How the Study Was Done
This study of asbestos workers was done entirely with records. NIOSH used personnel records to identify who worked at the plant.
We used death certificates to find out what workers died of. Then we compared the death rates in workers to death rates in the general U.S. population.
The U.S. rates gave us the number of expected deaths in workers. When the number of deaths is greater than the expected number, then a workplace association is suspected.
What the Study Found
The study results only cover the period through 1975. The study group included 2,722 men and 554 women.
Lung Cancer
NIOSH found 49 deaths from lung cancer among men. About 36 were expected. Based on U.S. rates, there were 14 deaths among women, with fewer than 2 expected.
It has been known for several decades that asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer. It is a cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen. Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma.
We found 13 deaths from mesothelioma in men and 4 in women.
Mesothelioma is so rare it is not possible to estimate a number of expected deaths.
Mesothelioma usually appears 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis (scarring of the lungs) is a serious non-cancer type of lung disease thatcauses breathing problems. It is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers.
NIOSH found 76 deaths in men of various kinds of lung diseases, including asbestosis.
About 16 deaths were expected based on U.S. rates. We found 14 deaths in women, with less than 1 expected.
Heart Disease
We found 375 deaths in men from heart disease. About 315 were expected from this common cause of death. There were 38 deaths among women, with about 30 expected.
While there was only a small increase in deaths among workers compared to U.S. rates, some of these deaths may have been related to asbestos-caused lung disease.
This is because lung problems can in turn cause heart problems.