobulinemia
Moosa, A.R., Schimpff, S.C., Robson, M.C., The Comprehen sive Textbook of Oncology, Chapter 88, "Tumors of the
Stomach," 1991, Vol. 1, pp. 802-882, 862-863.
.
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3. Asbestos Exposure
As with esophageal cancer, the epidemiological
studies which have examined the risk of stomach cancer
in asbestos exposed individuals are varied.
In their
study published in 1987, Sanden et al., reported on the
mortality experience of 365 Swedish shipyard workers.
Death certification was used to determine cause of death
and personnel records were reviewed for occupational
classification.
More than twenty years elapsed since
first exposure for all subjects and no statistically
significant excess of gastrointestinal cancer was
identified among the subjects (eight cases observed
versus 14.2 expected).
Of those workers who were
classified as heavily exposed, only one died of stomach
cancer, while 1.3 were expected. The results of this
study have been reprinted below in Tables 2 and 3.
Table 2. workers
Cancer morbidity in 1978 -1983 in shipyard
Site
All
Obs.
Exp. 95% C.I.
All (140-209)(c)
54(b)
66.2 0.61-1.1
Lung (162)
11 9.8 0.56-2.0
Pleural mesothelioma (163)
4 _(a)
Peritoneal mesothelioma (158)
0
_(a)
Gastrointestinal tract (150-158)
11*
22.2 0.25-0.89
Stomach (151)
3 3.4 0.18-2.6
Colon/rectum (152-154)
3 7.8 0.08-1.1
Urinary bladder (188) Kidney (189)
6 4.5 0.49-2.9 2 3.3 0.07-2.2
Prostate (185)
10 8.5 0.57-2.2
*P < 0.05
(a) There is no incidence data for calculating expected
(b)
values In addition to the sites mentioned there were four
(c)
cases of pancreatic cancer and one case each of lymphoma and leukemia Figures in parentheses, IDC number 8th revision
C-93
Table 3. least 20 exposure
Cancer morbidity in shipyard workers where at years have elapsed since onset of asbestos
Site
Heavy or verv heavv Obs.
All
exoosure to asbestos
Exp.
Obs.
Exp.
All
49
54.5
16
25.6
Lung
10
8.2
3
3.9
Mesothelioma
4
_(b)
3
_(b)
Gastrointestinal
8
14.2
5
6.7
stomach
3
2.8
1
1.3
rectum
3
6.6
2
3.1
Urinary bladder
6
3.8
2
1.8
Kidney
1
2.7
0
1.3
Prostate
9
7.4
4
3.5
(a) (b)
According to answers in the questionnaire of the individuals Data lacking for calculation of expected values
Sanden, A. and Jarvholm, B., "Cancer Morbidity in Swedish Shipyard Workers 1978-1983", International Archives of Occupational Environmental Health, 1987, Vol. 59, p. 458.
Dr. Acheson and associates studied the mortality
experience of 5,969 men employed at an amosite asbestos
factory from 1947 to 1979, and found an excess risk for
all cancer, but no statistically significant increase in
stomach cancer was identified. Seven cases were observed
as compared to 7.5 expected.
Acheson, E.D., Gardner,
M.J., Winter, P.D., and Bennett, C., "Cancer in a Factory
Using Amosite Asbestos," International Journal of
Epidemiology, 1984, Vol. 13, pp. 3-10, 6.
Dr. Lumley examined cancer registrations of dockyard workers at The Royal Naval Base at Devonport, Plymouth, England. Prior to the implementation of strict exposure controls in the late 60's, these workers were exposed to crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile asbestos fibers.
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Of the 4,998 cancer cases registered between 1960 to
1969, 1,377 or 27.5% of these cases were dockyard
workers. Lumley reported a small excess of gastrointes
tinal cancers (SMR 101.8).
One hundred seventy-nine
cases of stomach cancer were observed where only 157.1
were expected. The excess in overall gastrointestinal
cancers was largely due to the excess in stomach cancer
cases since no excesses were noted for esophageal,
intestinal or colo-rectal cancer. Addressing the high
increased incidence of deaths due to stomach cancer,
Lumley notes that this could be due to misdiagnosis.
This would also explain the total lack of peritoneal
mesothelioma cases reported. One important limitation
of Lumley1s study is the unavailability of exposure
duration information for all subjects.
Despite this
limitation, the results Lumley noted were consistent with
regional cancer trends in England and Wales. See Lumley,
K.D.S., "A Proportional Study of Cancer Registrations of
Dockyard Workers," British Journal of Industrial
Medicine, 1976, Vol. 33, pp. 108-114.
In a retrospective study of over 12,000 shipyard workers, Tola et al., observed only 63 cases of stomach cancer, as compared to 78.8 expected (SIR 80) among shipyard workers. They found only 42 cases versus 47.5 expected (SIR 88) among machine shop workers. Tola, S., Kalliomaki, P.L., Pukkala, S. and Korkala, M.L., "In cidence of Cancer Among Welders, Platers, Machinists and Pipe Fitters in Shipyards and Machine Shops," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1988, Vol. 45, pp. 209 218, 212-213.
As discussed previously, Drs. Morgan, Foliart, and Wong reported statistically significant summary SMRs for stomach and gastrointestinal tract cancer based on best evidence. When reanalyzed according to death certificate diagnosis, the SMRs were not statistically significant. Morgan, R.O., Foliart, D.E., and Wong, 0., "Asbestos and Gastrointestinal Cancer," Western Journal of Medicine, 1985, Vol. 143, pp. 61-65.
Drs. Hodgson and Jones tracked the mortality experience of asbestos workers in England and Wales. Of the over 30,000 workers examined, 27 cases of stomach
cancer were observed where 27 were expected among the Pre-regulation workers. Of the post-regulation subjects, a slight decrease in stomach cancer was noted with five observed versus 6.1 expected. The authors acknowledge the excesses of gastrointestinal cancers found in the early studies undertaken by Selikoff, Newhouse and Enter
C-95
line, however, they endorse Doll and Peto's explanation
that these excesses were likely due to misdiagnosis of
mesotheliomas.
Hodgson, R.T., and Jones, R.D., "Mor
tality of Asbestos Workers in England and Wales, 1971
1981," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1986, Vol.
43, pp. 158-164.
Since no excess of deaths due to
stomach cancer was noted among that group presumably
exposed to the highest levels of asbestos, Hodgson and
Jones' results are consistent with the results of Sanden
et al., Acheson et al., and Lumley, that exposure to
asbestos does not significantly increase the risk of
developing stomach cancer. Dr. Selikoff's 1990 report
entitled, "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease - Exposure
to Asbestos in Place, " also found the mortality
experience of 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the
recent follow up period yielded 34 stomach cancer deaths
when 29.36 were expected for an insignificant relative
risk of 1.16.
SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
The small intestine is one of the least cancer prone organs of the body. Although it contains some of the body's most rapidly proliferating cells, its surrounding organs, the stomach and colon, are common cancer sites, and it comes into direct contact with any dietary carcinogens which happen to be ingested, only about 2,000 cases of cancer of the small intestine occur per year. See Shottenfeld and Fraumeni at 692.
Of the three components of the small intestine, the
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, the duodenum is the most
susceptible to cancer.
Of the various cancer cells,
duodenal adenocarcinoma is most common and is the type
presumed when not specified. Id. at 694.
The risk of small bowel cancer is essentially nil in both sexes until age 30, at which time the risk steadily rises with a steep increase in risk after the fifth decade. The disease strikes males more often than females and the mortality rate of the disease parallels its incidence. Id. at 693.
2. Risk Factors
Risk factors for small bowel cancer include regional
enteritis (Crohn's Disease), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome,
familial polyposis,
Gardner's syndrome,
parasitic
infestation, immunodeficiency, and celiac disease. Id.
at 694-698.
3. Asbestos Exposure
The relatively infrequent incidence of cancer of the small intestine coupled with the fact that the majority of epidemiological studies examining the link between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal cancer did not break down results into specific sites has resulted in a lack of published scientific literature addressing a meaningful association.
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COLO-RECTAL CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
The colon and rectum meet at the rectosigmoid
junction and it is oftentimes hard to differentiate
cancer at this site as either colon or rectal cancer.
A cancerous lesion in this area may be labeled colon
cancer by the pathologist or rectal cancer by the
surgeon.
Therefore, the majority of epidemiological
studies which report on colon and rectal cancer give
combined mortality or incidence rates for 'colo-rectal*'
cancer.
Carcinoma of the colon and rectum are two of the most common malignant lesions. Bruckstein, A.H., "Update
on Colorectal Cancer, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treat
ment," Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 86, 1989, p. 83. The incidence of colon cancer among men and women is ap
proximately the same. However, the incidence of rectal
cancer is higher in men than it is in women of all ages.
In 1989, it was estimated that 151,000 new cases of colon
or rectal cancer would be discovered--107,000 colon and
44,000,rectal cancer cases.
American Cancer Society,
Cancer Fact and Fiaures-1989. 9 (1989) .
