Document V3X1NaXJak0wr9M0npXyon9Eo
An 2
ierdc 1ogj cal Stall
Lung Cancer in Asbestos Mine
L * ,<2'vXUkl^
und T. David Troan,
AKA Arcliives, J- io 1956, Yol. 17, do. 6
31. flew by
Thosiaa ?. l-'uncuoo, M.D. Chief, Divisic i of Industrial Hygiene
ffovtrser 13, I960
PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT
Af firmtivc Association:
Reviews Negative
i
rrrsCL' JCTCHY MATERIAL
1 Early literature rsfers to cancer cases which occurred
giruitaneoualy with csbe3to3i9. In other words, reviewed tfros
cases of n3beatooi~. to find vfcat percent of cancer (lung) occurred
in thiG group.
2. Example: Merevetber (1954)
l6.C$
Gloyne (1951)
l4.1$
1 Huepe(1952) status 7"17^ of eases of esbeatosis, lifter 1^ to
20 yeuro latent period, develop lung cancer*
2. IfOidaraim and Sor-re - ordinal e^periaento- produced lung cancer
in nice which were exposed to asbestos dust.
1. Snuoe (1939), found no cases of lung cancar among 630 cases of
asbestosis he examined*
2. Ijolleb (1942), found the number of cases of asbestos is with
lung cancer too sirs 11 for statistical evaluation*
3 We.cc 11 ns (19^7), in 126 x-rayed cases of asbestos is among 476,
found no lung cancer associated in the gi-oup*
Ibncuno:
Lung cancer occurs In asbestos workers with and without aabestoais* All studies were related to cases of lung cancer associated with aaLeatoais and whan thi3 sirrultan ecus requirement occurs, it in usually ti t-miller percentage. The Wegeliua study cakes the assurgotioa
i
Lung Cancer in Asbestos Miners
Toll:
that for lung cancer 1 occur, this would he only vhen asbestoeis is present y x-ray evidence. Thi3 cay or nay not be true. lung cancer an occur in these vorisers as a cause of death, without asbeato.-is as a secondary cause. By -considering, only-the-siwuItaneous < <;curr^ce^fLJfungjjc^ncex^and ._asbgstoglsA ; the-investigator ia au -ocatical I^excluding, a .large pQt.er*tial of-deaths-'With no diagnosis of usbestosis, even though -exposure. and-duratlon- of' exposure haVe"'USen' 'established-
Doll'^1955) studied records of men vbo worked for at least 20 years in exposed situations] found that in workers eX%r^_20-
' Kaneuso:
Braun: r'
Kancuao:
n j.
(Found 6l cases of lung cancer-studied 113 cen who had worked for
20 years or core.)
..
In Doll's study, he excluded those who died from other causes,
after shorter employment. It is evident that lung cancer cases
could have occurred anong employees with le38 than 20 years employmer
exposure, depending, of course, on what 13 found to be the pi nlimn
number of years exposure required and the latent period.
Cite3 selective factor of Dr. Gloyne's series of l^.l of
autopsy cases saying these cane as part of unusual group of lung
cases to autopsy. Also cites percent of lung cancer at Iondoa
Cheat Hospital was 21.37$*
Tills could very well relate to all the lung cancer cases
which come to the hospital, like coming to Dr. Cchsner's Clinic,
so this part of the criticism i6 valid. However, association
of asbestos la with lung cancer is not a bias that exists by
virtue of the Clinic-so observation of Gloyne is still an
unusual and valid suggestive lead.
3, Dun..-' Cancer in. Asbestos Miners
Braun: J.'ancr.LSO:
Refers to Klotz ' x> found only 4 cu3ea of lung cancer la 473 cases of aabestof' Is.
Initial observation in regard to the llaitatioaa of thla interpretation atill 'olds. Other cases could have occurred but not simultaneous 1/. yJTha simultaneous requirement places a restrictive bias in c :tual situation.*
DBMIOLCGICAL APPP-CACTI - by Braun
:>C'.u-ca of Data;
1. Braun used
through, thc~
ia Quebec.
.2 Established cohort, with/total exposure of 5 or jrorc year
who vers on ecgloycent. rolls in 1950. Tie office force a:
2'ancuso:
non-exposed vs re not included.
