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Biomedical subjects

M Grignoli

Publications and source records attributed to M Grignoli.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Cohort mortality study of women compensated for asbestosis in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The carcinogenic effect of asbestos is accepted for lung cancer and mesothelioma, while conflicting opinions exist for other cancer sites. The aim of the present investigation is to study cause-specific mortality of women compensated for asbestosis who had certainly been exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers. METHODS: The cause-specific mortality of all Italian women compensated for asbestosis and alive December 31, 1979, was investigated through October 30, 1997. In the total cohort, which included 631 subjects, 277 deaths occurred. Cause-specific SMRs (Standardized Mortality Ratio) were computed using the national rates for comparison. RESULTS: A significantly increased mortality for all diseases related to asbestos exposure was observed. Mortality for all causes, all neoplasms, lung cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and non-neoplastic respiratory diseases was significantly increased. Separate analyses for textile (n = 276) and asbestos-cement (n = 278) workers were performed. Women employed in the textile industry, mainly exposed to chrysotile, who are compensated at a younger age, showed higher SMRs for lung cancer and asbestosis. Women in the asbestos-cement industry, mainly exposed to crocidolite containing asbestos mixtures, experienced higher mortality for pleural malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: The role of asbestos exposure in the development of gastrointestinal and genital neoplasms is discussed.

Adult↗

Mortality due to asbestos-related causes among railway carriage construction and repair workers.

The objective of this study was to further clarify the cancer risk associated with asbestos exposure in railway carriage construction and repair. The cohort included 734 subjects employed between 1 January 1945 and 31 December 1969. Vital status was ascertained at 31 December 1997. Mortality was investigated in the time span 1970-97. Forty-two subjects (6%) were lost to follow-up and eight causes of death (4%) could not be ascertained. The overall mortality was not above the expected value. Among neoplastic diseases, excesses were observed for lung ştandardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 124; 90% confidence interval (CI) = 87-172; 26 obs), pleura (SMR = 1,327; CI = 523-2,790; 5 obs), larynx (SMR = 240; CI = 95-505; 5 obs), liver (SMR = 241; CI = 126-420; 9 obs), pancreas (SMR = 224; CI = 98-443; 6 obs) and multiple myeloma (SMR = 429; CI = 117-1,109; 3 obs). The observed excess of lung and pleural neoplasms can be causally related to asbestos exposure in the manufacture of railway carriages. A causal role of asbestos exposure in the raised SMRs from laryngeal and pancreatic neoplasms and multiple myeloma cannot be conclusively proven.

Adult↗

Mortality study of asbestos cement workers.

The present study describes cause-specific mortality of asbestos cement workers in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. The cohort included workers in ten factories, most of which started operating between 1955 and 1965. Asbestos, mainly chrysotile, constituted 10%-20% of the dry component of the mixture. Crocidolite range between 5% and 50% of total asbestos. Asbestos concentrations up to 44 ff/cc were reported prior to 1975, while in recent years they have usually been below 0-1 ff/cc. The cohort included 3341 workers who had at some time been employed in the ten factories under study. Their mortality experience was compared with that of the population resident in Emilia Romagna. Vital status was ascertained at 1989. Seventy-three subjects were lost to follow-up (2.2%). Mortality from all causes and from all types of cancer was increased in the cohort. Malignant neoplasms of the respiratory tract showed a significant increase (SMR: 134; 90% confidence interval: 101-175; 40 observed) due to lung cancer (SMR: 124; 90% confidence interval: 91-166; 33 observed) and neoplasms of the pleura, mediastinum, and other parts of the respiratory tract (SMR: 602; 90% confidence interval 237-1267; 5 observed). The discrepancy between observed and expected mortality mainly concerned subjects with at least 20 years of employment in the factories. Five more cases of histologically confirmed mesothelioma occurred after the end of follow-up.

Asbestos↗

Mortality study of workers employed by the Italian National Institute of Health, 1960-1989.