It was also
estimated that 61,300 people would die from colon cancer in 1989, second to deaths attributable to lung cancer.
Id.
The American Cancer Society statistics for 1990
estimate that 15 percent of all cancers, approximately
155,000 cases, will develop in the colo-rectum.
The
disease will result in 11 percent of all cancer deaths
in both sexes, and 13 percent of all cancer deaths in
women. Moosa, A.R., Schimpff, S.C., Robson, M.C., "The Comprehensive Textbook of Oncology," Chapter 91, "Tumors of the Colon and Rectum: Clinical Features and Surgical
Management," 1991, Vol. 1, p. 904.
Treatment for cancer of the colon or rectum includes
surgery, sometimes combined with radiation therapy, and
chemotherapy. Boyle, et al., "Descriptive Epidemiology
of Colorectal Cancer," International Journal of Cancer,
1985, Vol. 36, pp. 9-18. The incidence of colon and rec
tal cancer increases with age, starting after 40. The
American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures. 19
(1989). More than 94 percent of all colorectal cancers
occur after the age of 50.
Id.
If colon or rectal
cancer is detected and treated in the early or localized
stage, the five year survival rate is 87 percent for
colon cancer and 79 percent for rectal cancer. See Boyle
at at 9-18.
If the cancer is permitted to spread to
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other parts of the body, the five year survival rate is reduced to 40 percent for colon cancer and 31 percent for rectal cancer. Id.
2. Risk Factors
Heredity and diet can be important risk factors for
the development of colorectal cancer.
Individuals at
risk for colon cancer include those with a personal or
family history of polyps in the colon or rectum, or
inflammatory bowel disease.
American Cancer Society,
Cancer Fact and Fiqures-1989. 9 (1989).
Dietary factors are considered to be among the most
important environmental risk factors for cancer of the
colon, ranking second only to smoking.
Zaridze, "En
vironmental Etiology of Large-Bowel Cancer," Journal of
the National Cancer Institute, 1983, Vol. 70, p. 389. Diets high in meat and animal protein consumption are
strongly correlated with incidence of colo-rectal cancer.
Armstrong and Doll, "Environmental Factors and Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Different Countries with
Special Reference to Dietary Practices," 1975, Interna
tional Journal of Cancer, Vol. 36, pp. 9-18,15. Persons
with diets of low fiber content are also thought to be
at an increased risk of colon cancer. Lowenfels, et al.,
"Diet and Cancer," Cancer, 1985, Vol. 36, pp. 9-18, 15.
Diets high in fiber and which include vegetables are
associated with a low risk of colo-rectal cancer. Boyle,
et al., "Descriptive Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer,"
1985, International Journal of Cancer, 1985, Vol. 36, pp.
9-18, 15.
Some evidence suggests that beer drinking
increases the risk of rectal cancer. Zaridze at 389.
One study showed that individuals with sedentary
occupations had almost three times the risk of cancer of
the colon than those with active occupations. Garabrant,
et al., "Job Activity and Colon Cancer Risk," American
Journal of Epidemiology, 1984, Vol. 119, pp. 1005-1014,
1010.
Telegraph, telephone, and power lineman, ser
viceman, and installers experience an excess risk of
cancer of the large intestine (excluding rectum). Dubrow
and Wegman, "Setting Priorities for Occupational Cancer
Research and Control: Synthesis of the Results of
Occupational Disease Surveillance Studies," Journal of
the National Cancer Institute, 1983, Vol. 71, pp. 1123
1142, 1137. Metal molders and tool and dye makers also
experience a high rate of incidence of colo-rectal
cancer, id.
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Studies have shown a strict correlation between the presence of adenomas (polyps) and an increased incidence of colo-rectal cancer. Polyps larger than 2 centimeters show a malignant transformation in 34.7 percent of cases. Id.
POLYPS--Three types of polyps are implicated in colon cancer: tubular, villous, and villoglandular .... The incidence of invasive carcinoma clearly differs among these three types. In Morson's study of 2,506 adenomas, invasive carcinoma was present in 40.7% of villous adenomas, 22.5% of villoglandular . adenomas, and 4.8% of tubular adenomas. Size of the polypoid lesion is important; the malignancy rate is less than 2% in polyps smaller than 1 cm and as high as 46% in those larger than 2 cm. Polyp type and size are not independent variables, however, 76% of tubular adenomas are smaller than 1 cm, and 60% of villous adenomas are larger than 2 cm. Thus, larger polyps are much more likely to be villous and to be associated with a rela tively high incidence of invasive malignancy.
Bruckstein, A.H., "Update on Colorectal Cancer," Post graduate Medicine, 1989, Vol. 86, p. 84.
As the polyps grow, the risk of cancer increases. Morson, "Evolution of Cancer of the Colon and Rectum," Cancer, 846 (Supp. 1974). Clinical observations demon strate that it takes at least five years for a polyp to evolve into a cancer. Muto, et al., "The Evolution of Cancer of the Colon and Rectum," Cancer, 2262 (1975). It has also been demonstrated that patients who have had one intestinal cancer removed are at an increased risk of developing an entirely new primary cancer in any remaining large intestine. Id.
3. Asbestos Exposure
Although Enterline, et al. reported an excess of
gastrointestinal cancer cases among 1,074 male asbestos
company retirees, their study demonstrated that this
increased risk was largely due to a statistically sig
nificant excess in stomach cancer.
There was no in
crease in the number of large intestine cancer cases
with 14 cases observed, when 14.24 were expected.
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Enterline, P.E., Hartley J. and Henderson V., "Asbestos and Cancer: A Cohort Followed Up to Death," British journal of Industrial Medicine, 1987, Vol. 44, pp. 396 401. Enterline's results are consistent with those of Lumley, Tola and Doll and Peto.
Although Lumley reported a small excess of gastro
intestinal cases among English shipyard workers, he
attributed most of those to an excess in cancers of the
stomach and pancreas.
Lumley found no excesses for
cancers of the esophagus, small intestine, colon or
rectum. Lumley, K.P.S., "A Proportional Study of Cancer
Registrations of Dockyard Workers," British Journal of
Industrial Medicine, 1976, Vol. 33, pp. 108-114.
In their 1979 study of asbestos insulation workers, Drs. Selikoff, Hammond, and Seidman reported that asbes tos exposure increased the risk of colo-rectal cancer. However, they limited their results to insulation work ers and declined to comment on the degree of this al leged association.
In the large retrospective cohort study conducted by Tola et al. , no excess of colo-rectal cancer was identified for the more than 12,000 shipyard and machine shop workers studied. Of the shipyard workers, only 35 cases of colo-rectal cancer were observed compared to 44.1 expected and 28 cases were observed among machine shop workers compared with 28.1 expected.
Table 3 Observed (Obs) and expected (Exp) numbers, standardized incidence ratios (SIRS) and 95X confidence limits (95X CL) of various cancer sites among shipyard workers
Cancer type (ICO No.)
Stomach (151) Rectus and colon (153-154) Nose (160) larynx (161) Lung (162-163.
excl Mesothelioma) Prostrate (177) Urinary bladder (181) Skin (191) Hodgkin's disease
and lymphomas (200-202) Leukaemia (204)
Total
Obs Exp
SIR 95X CL
63
78.8
80 61-102
35 44.1 79 55-110
1 2.7 37 1-206
24
20.0
120 77-179
227 192.1 118 103-135
48 49.2 98 72-129
21
22.9
92 57-140
10
11.5
87 42-160
16
18.2
88 50-143
19
16.6
114 69-179
611 629.4
97 90-105
C-101
Table 5 Observed (Obs) and expected (Exp) numbers, SRls and 95* CL of various cancer sites among machine shop workers
Cancer type C1 CD Mo.)
Stomach (151) Rectun and colon .(153-154) Nose (160) Larynx (161) Lung (162-163.
excl Mesothelioma) Prostrate (177) Urinary bladder (151) Skin (191) Hodgkin's disease
and lymphomas (200-202) Leukaemia (204)
Total
Obs Exp
SIR 95* CL
42 47.5 88 64-120
25
26.1
100 66-144
2 1.3 154 19-556
6
11.6
69 30-136
110 116.6
93 76-112
39
30.9
126 90-173
19 14.4 132 79-206
11 7.8 141 70-252
5 11.4 72 31-142 9 9.8 92 42-174
376 388.3
97 87-107
Tola, S., Kalliomaki , P.L. , Pukkala , S. and Korkala, M.L., "Incidence of Cancer Among Welders, Platers, Machinists and Pipe Fitters in ;Shipyards and Machine Shops," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1988,
Vol. 45, pp. 209-218, 212-213 f
In their 1985 article, Drs. Morgan, Foliart, and Wong reported that the statistical data was inconclusive and that further research was required before asbestos could be documented as increasing an individual's risk for colo-rectal cancer.
In their 1985 study, Doll and Peto reviewed the epidemiological data addressing gastrointestinal cancer incidence and asbestos exposure. They concluded there were no grounds for believing that gastrointestinal cancers are likely to be caused by exposure to asbestos. They criticized Selikoff's 1982 study claiming that the excess mortality due to gastrointestinal cancer was due "largely or wholly" to misdiagnosis of lung cancer and mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum. Doll, R. and Peto, J., "Asbestos - Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos," Health & Safety Commission, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1985.