^for late^ peri^ja^uiared for lmja-'cancaar If the cutoff date
in 1955, then tha cohort Intent period is only being tested
against a period of 11 years, 1945-1955; question whether there is enough of this population in the cohort with exposure of 10 yean
or core. For example, if they (the aunber of workers with 10 or
more years exposure) represented only 20^ of the cohort, the
expectancy of lung cancer would definitely be diluted by the other
o. The cohort followed through 1955>,Jhether alive or dead.
It
he states-ell but a email number of these vero accounted for os
either living or dead." Thin was 133 out of 6,091- If the I33 were
found anrl only 1 lung cancer recorded had occurred, the entire
conclusion of the study would have been different. Certainly a
vary slight thread to draw 3uch definite conclusions.
F 1
4. Long Cancer In Aat'-sron Miners
Braun:
J-tmCUSOI Kancuso: I-raun' rlancuso:
1. Through Office of /ital Statistic? tabulated lung cancer
rates by oeic for 2ars 1950-1955/ inclusive*
2. Croup policy cove igo of one company studied for all cancers
of lung and Braun states: "Very fev not covered by this policy-
and those who leavs industry and are not covered, are a snail nu
Bov irony? This nay offoct results. Braun states "fev cases
in which lung cancer 11 strongly suspected but not proved os the
cause of death vere considered separately*"
Bentos from lung cancer vere daterained from clinical records in.
the medical service of industry and checked by means of death
certificates and the insurance company records. Bowver, he refers
to only the group insurance plan coverage of industry.
Cohort-5,953, placed in three (3) categories according to
increasing degrees of exposure based on weighted average of years, &
Table l~6qjh.of- cohort
imputation weighted tev)tbd^
not-fthoMuuausl
inc IdeaMEBffiPtT.xmg ^aSeer-"ficStS3t>''ia thqLOhdg?&e/.groups , therefore,
rate? of this group as a >total for.C&dC*r^Vtllbelovn^^
a^^dilwtion 5factor of considerable;proportion. Eovever, the age
specific rates for 20-44, if higher than the control, would bo
significant. Again, however, one
Ince this is probably the latent
period, otherwise the rate becomes markedly diluted. The number of
this group by the very nature of the ages, 20-44, would indicate thal
the number of workers of 20 or more years would be very nmll,
too Bmll to use* statistically since the cohort was only followed fo:
11 years. Bov may vere there with 11 or more years exposure in the
age group of 20-44 comprising 6&f> of the total cohort?
5 lung Cancer in Asbestos Minora
Mnucuso:
rtincuso: icuao:
{Aoncuso:
Table 2. The r.uri' and percent distribution by length of
erploynent shoved On3y 30$ vith 20 years hr core exposure; 7C$ hi less than 20 years. If it takes 20 or nore years to develop lung then the dilution factor is 7^;jJ the lung cancer rates should be t on the 3^ Even should ve cooaider that 10 or nore years arc req then there is still 3# of the cohort vhioh would not bo the population vben the rates are calculated. Materially, vould increase the rates. Notice, however, in addition thatthg-length < e;nplo>7aent in- not - given by age grout* Could be as high as 50^ in tlie age ^rcru? vith less than 10 years of e=ploynent. Don't know actual percent hurt represents a high dilutioa factor.
Ihblo 3 Exposure categories.
Again, in categories not related to the age groups like 20-44.
Table k. Smoking Habits.
^ot relatod to age groupo. -Definition of SX&$rar--CigarsttS
a day. This is not tha definition usually used which refers to a
pack a day, etc*
Table p, ;rurher of Cases.
Defined proved cases of lung cancer as "diagnosis suggested by
autopsy, surgical section. Microscopic examination." "Suspected
casco-3, diagnosis in doubt but evidence points to cancer***
*
Basic error hero. In comparing this type of ffpanradfapqay
, vnlch
the rates for lung cancer
in the control are derived from luag cancorr as listed on the death
certificates. There la a^-rrtfrtv*-
u Actually, this would bo ^lijpoesible without reviewing all ths lung cancer case* of the count
IVm'icso: y.oncuno j
"ancuso:
/ /
i Train:
w"Establishing thei entire clinical recordo Secondly, tha goncrn.1
population nay not :v *3 o-aina opportunity of podi-cnl care. This coal
wri berth ways, axel'- .ca other cases without such confirmation.
Controls include both confirmed and nonconfirmed, usually nonconfixr*
group in larger becau; a of medical or available nodical care.
In discussion sta'-ee "If ho uses the 3 suspected cases. Table 12
would be otatlatica.il;.- oignlfleant. "
I*e goes on to analyze the 3 questionable cases because this
cokes the study so clcac to the significant level.
