Epidemiology of primary malignant mesothelial tumors in canada

Abstract

All fatal malignant mesothelial tumors known to patholgosts in Canada between 1959 and mid-1968 were registered. They numbered 165 (1 per million population per annum); two thirds were in males. Occupational and residential histories were obtained “blind” from relatives and friends of 90% of the cases and 2 matched control series. An association with definite or probable occupational exposure to absestos was clearly demonstrated, but only 20% of male cases and one female case had any such contact. Almost all the excess was in the manufacture and industrial application of absestos rather than in mining or milling. No association was found with lesser degrees of occupational exposure or residence in absestos-mining areas, but there was a small excess of possible domestic exposures the smoking histories in the mesothelial tumor and main control groups were almost identical and unlike those for cases of primary lung cancer.