In further support of the assertion that asbestos exposure does not pose a statistically significant risk
for colo-rectal cancer stands the results of the studies
undertaken by Hodgson and Jones, and Sanden et al. . Both
noted significant deficits of colo-rectal cancer among
asbestos workers.
In their, national study of British
asbestos workers, Hodgson and Jones reported a deficit
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of colon cancer for subjects exposed prior and subsequent
to the enactment of the 1969 exposure regulation, with
only six cases observed compared to 16.7 expected. (See
Tables 2 and 3, infra, at 54-55.) Sanden, et al. also
found a decreased incidence of gastrointestinal cancer
incidence in the 365 deceased Swedish shipyard workers
he studied retrospectively.
Sanden reported only 8
deaths caused by gastrointestinal cancer compared to 14.2
expected with only 3 colo-rectal cancer deaths with 7.8
expected.
The great abundance of epidemiological data exam
ining the effect of asbestos exposure for risk of colo
rectal cancer has led to the publication of various
articles which attempt to review and reconcile the
sometimes varying results. Dr. William Weiss reviewed
21 cohort studies of asbestos exposed workers for a
possible association between asbestos exposure and colo
rectal cancer.
Acknowledging that earlier studies
favored a relationship between asbestos and gastrointes
tinal cancer, Weiss noted that recent studies have failed to replicate or support this hypothesis. Weiss tabulated
all published data derived from cohort studies which
reported on colo-rectal cancer. Significantly, no dose
response relationship was found nor was any increased
risk for colo-rectal cancer identified.
of the 13
cohorts reviewed, only 254 cases of colo-rectal cancer
were observed as compared to 282.6 expected. Although the varying methodologies of the cohorts makes com
parisons somewhat difficult, Weiss' conclusions are as
follows:
Reports in the literature on 21 cohorts of
workers exposed to asbestos were reviewed and
analyzed to determine whether there is a
causal association between asbestos and colo
rectal cancer.
. . . The latest report up to
1988 was used for each cohort.
The summary
standardized morbidity or mortality ratio for
all 21 cohorts was 0.97 (P > 0.05), and there
was no dose-response relationship in the two studies with such data. The evidence does not
meet the established criteria for making a
judgment that there is a causal relationship
between asbestos and colorectal cancer.
The
latest report up to 1988 was used for each
cohort.
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... The descriptive epidemiology of colorectal cancer includes the observation that its incidence in United States increased in men over the past four decades only in those aged 65 years and older when the incidence actually decreased among those aged less than 45 years. Overall mortality rates declined from 1950 to 1980. These facts are not consistent with the marked increase in asbestos consumption in the United States from 1940 to 1970, given the long latency period for colorectal cancer, if it is postulated that asbestos made a substan tial contribution to this type of cancer in the form of occupational exposure.
Among insulators, the relative risk for gastrointestinal cancer (esophagus, stomach,
and colon-rectum) was 1.58 (16)).
However,
the relative risk was just as high 7.5 years
after the onset of exposure to asbestos as it
was later [Nicholson (52), Figure 1; note that irt this reference the legends for Figures 1
and 2 were interchanged].
The pattern was
quite different from the pattern in lung
cancer relative risk (Nicholson, Figure 2) , which rose to a peak in the fourth decade
after onset of exposure and declined there
after. The data for gastrointestinal cancer suggest an induction-latency period of less
than 10 years with no increase after that, an idea which is biologically implausible for
solid tumors and the known increase of colo
rectal cancer incidence with increasing age.
These observations show a lack of coher ence for the hypothesis that asbestos causes colorectal cancer.
The evidence reviewed in this section indicates that the criteria for causality are
not met.
The association is inconsistent,
weak, nonspecific, and incoherent. Only the
temporality of the association, when present,
is frequently correct.
There is no evidence
to determine whether the association, in the
few cohorts where there appears to be one,
decreased after the cessation of exposure.
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Finally, there is no support for the hy
pothesis of causality from animal experiments
in which asbestos has been administered orally
(53,54),
Condie (53) reviewed 11 animal
experiments and concluded that ingested asbes
tos fibers did not cause any organic-specific
carcinogenic effects.
Weiss, W.,"Asbestos and Colorectal Cancer," Gastroenterology, 1990, Vol. 99, p. 883.
Tables 2 and 4 from Dr. Weiss' review have been reprint ed below:
Table 2. Relative Risk of Cotorectat Cancer in Inception Cohorts of Asbestos Workers
Cancer cases Reference Observed Expected
No. NO. No. 0/E P Power Contnent
18 79 101.3 0.78 <0.05 0.99 No dose*response
19 16 18.5 0.86 >0.05 0.47
20 10 7.6 1.32 >0.05 0.20 Young cohort but 0/E for lung cancer was 2.1
21 15 20.9 0.72 >0.05 0.56
22 13 16.7 0.78 >0.05 0.44 No elevated risk with longer latency or longer exposure
23 4 1.5 2.67 >0.05 0.08
24 11 5.9 1.86 >0.05 0.20 low exposure, no increase in lung cancer 0/E
25 11 15.4 0.71 >0.05 0.42 High turnover, 82% worked less than 5 yr
26 22 11.9 1.85 >0.02 0.35
27 21 23.3 0.90 >0.05 0.56 No dose-response relationship, studied in one plant
28 29 30 Total
3 3.4 0.88 >0.05 0.11 35 44.1 0.80 >0.05 0.75 No increase in lung cancer 0/E 14 12.3 1.14 >0.05 0.36 254 282.8 0.90 >0.05 1.00
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Table 4.
Relative Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Cross-Sectional Cohorts of Asbestos Workers
Cancer cases Reference Observed Expected
No. NO. No. 0/E P Power
31 5 2.9 1.75 >0.05 0.09
16 54 34.0 1.59 <0.02 0.73
33 34 34.4 1.39 >0.05 0.60
33 14 27.4 0.51 <0.01 0.61
34 I
5 6.3 0.79 >0.05 0.19
11 3 1.4 3.15 >0.05 0.07
35 23 19.9 1.16 >0.05 0.52
36 3 7.8 0.38 >0.05 0.23
Total
141 124.1 1.14 >0.05 1.00
William Weiss,
"Asbestos and Colorectal Cancer,"
Gastroenterology, 1990, Vol. 99, No. 3, P. 880.
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1
rectal cancer
1. Description and Etiology
2. Risk Factors
3. Asbestos Exposure
Because many of the studies discussed previously
under the colon cancer section included rectal cancer,
there are only a few additional studies which have
specifically addressed the incidence or mortality of the
asbestos exposed individual
from rectal
cancer.
Specifically, Enterline identified nine deaths compared
to 5.66 expected (SMR=159.0). This SMR was similar to
the results found by Acheson, et al who examined the
mortality experience of 5,969 amosite asbestos workers.
Of those exposed between 1947 and 1979, six had died of
rectal cancer as compared to 4.4 expected (SMR=137).
Significantly, the SMR for rectal cancer in non-exposed
workers was even higher at 142.
In their 1986 study, Drs. Hodgson and Jones observed ten cases of rectal cancer among pre-regulation asbestos exposed individuals where 12.9 were expected (SMR=77). Further, Drs. Sanden and Jarvholm reported only three cases of rectal cancer among Swedish shipyard workers while 6.6 were expected. (SMR=45)
Because there are so few studies specifically reporting on rectal cancer incidence, and since the associations found by Enterline, Acheson, and Sanden's studies are statistically insignificant, one is forced to rely on the results of the studies previously discussed which reported on the incidence of colo-rectal cancer.
Although in their earlier studies. Dr. Selikoff and others hypothesized that asbestos exposure might increase one's risk for rectal cancer, follow-up of the large cohort of asbestos workers reported on colon and rectal cancer together making any determination regarding rectal cancer alone impossible.
C-107
H. PANCREATIC CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
The pancreas is a gland whose shape resembles a
human tongue and is similar in texture to a bunch of
grapes.
Gray's Anatomy, p. 94 5.
It is similar in
structure to the salivary glands and is located across
the back wall of the abdomen. Id. The pancreas produces
pancreatic juices which pass into the duodenum and play
an important role in digestion.
Additionally, the
pancreas produces the hormones insulin and glucagon
which, in conjunction with other hormones, regulate
carbohydrate metabolism.
Tabers Cyclopedic Medical
Dictionary, F.S. Davis Co., 1989, p. 1309-1310.
While it is one of the most fearsome cancers, little is known about the etiology or prevention of pancreatic cancer which is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In 1989, there were an estimated 27,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the U.S. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Fiqures-1989. 14 (1989). Once diagnosed, the patient has a less than 20% chance of surviving a year. About 27,000 Americans die from pancreatic cancer every year. The most common pancreatic tumors are composed of exocrine adenocar cinoma cells.
Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be quite
troublesome due in part to its location and the high
morbidity associated with biopsy. Only a small propor
tion of pancreatic cancer cases may be verified his
tologically.
