NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

A meta-analysis of colorectal cancer and asbestos exposure.

Homa DM; Garabrant DH; Gillespie BW

Am J Epidemiol 1994 Jun; 139(12):1210-1222

https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116967

00222540

A meta analysis of asbestos (1332214) exposure and colorectal cancer mortality was presented in which asbestos type and dust levels were investigated as direct estimators of asbestos exposure. Lung cancer mortality and the proportion of deaths due to mesothelioma were investigated as proxy estimators of asbestos exposure. Published reports of 20 asbestos exposed cohorts formed the basis for this study. An elevated standard mortality ratio (SMR) was determined in cohorts exposed to amphibole asbestos but not in cohorts exposed to serpentine (79617962) asbestos fibers or in cohorts exposed to both serpentine and amphibole asbestos. Cohorts which had a lung cancer standard mortality ratio greater than 2.00 had a summary SMR of 1.51 and cohorts in which more than 1% of all deaths were attributed to mesothelioma had a summary SMR of 1.24. No clear correlation was found between lung cancer mortality and colorectal cancer mortality after stratifying the cohorts based on mortality due to all cancers excluding those known or suspected to be associated with asbestos exposure. There was a possibility noted that amphibole asbestos exposure may be associated with colorectal cancer, but these findings may reflect an artifact of miscertification of the cause of death.

NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Grant; Training; Epidemiology; Mortality-surveys; Cancer-rates; Risk-factors; Respiratory-system-disorders; Asbestos-fibers; Fibrous-bodies; Gastrointestinal-system-disorders; Author Keywords: asbestos; colonic neoplasms; meta-analysis; occupational diseases

Dr. David H. Garabrant, Occupational Health Program, Department of Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-2029

AJEPAS

1332-21-4; 79617-96-2

19940615

Journal Article

Grant

1994

Grant-Number-T15-OH-007207

12

0002-9262

Training

American Journal of Epidemiology

MI

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan