Asbestos and Mesothelioma Incidence in Connecticut

Abstract

The relationship between asbestos consumption and mesothelioma incidence in Connecticut has been investigated. Asbestos has many industrial applications; however, several of these result in the dissipation of this material (e.g., vehicle brake and clutch lining erosion). In Connecticut, asbestos manufacturing operations contribute approximately 10 tons of airborne asbestos fibers each year, while vehicle brake and clutch lining erosion add another 2 tons. The demolition, especially the “explosive demolition” of buildings which have been fireproofed and/or insulated with asbestos-containing materials may be the most significant future source of asbestos emissions unless adequate precautions are taken. Occupational asbestos fiber exposure has been known to cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and cancer of the lining of the stomach and lung (mesothelioma) for some time. Recently, the previously rare mesothelial malignancy has been linked to nonoccupational asbestos fiber exposure as well. There were 133 Conneticut residents diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1935 and 1972. Although subject to diagnostic error, available statistics suggest that the combined sex age-adjusted mesothelioma incidence rate (AAR) per 100,000 Connecticut population has exhibited a possible 10-fold increase since 1935, rising from 0.02 during 1940 to 1949 to 0.25 from 1960 to 1969. The trends for both men and women also showed sharp increases over the same time period (1940 to 1970). The rapid rise in Connecticut's mesothelioma incidence rate closely follows the increase in the State's cumulative asbestos consumption and suggests a linearly increasing cause-effect relationship.