See Schottenfeld and Fraumeni at 639.
Furthermore, pancreatic cancer may be clinically
indistinguishable from diseases of the liver, bilary
tract, or duodenum.
Because of these diagnostic
difficulties, review of pancreatic cancer cases is very
likely to turn up tumors which have originated in the
ampulla, stomach, biliary tract, small intestine, ovary
or are of unknown origin.
Id. at 641.
The extent of
diagnostic error has been illustrated by Dr. Leach who
examined the proportion of autopsy verified cases which
were properly diagnosed before death in Montreal in 1950.
Id. Of 39 cases reported, only 55 percent were accurate
ly diagnosed.
Of the 139 cases reported in Boston
between 1955 and 1965, proper diagnosis occurred in only
47.5 percent of the cases. Id.
:
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Age is considered one of the most reliable indica
tors of pancreatic cancer. After age 30 in both males
and females, incidence rates increase linearly. Thus,
individuals in their 80's experience a 40 times greater
risk than those in their 40's.
Pancreatic cancer is
twice as common in males than females. Id. at 643.
2. Risk Factors
Biological risk factors for pancreatic cancer include chronic pancreatitis, diabetes, leukemia, asthma, cholecystitis, and cirrhosis of the liver. Id. at 652 653. Among the occupations believed to be at risk are aluminum and coke workers, rubber workers, and workers exposed to radiation. Higher incidence rates have also been identified for managers, administrators, metal workers, produce workers, timber workers, stationery engineers, dentists, chemists and electrical engineers. Obviously, there is no one common element on this list and experts have postulated that the common thread is likely to be something non-work related.
In a recent case-control study conducted in a high-
risk area of Louisiana between 1979 and 1983 by Falk and
Associates,
the relationship between occupational
exposures and pancreatic cancer was examined.
After
adjustment for smoking and diet, white-collar occupations
showed consistently elevated incidences.
Although
asbestos exposure was not studied, it is interesting to
note that no significant relative risks were found for
those working in settings where asbestos was most likely
present (shipbuilding, construction, plasterer).
The
results of this study have been set out in Table II
below.
C-109
TABLE II. Odds Ratios for Pancreatic Cancer According to Ewer-Employment in Occupational ana Industrial Categories Among Men in Louisiana Pancreatic Cancer Study.'
Odds Ratio
Exposure
Cases. Controls
All
Cajun
Non.Cajun
Industry Sugar Cane Fanning Agriculture Oil/gas extraction Construction Manufacturing Food Lurber Paper Fabricated metal Machinery Chemical processing Petroleun refining Transportation Trade Government Personal services ShipbuiIding
Occupation White collar worker Prof essional/manage r Sales/clerk
Service Farmer Food/tobacco processor Chemical processor Mechanic/machine repairer Wood machine worker Metal fabricator Uelder/cutter Electric assembter/installer/repairer Painter/plasterer Excavator/grader/paver
Construction worker Structural worker Truck driver Transportation worker
(excluding truck driver) Package/material handler Miner
6.12
59.68 18.33 56.58
21.16 14.16
5.5 4.4 4.5 14.14 7.15 41.46 69.65 81.70 39.47 12.13
120.119 59.53 46.37 61.65 69.75
7.10 4.6
12.12
10.10
4.10 5.6 8.5 4.4 7.9 48.58
8.8
20.19
20.19 17.17
7.130
1.16 0.82 Q.38* 1.06 1.25
0.87 1.06 1.06 0.85 0.94 0.51
1.20
1.46 1.59* 0.93 1.24
1.34 1.50 1.69* 1.05 0.95 0.76 0.70 1.13
1.12
0.52
0.88
2.20
1.06 0.87 0.92 0.95
1.66
1.04 1.61
.70
0.69 1.03 0.14* 1.54 2.93
0.53
--
0.91 0.60 1.38 0.37 0.85 2.06*
2.00
0.98 1.09
1.89 2.17 1.69 1.46 0.98 3.73
--
1.09 0.35
0.22
0.90 0.90 2.77 0.90
0.86
0.76
2.68
0.84 0.90 0.53
2.14 0.63 1.07 0.78 0.59
1.03 3.24 1.26 1.25 0.97 0.61 1.59 1.06
1.20
0.69 0.93
0.85 1.23 1.47 0.80 0.98 0.40 1.69 1.07 2.09 0.61 0.62 3.24 0.41 0.83 0.99 2.53 1.41
0.98 2.06 0.61
"Odds ratios adjusted for age, type of respondent, race, cigarette use, income, pork end fruii intake, and residence. For those categories in which fewer than 7 cases and 7 controls worked, unadjusted odds ratios were calculated. "Statistically significant at p = 0.05.
Falk, R.T., Pickle, L.W., Fontham, E.T., et al., "Occupation and Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Louisiana," American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1990, Vol. 18, pp. 565-576, 569.
i
C-110
L
In their population based case-control study of
Swedish pancreatic cancer cases, Norrell and Associates
identified an increased risk for those frequently consuming fried or grilled meat and margarine or fat. Conversely, consumption of vegetables high in betacarotene and fruits high in vitamin C was found to be
inversely related to pancreatic cancer. Norrell, S.E.,
Ahlbom, A., Erwuld, R. , et al., "Diet and Pancreatic
Cancer: A Case-Control Study,"
American Journal of
Epidemiology, 1986, Vol. 124, pp. 894-902, 900-901. Similar results were reported by Drs. Farrow and Davis
in 1990, when they conducted a population based case-
control study in western Washington. One hundred forty-
eight men diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between July
1982 and June 1986 were interviewed by telephone and
later filled out a food frequency questionnaire.
The
results indicate that pancreatic cancer risk increased
with increasing protein intake, especially in those over
age 65. Contrary to other studies, however, no associa
tion was identified between intake of fat, cholesterol,
or vitamins A and C. Farrow, D.C. and Davis, S., "Diet
anu the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Men,"
American
Journal of Epidemiology, 1990, Vol. 132, pp. 423-431,
427.
3. Tobacco and Alcohol
Tobacco and alcohol are also related to pancreatic cancer. Smokers exhibit an increased risk (between 1.6 3.9) for developing carcinoma of the pancreas compared to non-smokers. See Schottenfeld and Fraumeni at 658. Alcohol combined with a high fat diet has been found to be directly related to the development of chronic calcifying pancreatitis, the form of pancreatitis most strongly suspected of constituting a significant risk for pancreatic cancer. Id. at 659.
4. Asbestos Exposure
In 1986, Dr. Lumley reported on cancer registrations
for Plymouth dockyard workers.
Forty-six cases of
pancreatic cancer were reported, while 42.2 were ex
pected, yielding a statistically insignificant SMR of
109.0. Lumley, K.P.S., "A Proportional Study of Cancer Registrations of Dockyard Workers," British Journal of
Industrial Medicine, 1976, Vol. 33, pp. 108-114.
Selikoff and perience of U.S.
pancreatic cancer.
Seidman examined the mortality ex and Canadian asbestos workers for
Of those deceased workers having 20
C-lll
ftp
or more years of exposure, pancreatic cancer was listed on death certificates as-the cause of death in 49 cases
while only 17.5 were expected.
However, upon further
review, these results were not confirmed.
Analysis of the deaths indicated, however,
that such conclusions could not be supported by more detailed information. After review of
all deaths, it was ascertained that there were
only 23 deaths of cancer of the pancreas (22
so categorized on death certificate, and 1
listed as myocardial infarction).
On the
other hand, there were 27 instances in which
deaths had been listed on death certificates
as due to cancer of the pancreas but where
, further study had shown other causes. Cancer of the lung accounted for 4 deaths, peritoneal
mesothelioma for 16, cancer of the colon for
2 and disseminated carcinomatosis, primary
site not ascertained, for 5.
Table 4
Deaths among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the United States and Canada
January 1, 1967 - Deceaber 31, 1986 timber of Men 17,800
Nan-Years of Observation 166,853
Underlying Cause of Death
Total deaths, all causes Cancer, all sites Oeaths of less cannon
malignant neoplasias Pancreas Liver, biliary passages Bladder Testes Prostate leukemia Lymphoma Skin Brain
Expected
1658.9 319.7
17.5
7.2 9.1 1.9 20.4 13.1
20.1 6.6
10.4
Observed_________ ______ Ratio o/e
(BE)
(DC)
(BE)
(DC)
2271 995
2271 922
1.37 3.11
1.37
2.88
23
49 1.32
2.81
5
19 0.70
2.65
9
7 0.99
0.77
2
1--
--
30
28 1.47
1.37
15
15 1.15
1.15
19
16 0.95
0.80
12
8 1.82
1.22
14
17 1.35
1.63
Expected deaths are based upon white male age-specific U.S. death rates of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 1967-1976.
(BE) Best evidence. Nurber of deaths categorized after review of best available information (autopsy, surgical, clinical).
(DC) Nutber of deaths as recorded from death certificate information only.
Selikoff, I.J. and Seidman, H., "Cancer of the Pancreas Among Asbestos Insulation Workers," 1981, Cancer, Vol. 42, pp. 1469-1473.
