A Prospective Study of Mortality of Several Occupational Groups

Abstract

The study was primarily concerned with the risk of lung cancer in certain occupations. One occupation, asbestos workers, was found to have a definite increased risk of lung cancer, and the risk increased with length of time in the occupation. No other occupation was found to have increased lung cancer hazard. Other causes of mortality were not found related to these occupations except for two groups that had excess mortality from both cancers of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx and from cirrhosis of the liver. These diseases are associated with alcohol consumption, and this is the most likely explanation. The problems involved in the case control and prospective study sequence are discussed. Also the possible masking effect of such a powerful etiologic factor as cigarette smoking is discussed.