Lung cancer prevalence among shipyard workers.

The prevalence of lung cancer has been ascertained during a survey of 286 shipyard workers all 20 to 45 years from onset of asbestos exposure in shipyard work. Two men had had previous thoracic surgery for lung cancer. In addition, bronchogenic carcinoma was found in five men. One was among the 35 men less than 30 years in the yard; three were in the 191 who had begun work 30 to 39 years before, and one was in the group of 60 men who were 40+ years from onset. The potential usefulness of large-scale surveillance programs for the early detection of lung cancer among current and former shipyard workers is discussed.