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In Selikoff's more recent report on the large cohort of asbestos workers, 54 deaths attributed to pancreatic
cancer based on best evidence were reported, as compared to 39.52 expected (RR=1.37). When computing mortality based" on death certificates alone, 92 deaths were
reported.
Thus, the diagnostic inaccuracy associated
with pancreatic cancer experienced by Drs. Selikoff and
seidman in their 1981 report on pancreatic cancer
reappears in the 1991 report making meaningful inter
pretation problematic.
In Dr. Acheson and associates' study of cancer in
amosite asbestos factory workers, only three pancreatic
cancer deaths were observed as compared to 3.1 expected.
Acheson, E.D., Gardner, M.J., Winter, P.D., Bennett, C. ,
"Cancer in a Factory Using Amosite Asbestos," Interna tional Journal of Epidemiology, 1984, Vol. 13, pp. 3
10, 9. These results were corroborated by Enterline and
others who reported in 1987 on a cohort of retired
asbestos workers.
Enterline, Hartley, and Henderson
reported eight cases of pancreatic cancer while 7.37 were
expected (SMR=108.6). Enterline, P.E., Hartley J. and
Henderson V. , "Asbestos and Cancer: A Cohort Followed Up
to Death," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1987,
Vol. 44, pp. 396-401.
Although Sanden, et al. reported an unexpectedly
high number of pancreatic cancer cases among the deceased
shipyard workers they examined, the overall SMOR (Stan
dardized Mortality Odds Ratio) for gastrointestinal
cancer was not statistically significant and the authors'
postulated that the high number of pancreatic cancer
cases identified were probably misclassified cases of
malignant mesothelioma.
Sanden, A., Jarvholm, B.,
"Cancer Morbidity in Swedish Shipyard Workers 1978
1983," International Archives of Occupational Environmen
tal Health, 1987, Vol. 59, p. 461.
In conclusion, the evidence associating asbestos with pancreatic cancer is weak and does not support the assertion that asbestos exposure increases one's risk for pancreatic cancer.
C-113
PROSTATE CANCER
1. Description and Etiology
In 1990, prostate cancer was expected to be the most
common cancer diagnosed in U.S. males and the second
leading cause of death in U.S. males. Twenty thousand
new cases are diagnosed each year. One in ten men win
develop prostate cancer in his lifetime.
It primarily
attacks men aged 65 and older.
Carter, B.S., Carter,
H.B., Isaacs, J.T., "Epidemiologic Evidence Regarding
Predisposing Factors to Prostate Cancer," The Prostate,
1990, Vol. 16, pp. 187-197, 187. Cook et al., explain that prostate cancer appears late in life and incidence
then increases with age more rapidly than with any other
cancer.
From this information they hypothesized that
prostate cancer might be due to carcinogenic factors
which are absent early in life and/or have a long latency
period. It is estimated that the period between first
exposure and clinical onset is greater than 32 years.
Cook, P.J., Doll, R., and Fellingham, S.A., "A Mathemati
cal Model for the Age Distribution of Cancer in Man,"
International Journal of Cancer, 1968, Vol. 4, pp. 93
112.
There are four general hypotheses concerning the etiology of prostate cancer: (a) a genetic predisposi tion; (b) endogenous hormonal influences; (c) exposure to chemicals or dietary factors; and, (d) venereal transmission of an infectious agent. No single hypothe sis provides a satisfactory explanation for most cases. See Schottenfeld and Fraumeni at 941-945; See also Carter, B.S., Carter, H.B., and Isaccs, J.T., "Epidemio logic Evidence Regarding Predisposing Factors to Prostate Cancer," The Prostate, 1990, Vol. 16, pp. 187-197.
2. Risk Factors
Of the dietary factors, there is some evidence that
diets high in animal fat, saturated fat, and animal
protein increase one's risk for prostate cancer.
See
Carter, et al., at 191.
Occupations believed to be
associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer
include rubber workers, bookkeepers, shipping and
receiving clerks, newspaper printers, motor vehicle
dealers, ministers, farmers, plumbers, and coal miners.
As with pancreatic cancer, it is hard to identify one
common thread among these varied occupations. Checkoway,
H., DiFerdinando, G., Holika, B.S., and Mickey, D.D.,
"Medical, Life-Style, and Occupational Risk Factors for
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fgBUrtv';
prostate Cancer," The Prostate, 1987, Vol. 10, pp. 79 88.
3. Asbestos Exposure
Some researchers have labeled asbestos exposure as
a risk factor for prostate cancer.
There is little
evidence to support such a contention.
In their 1980
study of mortality in workers in two U.S. shipyards, Drs.
Beaumont and Weiss observed 32 deaths attributed to
prostatic cancer, yielding an SMR of 1.10.
Beaumont,
j.j. and Weiss, N.S., "Mortality of Welders, Shipfitters,
and Other Metal Trades Workers in Boilermakers Local No.
104, AFL-CIO," American Journal of Epidemiology, 1980, Vol! 112, pp. 775-786. Of those workers whose mortality
experience was examined by Enterline, et al., seventeen deaths caused by prostate cancer were observed while
18.17 were expected (SMR=93.6). Enterline, P.E., Hartley
j. and Henderson V., "Asbestos and Cancer: A Cohort Followed Up to Death," British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1987, Vol. 44, pp. 396-401. Similar results were found by Acheson and Gardner who observed two deaths from prostate cancer among asbestos workers while 2.1 were expected. Acheson, E.D., Gardner, M. J. and Winter, P.D., and Bennett, C., "Cancer in a Factory Using Amosite Asbestos," International Journal of Epidemiology, 1984,
Vol. 13, pp. 3-10.
Drs. Sanden and Jarvholm also reported a small, but
statistically insignificant, number of deaths due to
prostatic cancer.
Of those shipyard workers where at
least 20 years have elapsed since first exposure nine
deaths were observed, where 7.2 were expected (RR=1.22).
Sanden, A. and Jarvholm, B., "Cancer Morbidity in Swedish
Shipyard Workers 1978-1983," International Archives of
Occupational and Environmental Health, 1987, Vol. 59, pp.
4-12. Tola, et al, observed a small increased incidence
of prostate cancer among machine shop workers (39
observed, 31 expected), but not in shipyard workers (48
observed, 49.2 expected). Tola, S., Kalliomaki, P.L.,
Pukkala, E., Asp, S. and Korkala, M.L. , "Incidence of
Cancer Among Welders, Platers, Machinists and Pipe Fitters in Shipyards and Machine Shops," British Journal
of Industrial Medicine, 1988, Vol. 45, pp. 209-218.
Dr. Selikoff in, "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease - Exposure to Asbestos in Place," placed prostate cancer on his list of cancers not found with increased incidence in the 17,800 asbestos insulation workers he studied.
There is no convincing evidence that occupational
exposure to asbestos is a risk factor for the development
f prostate cancer.
..
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J. KIDNEY CANCER
1. Description & Etiology
Humans have two kidneys which are located in the
back of the abdomen.
Their purpose is to separate
withcertain materials from the blood which, when mixed
water, are extracted by the kidneys (urine).
Grays
Anatomy, p. 985. Each kidney is about four inches long
two inches wide, and one inch thick. Id.
'
andKidney cancer, also called renal carcinoma
hypernephroma occurs primarily in men at a male/female
ratio of about 3:1.
Peak incidence occurs during the
sixth and seventh decades, although it has been known to
andstrike in the second and third. Both incidence of,
mortality from, renal carcinoma have been steadily
increasing for both black and white males over the last
few decades. Moosa, A.R., Schimpff, S.C., Robson, M.C.,
"The Comprehensive Textbook of Oncology," Vol. 2, pp.
1055-1066, 1055.
2. Risk Factors
Among the environmental risk factors thought to be associated with an increased risk of renal cancer are beer and coffee, leaded drinking water, and cholester ol. A familial propensity for renal carcinoma has also been identified. See Schottenfeld and Fraumeni at 928 930.
The most convincing epidemiologic evidence impli
cates smoking and cadmium exposure.
In their case-
control study of 96 patients with cancer of the renal
pelvis and ureter, Jensen, et al., identified increased
risks for those employed in the chemical, petrochemical,
and plastics industries.
See Jensen, O.M., Knudsen,
J.B., McLaughlin, J.K., Sorenson, B.L., "The Copenhagen
Case-Control Study of Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer:
Role of Smoking and Occupational Exposures," Interna tional Journal of Cancer, 1988, Vol. 41, pp. 557-561,
557.
The results of the Copenhagen study with respect to occupational exposure have been reprinted below in Table
V.
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TABLE V - OCCUPATIONS ANO OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES AND RELATIVE RISKS OF RENAL PELVIS AND URETER CANCER IN DENMARK. 1979-82.
