Epidemiological investigations of decreased employees of the asbestos cement industry in the Federal Republic of Germany.

An epidemiological study of the causes of death was performed covering the entire German asbestos cement industry (10 plants). Of 376 workers who had died in the period of 1 January 1976 - 31 December 1980 and who had been employed for a minimum of 10 years, 314 were included; 307 of these were men. Special consideration was given to the asbestos-related diseases asbestosis, asbestosis in combination with lung cancer, and mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum. The relationship between lung cancer with asbestosis and lung cancer without asbestosis is nearly 1:1. From this the conclusion can be drawn that a causal relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer can be assumed in only half of the lung cancer cases. This is, however, an upper approximation, since 15 cases of lung cancer were found which is 1/3 less than the expected number in comparison with the normal population. This documents the relatively small excess (SPMR = 1.2) of all cases of lung cancer detected in the asbestos cement industry as compared to the expected lung cancer cases not due to asbestos.