Document J3JQG702x2rQ627pgzBre3vr

FILE NAME Brakes BRK DATE 2001 Sept DOC BRK116 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Published Conference Abstract - Malignant Mesothelioma in Australia - Inhaled Particles Symposium 07/09 07/09 01 11:211:020 FAX +4122 781 4129 a oe eee eee ee Inhaled Particles A Multidisciplinary Symposium Scientific Scientific Scientific Programme Revised Final Programme & Abstracts 2nd to 6th September 2001 Robinson College Cambridge UK - www.bohs.org MPa We MPR Ba ee LCR SE eee ES ee eet tt _ T o S on serl OTe ie MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA IN AUSTRALIA 1945-2000 Leigh J. Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Department of Public Health and Community Medicine University of Sydney Australia Between 1945 and 1980 658 535 male 123 female cases of malignant mesothelioma were identified in Australia Since 1981 Australia has maintained a complete national register for cases of malignant mesothelioma Incidence has increased rapidly and is still increasing in both males and females In 2000 the annual incidence rate was 6.6 per 100,000 male year 1982-85 2.7 and 1.6 per 100,000 female year 1982-85 0.325 Incidence rates are similar to liver cancer in Australia These are the highest reported national incidence rates in the world As at 28 February 2001 there were 6,400 cases in Australia peritoneal ratio was 18 male 6 female Positive asbestos exposure history was obtained in 87 of cases Mean latency from first exposure was 37 years The pattern of exposure is shifting away from the older traditional industries towards product domestic and environmental exposure Exposure occurred in a wide range of occupations and industries and occupational settings Some common exposure histories were repair and maintenance of asbestos materials 13 shipbuilding % asbestos cement production % railways % powerstations % boilermaking % Wittenoom % wharf labourer % para occupational hobby environmental % carpenter % builder % merchant navy % plumber % brake linings % multiple 12 Approximate lifetime risks % for identifiable occupational groups exposed 30 to 50 years ago were calculated as Lifetime risk % = 70 number of mesothelioma cases notified 1986-2000 x 100 Population in occupation category in Australia x 15 Zz Results were Wittenoom mine or mill worker 16,6 power station worker 15.0 railway labourer 11.4 merchant navy 5.1 Wittenoom town 3.1 waterside worker 2.1 carpenter 2.0 decorator 1.6 plumber 1.3 boilermaker 1.3 plasterer 1.1 bricklayer 0.8 electrical fitter mechanic electrician 0.5 vehicle mechanic 0.5 cf all Australian - asbestos 0.39 all Australian women 0.07 The incidence is still increasing and as peak national asbestos exposure was in 1973 4.5 capita peak incidence is not expected until about 2010. The expected total number of mesothelioma cases in Australia from 1945 to 2020 is estimated to be about 18,000 based on models for Wittenoom extrapolated for Australia as whole assuming Wittenoom contributes % of cases and direct extrapolation from the best fit to the empirical incidence curve constrained to have a maximum value at 2010 following a 37 year latency from time of maximum exposure The estimated number of cases still to occur in Australia present population = 19 million is thus about 11,000 by 2020. With asbestos related lung cancer estimated to occur at a ratio of 2 to mesothelioma the expected future case load of asbestos related cancer can be expected to be of the order of 30,000-40,000 by 2020. The various Australia state and federal government preventive clinical and compensatory authorities are now developing national strategy for dealing with this problem eo =. ge ; e3 Be ai an me BO me ee . @ me == ga mm oY eo a ae 7a = ae =. a Ts se Saas EA a.) ts Se s. aeFSaaR tad wes iat rie pia =