Exposed
Occtpation/exposure
Sex Cases
Controls RR* 95X Cl
Chemical, petrochemical. elastics industries.
gasoline Coke, Coal Asphalt, Tar Gasworks, installation Dye-stuffs industry, dyeing
Rubber industry Leather, tanning Painter, paint manufacture lron/metal industry.
blacksmith good industry, woodwork
Textile imkjstry Hair-dressing
Cook, kitchen aid Health, care sector
Office work
M+F H H M
M+F M+F M+F M+F
H M M+f F M+F M+F M+F
14
8
9
2
6
4 7
10
17 4
8
2
7 4 19
14 4.0 (1.6-9.8)
7 4.0 (1.2-13.6) 6 5.5 (1.6-19.6) 3 2.7 (0.3-23.4)
9 2.1 (0.6-7.0)
7 1.6 (0.4-6.7)
11 2.2 (0.7-6.7)
19 1.8 (0.7-4.6)
41 1.4 (0.7-2.9)
14
0.8
(0.2-2.7)
27 0.9 (0.4-2.4)
2 3.0 (0.3-33.0)
25
0.7
(0.2-1.8)
24 0.4 (0.1-1.4)
61 1.0 (0.5-1.9)
1 Relative to persons not in industry/not exposed. Adjusted for sex (when both sexes
included) and lifetime tobacco consumption.
In Table II, the relative risks for different smoking habits are present. Significantly in creased RR are seen for exclusive smokers of cigarettes and for mixed smokers who had also smoked cigarettes regularly. For other smok ing habits, numbers are too small to yield stable risk-estimates.
In view of the diversity of smoking habits
(Table I) and the limited size of the study,
all types of smoking ere combined into life
time tobacco use.
Table III shows a highly
significant trend in relative risk for both
men (p<0.001) and women (p=0.004) with amount
of tobacco consumed over a lifetime. Men with
a lifetime tobacco consumption of 80 or more
pack-years have an almost 8-fold increase in
risk compared to men with a consumption of
less than 10 pack-years.
For corresponding
levels of consumption, the relative risks for
men and women were quite similar.
Jensen, O.M., Knudsen, J.B., McLaughlin, J.K., and
Sorenson, B.L., "The Copenhagen Case - Control Study of
Renal, Pelvis and Ureter Cancer:
Role of Smoking and
Occupational Exposures", International Journal of Can
cer, 1988, Vol 41, pp. 557-561, 559.
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.......
.........................-- --------------------------
jto ugfci .g i
Jensen and Associates also examined smoking habit
among renal pelvis and ureter cancer subjects and found
smoking to be an important risk factor.
d
TABLE II - SMOKING HABITS AND RELATIVE RISK OF RENAL PELVIS AND URETER CANCER IN DEMUR*. 1973
Sacking habit
Cases
Controls
RR1
9SX Cl
Never Sacked
8 57
1.0
(R)2
Pipe only
1 10 2.2 (0.1-97)
Cigar only
4 24
1.3 (0.3-6.1)
Cigarette only
32 91
2.6
(1.0-6.7)
Mixed, cigarettes
48 99 3.8 (1.3-11.5)
Mixed, no cigarettes
3
7 6.5 (0.4-21.2)
1 Adjusted for sex and age (-64 years, 65+ years).-2(R) is the reference category.
Table III - LIFETIME TOBACCO CONSUMPTION AND RELATIVE RISK OF RENAL PELVIS AND URETER CANCER IN DENMARK, 1979-82
Lifetime
Tobacco
Male
Consumption
(Pack-Years) Case Control RR2
95X CL
Female Case Control RR2 95X CL
Male or Female RR2 95X CL
0-90 0-39 40-79 80+
3 33 1.0 (R)4
8
48
1.0
(R)2
1.0
(R)2
13 63 2.2 (0.6-8.2) 16 42 2.2 (0.9-5.8) 2.2 (0.97-5.2)
25 55 5.0 (1.5-16.6) 12 18 4.0 (1.4-11.1) 4.4 (1.9-10.7)
19 29 7.9 (1.9-39.1)
' " ...
****
7.9 (1.9-39.1)
Test
.. - -
-- pO.001
-- - - -- p=0.004
-- p<0.001
1 Cigarette or pack-year equivalents for all types of tobacco (see text). 2 Adjusted for age. 1 Adjusted for age and sex. * (R) is the reference group.
The present investigation corroborates the
role of smoking in the development of tumors
of the renal pelvis and ureter, and the clear
dose-effect of lifetime tobacco consumption
(Table III) provides further evidence of the
causal role of smoking in the etiology of
these tumors. The effect is related to cigar
ette smoking, but detailed assessment of the
risk in persons who smoked exclusively cigars
or pipes is hampered by the limited number of
observations.
Compared with out parallel
investigation of bladder cancer in the same
population and time period (Jensen et al.,
1987a), this study suggests that the relative
risk associated with heavy smoking is 2.5
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times greater for renal pelvis-ureter cancer than for bladder cancer (Fig. 1).
Our present investigation points unequivocally to tobacco smoking as the most important risk factor for renal pelvis and ureter cancer in
Denmark.
Jensen, O.M., Knudsen, J.B., McLaughlin, J.K., and Sorenson, B.L., "The Copenhagen Case - Control Study of Renal, Pelvis and Ureter Cancer: Role of Smoking and Occupational Exposures", International Journal of Can cer, 1988, Vol 41, pp. 557-561, 559.
3. Asbestos Exposure
Drs. Selikoff, Seidman and Hammond reported an
increased risk of renal cancer in their 1979 mortality
study of U.S. insulation workers.
Selikoff and col
leagues reported a relative risk of 2.23 using death
certification with 18 deaths due to kidney cancer ob
served versus 8.1 expected.
Selikoff, I.J., Hammond,
E.C., Seidman, H., "Mortality Experience of Insulation
Workers in the United States and Canada, 1943 - 1976," Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 1979, Vol. 330, pp.
91-116, 103.
, Also reporting a statistically significant risk for
kidney cancer are Enterline and associates.
Of the
1,074 retired asbestos workers, seven deaths caused by
kidney cancer were observed compared to 2.54 expected
(SMR-275.8).
Although numerically impressive, neither Selikoff,
Seidman and Hammond, nor Enterline, et al. adjusted for
tobacco or alcohol use.
Despite the increased risk
identified by Selikoff, Hammond and Seidman, and Enter
line, et al., other studies and authors have failed to
replicate their results.
Drs. Beaumont and Weiss re
ported 11 deaths due to renal cancer among U.S. shipyard
workers resulting in a SMR of 1.14. Beaumont, J.J. and
Weiss, N.S., "Mortality of Welders, Shipfitters, and
Other Metal Trades Workers in Boilermakers Local No.
104, AFL-CIO," American Journal of Epidemiology, 1980,
Vol. 112, pp. 775-786.In their 1987 study, Drs. Sanden
and Jarvholm likewise reported a small number of deaths
caused by kidney cancer among a group of Swedish ship
yard workers (2 obs., 3.3 exp.). Sanden, A. and Jarv holm, b., "Cancer Morbidity in Swedish Shipyard Workers
1978-1983," International Archives of Occupational and
Environmental Health, 1987, Vol. 59, pp. 4-12.
C-119
In "ASBESTOS - Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos," Richard Doll and Julian Peto reported:
In their study of the mortality of insulation
workers, Selikoff, Hammond, and Seidman (1979)
concluded that the men had experienced an
increased risk of renal cancer as a result of
their employment. In addition to the risks of
lung and gastro-intestinal cancer referred to
above.
Eighteen deaths were attributed to
renal cancer against 8.1 expected, including
15 against 7.0 expected 20 years or more after first employment. Only two other studies have
reported separately on this type of cancer.
In one, Acheson et al (1984) observed two
deaths against 1.4 expected in men making
asbestos insulation board while, in the other,
we observed one death against 4.29 expected in
textile workers (or one against 2.72 expected
20 years or more after first employment: Peto
et al (1985). In the absence of any positive
experimental evidence these data alone do not,
in our opinion, justify the belief that asbes
tos can cause this type of disease.
Doll, R., Peto, J., "ASBESTOS - Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos," Health and Safety Commission, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1985, p. 7.
Dr. Malcolm Maclure contacted 1,190 individuals
with renal adenocarcinoma. Their names were taken from
the records of 37 Boston-area hospitals between 1981 and
1984. Of the 518 cases interviewed, 141 reported past
asbestos exposure. Dr. Maclure attempted to control for
known and hypothesized risk factors such as smoking,
kidney stones, hypertension, income, and education, and
reported an exposure odds ratio of 1.6.
Maclure, M.,
"Asbestos and Renal Adenocarcinoma: A Case-Control
Study." Environmental Research, 1987, Vol. 42, pp. 353
361. Dr. Maclure's study is susceptible to attack since exact information as to first exposure, type of ex
posure, and duration of exposure was unavailable.
In his recent report on the cohort of asbestos insulation workers, Selikoff reported 32 deaths caused by kidney cancer when 18.87 were expected (RR 1.70). Although of marginal significance statistically, this relative risk represents a decrease from that reported in 1979 (RR=2.23). Selikoff, I.J., "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease - Exposure to Asbestos in Place," 1990.
