Abstract
Objective
Previous studies of predominantly ecological design have indicated a possible elevation of gastrointestinal cancer risk in population groups exposed to drinking water contaminated with asbestos from natural sources or asbestos–cement containing water pipes. In the present study the possible effect of ingested asbestos fibers on gastrointestinal cancer risk was investigated in an occupational group where a proportion of the employees was exposed to asbestos in their drinking water.
Method
A cohort of 726 lighthouse keepers first employed between 1917 and 1967 were followed up for cancer incidence from 1960 to 2002. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated as the number of new cancer cases divided by the expected number based on five-year age and sex specific incidence rates in the general rural population of Norway. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for all SIR values assuming a Poisson distribution of the cancer cases.
Results
Risk of stomach cancer was elevated in the whole cohort (SIR: 1.6, CI: 1.0–2.3), in the subgroup with definite asbestos exposure (SIR: 2.5, CI: 0.9–5.5), and when the group was followed for 20 years and more after first possible exposure (SIR: 1.7, CI: 1.1–2.7). Less consistent results were found for colon cancer; SIR was 1.5 (CI: 0.9–2.2) overall, 0.8 (CI: 0.1–2.9) among the exposed, and 1.6 (CI: 1.0–2.5) twenty years and more after first possible exposure.
Conclusion
The results support the hypothesis of an association between ingested asbestos and gastrointestinal cancer risk in general and stomach cancer risk specifically.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
JA Cotruvo (1983) ArticleTitleAsbestos in drinking water: a status report Environ Health Perspect 53 181–183 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC3cfivVw%3D Occurrence Handle6662086
PM Cook (1983) ArticleTitleReview of published studies on gut penetration by ingested fibers Environ Health Perspect 53 121–130 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXmt1yltA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle6662082
KP Cantor (1997) ArticleTitleDrinking water and cancer Cancer Causes Control 8 292–308 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7ktFWnsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9498894
LW Condie (1983) ArticleTitleReview of published studies of orally administered asbestos Environ Health Perspect 53 3–9 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXmt1yltw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle6363053
R Truhaut I Chouroulinkov (1989) ArticleTitleEffect of long-term ingestion of asbestos fibers in rats IARC Sci Publ 90 127–133 Occurrence Handle2744821
C Varga G Horvath V Timbrell (1999) ArticleTitleOn the mechanism of cogenotoxic action between ingested amphibole asbestos fibres and benzo[a]pyrene: II. Tissue specificity studies using comet assay Cancer Lett 139 173–176 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3835(99)00032-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjvFyns7g%3D Occurrence Handle10395175
A Andersen E Glattre V Johansen (1993) ArticleTitleIncidence of cancer among lighthouse keepers exposed to asbestos in drinking water Am J Epidemiol 138 682–687 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuD2Mnjs1w%3D Occurrence Handle8237983
Gylseth B, Mowe G, Wannag (1983) Fiber type and concentration in the lungs of workers in an asbestos cement factory. Br J Ind Med 40: 375–379
Preston D, Lubin J, Pierce D, McConney M. Epicure user’s guide. Seattle (WA): Hirosoft International Corporation 1993
JR Millette PJ Clark J Stober M Rosenthal (1983) ArticleTitleAsbestos in water supplies of the United States Environ Health Perspect 53 45–48 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXls1Gltg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle6662093
AB. Kane (1996) Mechanisms of mineral fiber carcinogenesis AB Kane P Boffetta R Saracci JD Wilbourn (Eds) Mechanisms of Mineral Fiber Carcinogenesis IARC Scientific Publications No 140 International Agency for Research of Cancer Lyon 11–34
B Ulvestad K Kjærheim JI Martinsen et al. (2002) ArticleTitleCancer incidence among workers in the asbestos–cement producing industry in Norway Scand J Work Environ Health 28 411–417 Occurrence Handle12539801
R Masse G Sebastien J Monchaux J Bignon (1990) ArticleTitleExperimental demonstration of the penetration of asbestos fibers into gastrointestinal tract IARC Sci Publ 30 321–332
M Albin K Jakobsson R Attwell L Johansson H Welinder (1990) ArticleTitleMortality and cancer morbidity in cohorts of asbestos cement workers and referents Br J Ind Med 47 602–610 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXht1yiu7s%3D Occurrence Handle2207031