A cohort mortality study was conducted to evaluate the cancer risk of workers employed by the National Institute of Health in Rome, Italy. Cancer mortality was evaluated for research staff. A deficit of overall cancer mortality was found for the men, but not for the women. Elevated (albeit statistically nonsignificant) standardized mortality ratios were found for cancer of the pancreas (men 155, women 236), cancer of the brain (men 159), lympho- and reticulosarcomas (men 233, women 512), and lymphatic and hematopoietic tumors (women 623). In addition the women had a statistically significantly elevated risk of breast cancer (288). Although most of these results, with the exception of breast cancer among the women, were not statistically significant, due to the limited study size, they point to the existence of excess risks for some tumors. The possibility that these increases are related to exposures occurring in the laboratory setting deserves further consideration.

Adult↗

[Territorial distribution of mortality from malignant tumors of the pleura in Italy].

Mortality from malignant pleural neoplasms in Italy, 1980-87, was studied in order to detect areas at risk. The number of observed deaths occurring in each of the 8000 Italian municipalities was contrasted to the expected figure obtained from regional and/or national rates; whenever a significant increase, based on at least three observed cases, was detected, the municipality was included in the study. The main findings in Piedmont concern the city of Casale Monferrato, where an important asbestos cement factory is located, and some areas characterized by the presence of the textile industry. Genoa and other harbours of the northwestern coast, where important shipyards are located, were detected. In Lombardy an increased in risk concerning women was observed in several municipalities. Major increases in risk were seen in Venice. Trieste and Monfalcone, where important shipyards are located. In Tuscany, the highest risk was reported in Leghorn and surrounding areas; naval industry and chemical industries should be considered. In southern Italy, several cities with industrial harbours were shown to be at risk.

Cause of Death↗

[High risk of pleural mesothelioma among the state railroad carriage repair workers].

Exposure to asbestos in a facility for the repair of railroad carriages in Bologna was initially studied in 1980, when the Local Health Unit started a program of primary prevention on request of the Unions. At that time workers employed in jobs with high exposure to asbestos were identified. The mortality experience of these 173 subjects was investigated from 01.01.1979 through 31.12.1997, and compared to that of the population of Emilia Romagna. SMR for all causes was 69, with upper limit of the confidence interval lower than 100; this was largely due to a significant decrease of cardiovascular mortality. Among neoplasms, there was a significant excess of pleural mesothelioma (6 observed, 0.09 expected); one more subject died for peritoneal mesothelioma and one for malignant mesothelioma of unspecified site. About half of the subjects deceased for neoplastic disease (8/17) were affected by mesothelioma.

Humans↗

[Mortality study of workers employed in the construction of railway cars in Collefero].

The mortality of 276 workers employed in a facility for the manufacturing and maintenance of railroad equipment has been studied in the town of Colleferro (province of Rome). The cohort was based on the 1968 payrolls, and follow-up was conducted up to 1988. Exposure to asbestos took place both during insulation (performed by specialized companies in the same workplaces where study subjects were operating) and during repair work. Mortality for all causes was lower than expected (45 observed, SMR: 71), while mortality from all neoplasms was consistent with expected figures (21 observed, SMR: 107). An increase for respiratory neoplasms was observed (10 observed, SMR: 138); the increase was statistically significant allowing for 20-30 years of latency (7 observed, SMR: 337).

Aged↗

[Mortality among lead-zinc miners in Val Seriana].

The mortality experience of 1392 lead-zinc-silver miners (Gorno, Northern Italy) employed in the period 1/1/1950-31/12/1980 and followed-up to 31/12/1986 was examined. Two separate estimates of the radon exposure level are available: 0.60 and 0.36 working levels respectively. The silica exposure level was not assessed. Vital status was ascertained for 95.6% of the cohort members and their mortality was compared with expected deaths based on national rates. Significant excess mortality from esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, respiratory tuberculosis, respiratory diseases and deaths from external causes was found among underground miners. Surface workers show significantly increased mortality from liver and bile ducts cancer, hepatic cirrhosis, respiratory tuberculosis and respiratory diseases. Based on the 16.4 excess lung cancer cases among underground miners and their cumulative radon exposure, an attributable risk estimate ranging from 9.78 and 16.31 cases per million person-years and WLM (Working Level Month) was calculated.