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LYMPHOMA
1. Description and Etiology
Lymphoma is defined as a growth of new tissue in
the lymphatic system and includes Hodgkin's Disease, lym
phatic leukemia, and reticuloses.
Taber's Cyclopedic
Medical Dictionary, 16th Ed. (1989).
The lymphatic
system runs throughout the human body and carries lymph
fluid which is filtered by lymph ducts, freeing the lymph
fluid of foreign matter, especially bacteria. Absorption
of material is most active in the alimentary canal, with
digestive material passing into the blood stream through
the vessels of the portal circulation. Id. Lymphomas
are relatively uncommon in the United States, with only
about 15,000 new cases estimated each year. Schotten-
field & Fraumeni at 757. Approximately 4.9 per 100,000
white males will die of lymphoma this year.
2. Risk Factors
Among the risk factors associated with an increased
risk for lymphoma are a past history of rheumatoid
arthritis, exposure to pesticides, and possibly benzene
and other solvents.
Additionally, there is a strong
familial association with this disease. See Schotten-
feld and Fraumeni at 759, 767-771.
An increased, but unconfirmed, risk of lymphoma in
patients with rheumatoid arthritis was identified by
isomaki et al., in 1979.
Isomaki, H., Hakulinen, P.,
Joutsenlahti, U., Lancet, 1979, page 392. The mortality
experience of 173 men who worked in a pesticide factory
and died between 1940 and 1972 exhibited an excess of
Hodgkin's and other lymphomas. A prospective study of
the same workers undertaken between 1940 and 1973 ex
hibited a relative risk of 3.85.
Ott, M.G., Holden,
B.D., Gordon, H.G., Archives of Environmental Health,
1974, Volume 29, pages 250 - 255. Benzene exposure is also suspected to be a risk factor for the development of lymphoma, however, the epidemiological data on the association is inconsistent.
In their study published in the British Journal of Cancer in 1981, Hardell, et al. examined the relation ship between various solvents and lymphoma:
Summary. - A number of men with malignant lymphoma of the histiocytic type and previous
exposure to phenoxy acids or chlorophenols were observed and reported in 1979. A matched casecontrol study has therefore been performed with
C-121
cases of malignant lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease
and non-Hodgkin lymphoma). This study included
169 cases and 338 controls.
The results
indicate that exposure to phenoxy acids,
chlorophenols, and organic solvents may be a
causative factor in malignant lymphoma.
Combined exposure of these chemicals seemed to
increase the risk. Exposure to various other
agents was not obviously different in cases
and in controls.
Hardell, L., Eriksson, M., Lenner, P., and Lundgren, E., "Malignant Lymphoma and Exposure to Chemicals, Especial ly Organic Solvents, Chloroprenols and Phenoxy Acids: a Case-Control Study." British Journal of Cancer, 1981, Vol. 43, pp. 169-176, 169.
An excess of lymphoma was reported among sales and
clerical personnel, postal workers, insurance and real
estate brokers, engineers, stationary engineers, several
types of electrical workers, mechanics, machinists,
primary metal workers, and farmers.
Some of these
groups may reflect socio-economic or general environmen
tal factors, while others likely involve chemical or
physical exposures in the workplace. See Schottenfeld
and Fraumeni at 770.
Like the other cancers surveyed in this paper, it is unlikely that there is one common exposure underlying these varied occupations. Therefore, the increased risk may be attributed to some common environmental or life style exposure.
3. Asbestos Exposure
In their mortality study of 1,074 retirees from a
United States asbestos company, Dr. Enterline, et al.
observed nine deaths attributed to all lymphatic and haematopoietic tissue whereas 10.76 were expected. Breaking those numbers into specific types of lymphoma,
they observed two cases of lymphosarcoma where 2.24 were
expected, no cases of Hodgkin's disease where 0.72 cases were expected, and three cases of leukemia and aleukae-
mia where 5.36 were expected. However, four deaths were attributed to other lymphatic causes, whereas 2.54 were
expected, yielding an SMR of 163.9.
Enterline, E.,
Hartley, J., and Henderson, V. , "Asbestos and Cancer: A
Cohort Followed up to Death," British Journal of In dustrial Medicine, 1987, Vol. 44, pp. 396-401, 397.
Tola and Associates examined the incidence of both Hodgkin's disease and lymphomas among the 12,693 ship-
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UXr*t3'-
yard and machine shop workers studied in 1988.
The
- results of their study have been set forth previously at
pages 104-105. Notably, no increase for Hodgkin's di
sease or lymphoma was noted in either the shipyard
workers or machine shop workers studied.
In their 1985 report on the health effects of asbestos exposure, Drs. Doll and Peto report the follow
ing:
A very rare type of cancer - large cell
lymphoma of the oral cavity and gastrointes
tinal tract - was also found to be related to
occupational exposure to asbestos in a case-
control study in California (Ross, et al.
1982) .
Of the 28 affected patients, 17 had
some evidence of substantial exposure against
6 of 28 controls matched for age, sex, and race, who were living in the same neighbor
hood. This superficially surprising finding
is given credence by the report of 2 deaths from lymphosarcoma of the small intestine in
2 small cohort studies of asbestos workers,
which, like large cell lymphoma of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, is normally
art extremely rare disease (See Ross, et al.
1982 for references). The association is not
supported by experience in Sweden, Bengsteon,
et al., 1982; Olsson and Brandt, 1983), nor by
Selikoff, et al.'s (1979) massive study of
insulation workers in North America (Table 3
3) , that the later grouped all lymphomas
together in large cell lymphomas limited
primarily to the oral cavity and gastrointes
tinal tract for only 5% of the total.
On
these data, it is not now possible to reach
any conclusion, but the possibility that these
rare tumors can be produced by exposure to
asbestos needs to be kept in mind.
Doll, R. and Peto, J., "Asbestos - Effects on Health of Exposure to Asbestos," Health and Safety Commission, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1985, p. 7.
In "The Third Wave of Asbestos Disease - Exposure to Asbestos in Place," Selikoff includes lymphoma in his list of cancers for which no increased incidence was identified.
Of both practical and theoretical interest, these experiences did not demonstrate an increased incidence in a variety of other
C-123
cancers (urinary, bladder, prostate, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, brain tumors, primary
cancer of the liver) (Table 4). Theoretical
interest, because some thought has been given
to the possibility that a carcinogenic agent
such as asbestos would be likely to produce
cancer in whatever organ it was found.
At
least in the present investigation, this was
not the case.
Table 4
Deaths among 17,800 asbestos insulation workers in the United States and Canada
January 1, 1967 - Deceafcer 31. 1986
Cancers not found with increased incidence
Cause of Death
Cancer of bladder Cancer of prostate Leukemia*. Lymphoma Melanoma (skin> Brain Tunors LAID
Cancer Cancer of Liver
Expected Deaths1
20.77 52.56 28.74 43.24 12.65 26.35 22.55 11.06
Observed deaths
Death Certificate Nimber
(DC) Ratio
Best Evidence Nuifcer
17
0.82
22
59
1.12
61
32
1.11
33
33
0.76
39
11
0.87
9
40
1.52*
3
29
1.29
7
31
2.80'
12
<BE)' Ratio1
1.06
1.16 1.15 0.90 0.71 1.25
1.20 1.00
.
4
.
i
j 5 { ` ! {
1. Expected deaths based upon death rates 1967-1986 of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, for white males.
2. Ascertained after review of autopsy, surgical and clinical material. Where no such data were available, death certificate diagnosis was utilized.
3. Calculated for information only, since It utilized "best evidence" vs. "death certificate* diagnoses, not strictly conparable due to different quality of ascertainment and verification.
I.J. Selikoff, in Place."
"The
Third
Prob. - level Wave of Asbestos
<.001 - c <.01 - b <.05 - a Disease -
Asbestos
Although some assert asbestos exposure increases risk for developing lymphomas, the epidemiologic data herein fails to support such an assertion.
one's cited
jM M M N toaw R r
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EPIDEMIOLOGICAL evidence in the courtroom
^ Introduction
As illustrated, the results of epidemiological studies often varied, inconclusive, and inconsistent- Yet, juries ar osed of six or twelve laypeople are required to deliberate cdPevaluate the evidence presented about such studies and to ar*nder a verdict. It is quite likely that the verdict will depend on the personality of the medical witness and specula tion- This was recognized by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in a*1989 opinion, in a Bendectin case:
H . . . juries are asked to resolve [these] ques tions, upon which even our brightest medical minds disagree, in order to resolve the case at hand and decide whether the Plaintiff is entitled to reco very, and in so doing must necessarily resort to speculation."
Rr-nr.k v- Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. Inc.. 874 F.2d 307, 309 (5th Cir. 1989) .
B. Burden of Proof
In traditional products liability cases, the Plaintiff
must demonstrate that a specific Defendant's conduct was more
likely than not a substantial factor in bringing about the
Plaintiff's injury. The long latency periods associated with
most asbestos related diseases together with the ubiquitous
nature of asbestos complicates the proximate cause requirement
in asbestos litigation.
