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Cancer Incidence and Risk of Multiple Cancers after Environmental Asbestos Exposure in Childhood—A Long-Term Register-Based Cohort Study

Author

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  • Sofie Bünemann Dalsgaard

    (Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
    Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
    Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, University Research Clinic, Goedstrup Hospital, 7400 Herning, Denmark)

  • Else Toft Würtz

    (Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
    Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark)

  • Johnni Hansen

    (Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Oluf Dimitri Røe

    (Department of Oncology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
    Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Oncology, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, 7600 Levanger, Norway)

  • Øyvind Omland

    (Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark)

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the asbestos-associated cancer incidence and the risk of multiple cancers in former school children exposed to environmental asbestos in childhood. Methods: A cohort of 12,111 former school children, born 1940–1970, was established using 7th grade school records from four schools located at a distance of 100–750 m in the prevailing wind direction from a large asbestos-cement plant that operated from 1928 to 1984 in Aalborg, Denmark. Using the unique Danish personal identification number, we linked information on employments, relatives’ employments, date of cancer diagnosis, and type of cancer and vital status to data on cohortees extracted from the Supplementary Pension Fund Register (employment history), the Danish Cancer Registry, and the Danish Civil Registration System. We calculated standardized incidence rates (SIRs) for asbestos-associated cancers, all cancers, and multiple cancers using rates for a gender and five-year frequency-matched reference cohort. Results: The overall incidence of cancer was modestly increased for the school cohort (SIR 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.12) compared with the reference cohort. This excess was driven primarily by a significantly increased SIR for malignant mesothelioma (SIR 8.77, 95% CI 6.38–12.05). Former school children who had combined childhood environmental and subsequent occupational exposure to asbestos had a significantly increased risk of lung cancer. Within this group, those with additional household exposure by a relative had a significantly increased SIR for cancer of the pharynx (SIR 4.24, 95% CI 1.59–11.29). We found no significant difference in the number of subjects diagnosed with multiple cancers between the two cohorts. Conclusions: Our study confirms the strong association between environmental asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma and suggests that environmental asbestos exposure in childhood may increase the overall cancer risk later in life.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofie Bünemann Dalsgaard & Else Toft Würtz & Johnni Hansen & Oluf Dimitri Røe & Øyvind Omland, 2021. "Cancer Incidence and Risk of Multiple Cancers after Environmental Asbestos Exposure in Childhood—A Long-Term Register-Based Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:268-:d:712167
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Luigi Vimercati & Domenica Cavone & Maria Celeste Delfino & Antonio Caputi & Luigi De Maria & Stefania Sponselli & Vincenzo Corrado & Giovanni Maria Ferri & Gabriella Serio, 2020. "Asbestos Air Pollution: Description of a Mesothelioma Cluster Due to Residential Exposure from an Asbestos Cement Factory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
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    1. Corrado Magnani & Carolina Mensi & Alessandra Binazzi & Daniela Marsili & Federica Grosso & Juan Pablo Ramos-Bonilla & Daniela Ferrante & Enrica Migliore & Dario Mirabelli & Benedetto Terracini & Dari, 2023. "The Italian Experience in the Development of Mesothelioma Registries: A Pathway for Other Countries to Address the Negative Legacy of Asbestos," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Kathleen Mahoney & Tim Driscoll & Julia Collins & Justine Ross, 2023. "The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.
    3. Lucia Fazzo & Giada Minelli & Marco De Santis & Emiliano Ceccarelli & Ivano Iavarone & Amerigo Zona, 2023. "The Epidemiological Surveillance of Mesothelioma Mortality in Italy as a Tool for the Prevention of Asbestos Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-16, May.

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