Adolescent↗

[Mortality due to causes correlatable to asbestos in a cohort of workers in railway car construction].

A study was made of the mortality experience of a cohort of railway carriage construction workers with the aim of detecting asbestos-induced disease. The cohort included 1534 men who were active as at 01.01.1970 and/or hired up to 30.06.89. Vital status was ascertained for 97.7% of the cohort. The mortality experience of the cohort was compared with that of the population of the Campania Region. Altogether, 194 deaths were observed (SMR: 0.88). Significant mortality deficits were associated with circulatory causes (SMR: 0.64, 58 observed), non-malignant respiratory causes (SMR: 0.59, 12 observed), and accidents (SMR: 0.39, 5 observed). A significant increase in mortality from all neoplasms was detected (SMR: 1.25, 69 observed), mainly due to an excess of lung cancer (SMR: 1.45, 28 observed), pleural cancer (SMR: 4.72, 3 observed), and peritoneal cancer (SMR: 7.47, 2 observed). The excess of mortality from respiratory neoplasms mainly affected subjects who had started employment more than 20 years previously.

Asbestos↗

[A mortality study of recipients of compensation for asbestosis in Italy (1980-1990)].

The cause-specific mortality experience of a cohort inclusive of all subjects compensated for asbestosis in Italy (altogether 3417 persons--2776 men and 641 women), was studied from 31.12.1979 through 30.6.1990. Forty-eight subjects, corresponding to 1.4% of the cohort, were lost to follow-up, while it was not possible to ascertain the cause of death of 78 subjects, corresponding to 6.9% of the deceased. Observed mortality was compared with expected figures, derived from the Italian population mortality rates. The study showed significant increases in mortality from all causes (SMR 153, 1134 obs), respiratory disease (SMR 388, 218 obs), all neoplasms (SMR 192, 438 obs), namely lung (SMR 289, 190 obs), pleura (SMR 2745, 34 obs), peritoneum (SMR 1372, 14 obs), intestine and rectum (SMR 186, 36 obs) and ovary (SMR 545, 6 obs). A significantly decreased mortality was observed for cardiovascular disease (SMR 85, 266 obs), diabetes (SMR 37, 8 obs) and disease of the nervous system (SMR 29, 3 obs). The increase in neoplasms of lung, pleura and peritoneum was significant in both genders, while the increase in intestinal neoplasms was significant among women but not among men. Exposure in the manufacture of asbestos-cement products, the shipbuilding and textile industries accounted for most of the observed mortality excess.

Asbestosis↗

[Cause-specific mortality of asbestos-cement workers compensated for asbestosis in the city of Bari].

The cause-specific mortality of 233 asbestos cement workers employed by the Fibronit company in Bari and compensated for asbestosis was investigated. Cohort members were enrolled on 31.12.1979 and followed through 30.4.1997; follow-up was completed for 98.3% of study subjects, and causes of death were ascertained for 96.6% of deceased subjects. Observed mortality was contrasted to that expected according to cause-sex-age- and calendar time-specific rates of the population resident in the Apulia Region. All causes observed mortality exceeded expected value (SMR: 117, 87 observed), due to a significant' increase in pneumoconiosis (SMR: 11238, 14 observed) and malignant neoplasms (SMR: 163, 38 observed)). A significant decrease of circulatory diseases was found (SMR: 64, 18 observed). Among cancer deaths, the following sites showed a significant excess: lung (SMR: 206, 17 observed), pleura (SMR: 2551, 4 observed), mediastinum (SMR: 2367, 2 observed) and peritoneum (SMR: 2877, 2 observed). The excess mortality due to asbestosis, respiratory cancer and peritoned neoplasms can be causally attributed to occupational asbestos exposure.

Asbestos↗