Thus, the courts have relaxed
traditional evidentiary requirements and have begun to accept
epidemiological data despite the fact it relates to groups
rather than to specific individuals. This limitation should
be driven home to the jury at every opportunity. The exist
ence of a correlation or association does not necessarily mean
that exposure to asbestos caused plaintiff's disease. As this
paper illustrates, the importance of other risk factors,
especially alcohol and tobacco use cannot be emphasized
enough. Likewise, Plaintiff must prove that a specific
defendant's products were present at the work place and that
plaintiff had sufficient exposure to such products to cause
disease.
c- Risks
of ^ ften the case with complex medical testimony, use
of &c1
data in the courtroom presents a serious risk
confute.and over^helming the jury.
The jury might
the epidemiological data as establishing causation as
C-125
opposed to its true function, which is to examine incidence rates. Some courts have embraced this limitation:
Because of its statistical foundations, epidemio logy is useful in recognizing increased rates of affliction in different groups of individuals, rather than to identify the cause of a disease in a particular individual. At most, an epidemiolo gist can calculate the likelihood that an in dividual will contract a particular disease.
In Re: John Maiorana. 1991, WL53654 (S.D.N.Y.).
The epidemiologist's investigation is carried on by
comparing the disease experience of a population
exposed to the factor with other populations not so
exposed. Such studies do not attempt to determine
the impact of these factors upon particular in
dividuals.
Their statistical import may be con
sidered with other proofs in toxic tort litigation
to help determine the suspected substance's effect
on individuals.
Landrioan v.. Celotex Coro. . 243 N.J. Super. 449 (App. Div. 1990).
Here, as in Landrioan. plaintiff's medical expert relied upon epidemiological studies and the absence of certain known risk factors to opine that plain tiff's illness was caused by asbestos fibers. As we explained in Landrioan. however, epidemiological studies serve only the purpose of determining whether exposure to asbestos fibers is a risk factor in the etiology of colon cancer."
Caterinicchio v. Pittsburgh Corning Coro, et al.. ______ N.J. Super. _________ (App. Div. _________, (1990).
Finally, there is the risk associated with the mystique
of statistical data.
When the relative risk of a methodo
logically complex study is quantified, the lay juror is more
likely to recall the bottom line than the intricate methodo
logical errors which may have interacted to create an inflated
risk.
Commentators have noted that the mysterious nature of statistical arguments which can create an aura of certainty makes them at once impenetrable by the layman and impressive to him and creates a contin uing risk that he will give such arguments a cre dence they may not deserve and weight they cannot logically claim.
c-126
Michael Dore, A Commentary on the Use of Epidemiological Evidence in Demonstrating Cause-in-Fact, Harvard Environmental Law Review, pp. 429-448, 437 (1983).
D. Minimizing Risks
Given its propensity to confuse and overwhelm, the use
of epidemiologic evidence can be tempered through a well-
nianned and thorough cross-examination. However, this is not
the lawyer's only tool. Lawyers should not forget that they
have some measure of control over the evidence by way of
motions in limine. In Brock, the Fifth Circuit acknowledged
that under the traditional approach to scientific evidence,
court's do not peer beneath the reasoning of medical experts
to question their reasoning.
However, given the critical
medical issues presented in mass toxic tort cases, "courts
must critically evaluate the reasoning process by which the
experts connect data to their conclusions. . ." Brock. 874
F.2d at 310.
In Richardson by Richardson v. Richardson-Merrell, Inc.. 857 F.2d 823 (D.C. Cir. 1988) , the court discussed the importance of medical testimony in another Bendectin case.
. . . [e]Xpert witnesses are indispensable in a case
such as this.
But that is not to say that the
court's hands are inexorably tied, or that it must
accept uncritically any sort of opinion espoused by
an expert merely because his credentials render him
qualified to testify.
See Richardson v. Richardson at 829. The court then proceeded to look behind the conclusion of plaintiff's expert and found his reasoning inadequate. Id. at 829.
The Fifth Circuit recently affirmed an order of the District Court granting summary judgment in favor of the
defendant manufacturers in a toxic-tort case.
In
Christophersen v. Allied-Signal Coro.. the District Court
rejected plaintiff's expert testimony that since exposure to
nickel and cadmium is associated with small cell carcinoma of
the lung, it is likely that plaintiff's small cell colon
cancer was also caused by workplace exposure to nickel and cadmium. Christophersen v. Allied-Signal. ________ F.2d ______, _
(5th Cir. 1991). The Court of Appeals rejected plaintiff's
expert's opinion as methodologically unsound. While plainth ^^ exPert testified that the primary methods by which
eories of causation are developed are through epidemio-
ogicaif animal, or in vitro studies, plaintiff's expert
Fu he re**ed on nne of these to form his opinion. r hennote, the court concluded that the District Court was
C-127
correct in rejecting the expert's conclusion as based on
grossly inaccurate or critically incomplete "dosage" and
duration data. Apparently in rendering his opinion, plain
tiff's expert relied upon a factually deficient affidavit of
a co-worker for information pertaining to duration and amount
of exposure.
Such information about exposure is typically
relied upon by experts when forming opinions on causation.
A well-written motion in limine and supporting brief
pointing out the limitations of a specific study may result
in exclusion on the grounds that the specific study is not
methodologically sound and/or medically accepted.
Expert
opinion must be based on the type of information reasonably
relied upon by other experts in the field. Lynch v. Merrill
National Laboratories. 646 F. Supp. 856 (D. Mass. 1986),
aff'd. 830 F.2d 1190 (1st Cir. 1987).
However, the Fifth
Circuit has held that an expert's opinion need not be general
ly accepted in the scientific community before it can be
sufficiently reliable to support a jury finding. Osburn v.
Anchor Laboratories. 825 F.2d 908 (5th Cir. 1987) . Rather,
the court stated, that what is necessary is that the expert
arrived at his opinion by relying on methods that other experts in his field would reasonably rely upon in forming
their own opinions. Id. at 915.
Courts frequently assess the validity of epidemiological studies in reviewing health, safety, and environmental stand ards promulgated by federal regulatory agencies. Therefore, they should do the same in toxic tort litigation to insure that they admit only reliable epidemiological evidence and guide the jury toward its proper use.
Besides evaluating specific epidemiologic data to insure the study was methodologically sound and performed by a competent, highly regarded investigator, the court must also insure that testimony is elicited from a qualified witness. In general, an expert need only such "knowledge, skill, experience, training or education in the field to make it appear that his opinion will probably aid the trier in his search for truth." Fed.R.Evid. 702.
"It is time to take hold of expert testimony in federal
trials."
With this admonition, the Fifth Circuit sent a
message to trial judges to resist the temptation to admit all
alleged expert testimony with the attitude that the jury will
"apply the weight such testimony deserves".
Instead, the
qualifications of proffered experts must be closely scrutin
ized. In In Re Air Crash Disaster, supra. the court stated:
... we recognize the temptation to answer objec tions to receipt of expert testimony with the shorthand remark that the jury will give it 'the
C-128
weight it deserves'.... Trial judges must be sen
sitive to the qualifications of persons claiming to
be experts--------- Many experts are members of the aca
demic community who supplement their teaching
salaries with consulting work.
We know from our
judicial experience that many such able persons
present studies and express opinions they may not
be willing to express in an article submitted to a
refereed journal or in other contexts subject to
peer review. We think that is one important signal,
along with many others, that ought to be considered
in deciding whether to accept expert testimony.
Second, the professional expert is now commonplace
That a person spends substantially all of his time
consulting with attorneys and testifying is not a
disqualification. But experts whose opinions are
available to the highest bidder have no place
before a jury, and with the imprimatur of the trial
judge's decision that he is an "expert".
In sum, we adhere to the deferential standard for review of decisions regarding the admission of testimony by experts. Nevertheless, we take this occasion to caution that the standard leaves appellate judges with a considerable task. We will turn to that task with a sharp eye, particularly in those instances, hopefully few, where the record makes it evident that the decision to receive expert testimony was simply tossed off to the jury under a 'let it all in' philosophy. Our message to our able trial colleagues: It is time to take hold of expert testimony in federal trials.
In Re Air Crash Disaster at New Orleans, La. -- Evmand v. Pan American World Airways. 795 F.2d 1230, 1234 (5th Cir. 1986).
Prior to deliberation the judge should carefully instruct the jury on the proper use of epidemiologic data as well as its limitations. Only after the jury has been thoroughly in structed should they be sent to deliberate.
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VI. CONCLUSION Epidemiological data cannot establish causation in an in
dividual case. The most it can do is establish an association, the validity and strength of which depends upon numerous factors about which the lay juror must be informed. The jury should receive a short course on the general principles of epidemiology so that they have a better understanding of the methodological complexities of the studies. The cancer risks of the general population may be emphasized to establish proper perspective. Additionally, exposure to other known risk factors, especially alcohol and tobacco, should be introduced.
When presented with a plaintiff claiming that a non-lung related cancer is caused by asbestos exposure, the relevant studies should be presented to the jury. With the exception of mesothelio ma and lung cancer in the presence of smoking and asbestosis, the epidemiological data fails to establish that asbestos exposure increases the risk for developing cancer.
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