Tobla U. Lung Cancer Deaths by Aga Groups.
There vac only 1 case of the 9 proved cases in-the 20-hh ago grou
Recall that this age group hod 66s of tha population. of ths cohort.
The rata for 20-hb, per 100, COO jncre years of exposure, vas only
h; and rate for bfj-jb vac l2_. (Cccjprised 17$ of cohort).
Rates era based on very craa.ll numbers, one each in 2Q-bb and
^p-51** Cannot use total average rate of 25 because of mrkod dilutio
factor of a3 20-hh iota cf b which comprised 66$ of population;
czsst raake ago cpoclfic corptiriocna with the control.
Table 9* Lung Cancer Deaths by Length of Employment.
Sbovs'that- cny~l"piTT7*5a~e,S^
in^tha iealTTMrr'20--
yeJup^Length -of enploynerffc-*35~^^
co^cflS^dJ'l'0$'m6il~ tEsTCbbort.
Tko rates under 31 years length of employment vsre ^ per 100, 000.
This again dilutes total rate and lovere average rate to 25*
Ilote that tha rates were high in 20-29 yr. length of employment
Group which was 3b, and the 30-39 yro. length of employment vos 4
13/100,000 ron employment years.
Discussion of 2'i0 nen over bo years of age, followed for 6 years,
did not develop lung cancer.
; - 7
Broun: I Sane us o:
Mancuso:
Table 10 Iran.-; Cane; Deaths by Exposure Category
.
States rates do r. t increase by category of exposure. "Thu*
tliia is proof that as' estes is not a carcinogenic agent."
Categories,, hovev: r, are not related to age distribution of the
population) for example, 66of population in the 20*44 age group.
Do not know hov much e contribution is cade to these various
categories, I, II and III. Thi3 cay be the reason vhy the rates did not rise with category increase froa I to III.
1/
Secondly, workers.^re so small,-^ caseB In category III; the
.audition-of 1 or 2 cases rakes sizeable difference.
Table 11.
Categories I, II find III were comprised of 1,795 persons with
employment only of 5~? years and comprised 30$ of cohort population;
adding the 10-19 yrs. length of employment group gives 70$ of the
population. However, of those groups at least 66^ must have been
in age group 20-44; 1300 out of 1772 were in category III-from
employment group less than 20 years;- l4X) out'of 2,1^0 were in'
category II; 1300 out of 2,000 in Category I. It is obvious that
these categories are biased by contributions of different age
groups and higher numbers under 20 years in these categories.
Therefore, one cannot use thin approach because the categories
are weighted by a larger number in the younger age group; even in
category III which would be less likely to have cases of lung "cancer
occurring. Braun states "Average number of years of employment in
each exposure category is almost identical.'1 He does not take into
consideration distribution by age group.
luar Cancer
States net a elrH .a caaa of ling cancer occurred in 1,265 noa-s.vckera of both " >roved" and "suspected" cases* ' Tables 13,l^i15.
Broun: " i'nncuao:
and greater age (data does cot show this) cae would expect the
non-sacking group to i hov a higher rate if lung cancer was due
to asbestos."
Actually hs does :>ot ohcnrln vfcat ages these coses occur in
the rstackers *"
Table 16, Cocparieon of Co*ix>rt Experience with Province of Quebec.
Gives -
Annual rate per 101,000
Province
' 22.5
Cc'sort
'
(Excluding Asbestos workers)
Ttrtal
33*<3
Proved
25.3
He gives no
;flqt,Jag
included. This would be statistically significant since same
exclusion factors are not applied to the controls. Secondly, he fee]
that the general population is cot studied oa diligently as the miner
and, tea refore, the rate cany be low in tha control, implying that
the difference, therefore, is not real.
Tha fact that the cohort did cot necessarily show a progressive increase in these years la not a valid argument because variations
tho re would be a rl3e in lung cancer after the latent period is fulfilled.
>
9. Lung Cancer in Aab33toa "in<r i
rVvr.cu.toi Braua:
Tabic 17*
Braun uses -a-ccla-ss.if'iscartiosn -o`f "prlsary" and "pxonrm'Ua** datcrr-ining vhotlir death certificate carried tha inclusion of
autopay or Burger/, etc. This lsjgot a valid cocporlsocu There
not the saca degree of accuracy in recording data on death certi
Tabiel3. Given corg3ar3 >n of actual and expected nuntber of lung cancer
deaths by age wrong asbestos sinew.