IJ Selikoff EC Hammond H Seidman (1979) ArticleTitleMortality experience of insulation workers in the United States and Canada, 1943–1976 Ann NY Acad Sci 330 91–116 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi%2BC3cjot1M%3D Occurrence Handle294225
JC McDonald FDK Lidell GW Gibbs GE Eyssen AD McDOnald (1980) ArticleTitleDust exposure and mortality in chrysotile mining, 1910–1975 Br J Ind Med 37 11–24 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi%2BC2srislw%3D Occurrence Handle7370189
PE Enterline J Hartley V Henderson (1987) ArticleTitleAsbestos and cancer: a cohort followed up to death Br J Ind Med 44 396–401 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2sXlsVSisLY%3D Occurrence Handle3606968
JM Harrington GF Craun JW Meigs PJ Landrigan JT Flannery RS Woodhull (1978) ArticleTitleAn investigation of the use of asbestos cement pipes for public water supply and the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in Connecticut, 1935–1973 Am J Epidemiol 107 96–103 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSeC3c%2FlsVI%3D Occurrence Handle623099
TD Sadler WN Room JL Lyon JO Mason (1984) ArticleTitleThe use of asbestos cement pipes for water supply and the incidence of cancer in selected communities in Utah J Community Health 9 285–293 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01338728 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiqD3cjls1I%3D Occurrence Handle6480892
JR Millette GF Craun JA Stober et al. (1983) ArticleTitleEpidemiology study of asbestos–cement pipe for the distribution of drinking water in Escambia County, Florida Environ Health Perspect 53 91–98 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC3cfjtVc%3D Occurrence Handle6559131
HL Howe PE Wolfgang WS Burnett PC Nasca L Youngblood (1989) ArticleTitleCancer incidence following exposure to drinking water with asbestos leachate Public Health Rep 104 251–256 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaB28rltVQ%3D Occurrence Handle2498974
DT Wigle Y Mao R Semenciw MH Smith P Toft (1986) ArticleTitleContaminants in drinking water and cancer risks in Canadian cities Can J Public Health 77 335–342 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiD2sjnsFQ%3D Occurrence Handle3791113
L Polissar RK Severson BS Boatman DB Thomas (1982) ArticleTitleCancer incidence in relation to asbestos in drinking water in the Puget Sound region Am J Epidemiol 116 314–328 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi2B1c7jvFU%3D Occurrence Handle7114040
DT Wigle (1977) ArticleTitleCancer mortality in relation to asbestos in municipal water supplies Arch Environ Health 32 185–190 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSiB2c%2FpsFU%3D Occurrence Handle889357
MS Kanarek PM Conforti LA Jackson RC Cooper JC Murchio (1980) ArticleTitleAsbestos in drinking water and cancer incidence in the San Francisco Bay area Am J Epidemiol 112 54–72 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi%2BB3sbksVE%3D Occurrence Handle7395855
PM Conforti MS Kanarek LA Jackson RC Cooper JC Murchio (1981) ArticleTitleAsbestos in drinking water and cancer in the San Francisco Bay Area: 1969–74 incidence J Chronic Dis 34 211–224 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6B3MrotlA%3D Occurrence Handle7240361
L Polissar RK Severson ES Boatman (1983) ArticleTitleCancer risk from asbestos in drinking water: summary of a case-control study in western Washington Environ Health Perspect 53 57–60 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC3cfivF0%3D Occurrence Handle6662095
InstitutionalAuthorNameInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (1995) Schistosomes, Liver Flukes and Helicobacter pylori. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans IARC Lyon 177
JR Kelley JM Duggan (2003) ArticleTitleGastric cancer epidemiology and risk factors J Clin Epidemiol 56 1–9 Occurrence Handle12589864
Moe D. En del eldre norske navn brukt på arter innen slekten Cochlearia (skjørbuksurt). Blyttia 1996; 4: 193–195 [In Norwegian, Older Norwegian names used on species within the Cochlearia genus].
A Andersen L Barlow A Engeland K Kjærheim E Lynge E Pukkala (1999) ArticleTitleWork-related cancer in the Nordic countries Scand J Work Environ Health 25 IssueIDsuppl 2 116
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kjærheim, K., Ulvestad, B., Martinsen, J.I. et al. Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and exposure to asbestos in drinking water among lighthouse keepers (Norway). Cancer Causes Control 16, 593–598 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-004-7844-1
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-004-7844-1