Documents Turuguet, Domenech 3 results

"Insufficient evidence exists on the risk of pleural mesothelioma from non-occupational exposure to asbestos. A population-based case-control study was carried out in six areas from Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Information was collected for 215 new histologically confirmed cases and 448 controls. A panel of industrial hygienists assessed asbestos exposure separately for occupational, domestic and environmental sources. Classification of domestic and environmental exposure was based on a complete residential history, presence and use of asbestos at home, asbestos industrial activities in the surrounding area, and their distance from the dwelling. In 53 cases and 232 controls without evidence of occupational exposure to asbestos, moderate or high probability of domestic exposure was associated with an increased risk adjusted by age and sex: odds ratio (OR) 4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-13.1. This corresponds to three situations: cleaning asbestos-contaminated clothes, handling asbestos material and presence of asbestos material susceptible to damage. The estimated OR for high probability of environmental exposure (living within 2000 m of asbestos mines, asbestos cement plants, asbestos textiles, shipyards, or brakes factories) was 11.5 (95% CI 3.5-38.2). Living between 2000 and 5000 m from asbestos industries or within 500 m of industries using asbestos could also be associated with an increased risk. A dose-response pattern appeared with intensity of both sources of exposure. It is suggested that low-dose exposure to asbestos at home or in the general environment carries a measurable risk of malignant pleural mesothelioma."

"Objectives This study examined the occupations and industries at high risk for bladder cancer in an area where the textile industry is plentiful and the incidence of the disease is very high. Methods A case-referent study concerning 218 incident bladder cancer cases diagnosed during 1993-1995 in the county of Vallès Occidental, Barcelona, was carried out. A reference group (N=344) was selected from municipal lists matched to the cases by age, gender, and area of residence. All the subjects were personally interviewed, and a complete occupational history was abstracted together with other sociodemographic and life-style factors. All odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were adjusted for age, gender, and smoking. Results No overall excess risk was found for ever having worked in the textile industry (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.79-1.63) nor for specific sectors of this industry (ie cotton, wool, silk). An excess risk was observed for spinners and winders employed for more than 20 years (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.08-9.97) and for machine setters employed between 1960 and 1974 (OR 4.26, 95% CI 1.09-16.7). Conclusions The results of this study do not support the findings of some earlier studies for an increased bladder cancer risk in the textile industry. However, some elevated risks were observed among the workers with the highest exposures."