* 'r-ncuso!
First, Braun incs the 195^ cad 1955 province rates rather than 1
years of actual study froa vhich the population vaa studied, tm?
had a higher rate, anti vith the control higher, it becoaee less
likely to pich up the difference in the cohort because of the Basil
nuabow involved* Ih ths 65 years and over group, there were 5 obder
deaths compared to the expected of 2. Be, hovever, points out and
emphasizes that this includes 1 of the "suspected** case* to indicate
vhat appears to he a suggestion of statistical evidence. Be
that "it i3 rather likely that tbs rate for the general population is
understated in this age group for the obvious reason that the exact
cause of death in ths very old is cot a ratter of the saoa intensity
of interoat oa it ie in tta younger person. ** This is not true#
Ha expects to icply that the rate for this group would be higher in
the control and, therefore, tho differences observed by the cohort
in this age group would not neon anything.
In T-blo 18, says nenbow of cohort have not died frora lung cancer
at an age earlier than general population.
Karvcusoj
that the cohort consists of 6S of age j \y
Croups of 20-hh, and `
,1
10. king Ccs.ccr in Asbestos Mir.*rs
;ci:so:
expsrieneej so, if the Zj-hh group did not have a cufficlent latent purled, they vould not nave lung cancers. Hocall too that the cohort vas followed onfor 6 ;eaw? As to the corosat about tho
vith core than to ; rs of employment, this may be a selective fa with the hardy mirrivor i. There 1b
rtiua: }b reuse:
Discussion-page 6^7
Broun rjakeo his cos a again on the total rotee-oll ages, 20.3 per
ICO,000 for Canada. Compares to 253 per 100,000 proven cases. The
33*3 for total cases included the suspected.
Feol that,.Table 16, ago Buapectod,
ratbor thaa|
disprove, particularly vbect rceor;aizin$ that Cfft of the cohort la 20--
age group were in tha 7^> under 20 years exposure. d&r^cPCPul&tlon <
cohort without suf^cieit follov-uphna autocaticslly diluted the,
^results. /actually by ago apacific rates, the controls are lover than
the cohort study as it now stands. If cohort vas followed longer thE
vould shew up rore strlXlrygly that limitation of time period of folio*
influences absence of cases.
To not agroa vith statement ba mbca that "tin re are no important
differences between tho rates for asbestos nInara and general
population of Quebec and Canada."
Then proceeds to catg^q^yith
S^t^jafaMji^teh nra^
Bruun: y/mcn^oo:
(tSmsvraa&xtsam&a
Page 643 of discussion.
1 rr ! r 1
1 . _ _. . _ -1 ---
Wovf Speculates that about 50,000 persona exposed throughout tho
world have 1,000,000 ma years of exposure. Since only 150 cases
reported in the literature, gives rate 15 per 100,000.
I
s~
.^
.Ki.ieva.v3:
(continued)
'
Eilo is ridiculous ccause.icttuy ^caaeo of Lung cancer never are
reported. In tha literato* nirply because studies vero not mde in the
onbostoa plants, -hxuap'e: United States report* la literature axe
not an accurate gauge a- to vbat baa or bos not occurred as far as
lung cancer in concern;..
Naneuso j
Table 22.
This table sboxa tfcrvt lung cancer rate of tbe county la vtiicb tha .
onbotes plants were lomted bus rate 2 tinea tha adjacent oountiaa,
13.9 to 9.4. This is a valid ccspirlsoa, certainly cole* a better
control. He has been using the Province of Quebec as a control vhich. .
I believe includes ttontreal vhich raises the overall rate of the "*
control*
r.raua:
Refers to additional cases not included in tbo cohort. ?or example
the 9 deaths prior to the beginning of ctudy due to lung cancer.
!-h.r.crjjJO:
i
Braua refers again to "at least 7 of 19 proved lung cancers were
'
not accocixialed .by 0.5besreals. " This is not tha point about dealing
1 only uith the biatologically proven cases. Ifo should have uaod as a i1 . control, the age specific rates of tbo surrounding counties
\ ^ of tha total Province which van weighted with other industrial areas,
j vhich raised tbs total rate of tbo control.
If ho hod coaparod with the adjoining counties on an ago specific 1 basis, it would bava been statistically significant beceune the ooe
county van elreody 2 tisrta tha rata of the adjoining county.
-
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