Document KzX1623EK7mdQgJ4Xzm9pNxrr

FILE NAME Talc TALC DATE 1981 Apr DOC TALC022 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Medical Journal Excerpt - Malignant Mesothelioma reg oe Scientific Articles ec Malignant Mesothelioma er Epidemiologic patterns in New York en State A study of malignant mesothelioma in New York State excluding New York City suggests that there was no increase in the incidence of disease from 1973 through 1978. The highest for this tumor were observed in 6 rural counties and farmers talc miners and paper workers were the most common occupa- tions involved Certain other highly industrialized _ counties in close proximity to major waterways also NICHOLAS J. VIANNA M.D. JOSEPH MASLOWSKY B.A. SCOTT ROBERTS B.S. B.A. GARY SPELLMAN B.S. RUSSELL B. PATTON B.S. M.S.P.H. had higher incidence rates than the State as a whole Albany New York From the Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology and Occupational Health State of New York Department of Health and sex ratios male rate to female rate were calcu- lated for all patients reported with this disorder during the year study period and separately for the pleural and peritoneal sites The same denom- The association between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma is well established particularly among certain occupational groups such as asbestos miners insulation shipyard and textile workers Nonoccupational exposure to this mineral might also be an important factor Although this highly fatal tumor must be considered a rare mani- festation of exposure to a relatively common agent the spectrum of associated diseases include pneumoconiosis lung cancer in smokers and pos- sibly gastrointestinal cancer Thus malignant mesothelioma represents an important signal lesion rare disease caused by an agent which is etiologically associated with more common disorders This report examines the geographic distribution of malignant mesothelioma in New York State with particular emphasis on the epidemiologic characteristics of those areas with the highest incidence ; inator was used to calculate an average incidence rate for the State excluding New York City and for each county in the study area Counties with high rates were defined as those with twice the average State rate Time trends were also calculated using yearly population estimates from 1973 through 1978. Descriptive study The first phase of this in- occupational.infor- vestigation attempted to obtain occupational.infor- mation from death certificates on all male patients included in the incidence study who died from 1973 through the present in New York State excluding New York City Asbestos occupations were defined as those listed in Work is Dangerous to Your Health 6 and by the National Institute of Occupa- tional Safety and Health Using this information the occupations of male patients who died of malig- nant mesothelioma were categorized as asbestos- -. related or not ~ For male and female mesothelioma patients -.. -_ . rates oe . diagnosed and reported from 1968 through 1978 in Methods es - Incidence study This investigation included all counties with high rates interviews were conducted the or _ with either patient in the event ofdeath a .. degree relative Detailed information was ob- cases of histologically confirmed malignant meso- tained on both occupational histories and other po- thelioma histology code 905 diagnosed in New York tential sources of asbestos exposure Indirect ex- State excluding New York City reported to the tumor registry of the Cancer Control Bureau New York State Department of Health from 1973 through 1978. Patients from New York City were excluded . posure was defined as residing in a household prior : to diagnosis with a spouse parent or other family ......, member who worked in an asbestos occupa- * gs tion - because cancer reporting from this area was not instituted until 1973 and at present reported investigation is incomplete Using population estimates for Results Incidence study oo of : There were total 288 paa :: City the year 1975 year specific incidence rates . tients 193 males and 95 females diagnosed in New . * Office of Biostatistics State of New York Department of -_ :. York State excluding New York and reported _.:April 1981 York State Journal of Medicine . 735