A joint research effort has brought to light a concerning trend: British and Australian naval personnel exhibit a higher incidence of asbestos-related lung cancers compared to their counterparts in other military branches. This alarming finding underscores the persistent danger posed by asbestos and emphasizes the critical need for rigorous safeguards against hazardous airborne substances.
Research findings have unveiled an increased occurrence of asbestos-related lung cancers among British and Australian naval personnel, signifying the enduring risks associated with asbestos exposure and the imperative for stringent protective measures.
A comprehensive study conducted by the University of Adelaide and Oxford University scrutinized data from 30,085 individuals who served in the British and Australian armed forces during the 1950s and 1960s, a period when asbestos-containing materials were prevalent in naval vessels from both nations.
Establishing the Connection Between Asbestos and Lung Cancer
Three of the four cohorts included in this research had previously undergone scrutiny by the University of Adelaide and the UK Health Security Agency to assess the impact of radiation exposure from British nuclear testing. Intriguingly, all four cohorts displayed a heightened incidence of mesothelioma, a cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure, among naval personnel.
Dr. Richie Gun from the University of Adelaide and Dr. Gerry Kendall from Oxford University were prompted by this revelation to delve further into the dataset, specifically exploring the occurrence of lung cancers, which can also result from asbestos exposure.
Highlighting the Alarming Findings
The fourth cohort comprised Australian veterans of the Korean War, a group previously studied by the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Dr. Gun remarked, “We observed a higher overall rate of lung cancer among naval personnel compared to other branches of the armed services. While smoking remains the predominant cause of lung cancer, it is improbable that the excess cases could be attributed to a higher prevalence of smoking in the navy.”
Asbestos Exposure: A Grave Concern
Dr. Gun further elaborated, “Although we lacked precise measurements of airborne asbestos levels and encountered challenges in estimating them, our conclusion strongly suggests that the elevated lung cancer rate among sailors is most likely a consequence of asbestos exposure during their service. This conclusion gains further credence from cases of asbestosis-related deaths among sailors—a debilitating and potentially fatal condition, though non-cancerous.”
The research team estimated that approximately 27 percent of lung cancer cases in Australian seamen and 12 percent in British seamen could be attributed to onboard asbestos exposure.
Ongoing Asbestos Risks
Despite a ban on asbestos imports and stringent regulatory controls on asbestos-containing materials in Australia, they continue to pose a risk to workers and, in some cases, homeowners. Disturbingly, the New South Wales Dust Diseases Register reported 142 instances of asbestosis and 111 deaths related to asbestosis in 2021-2022.
Dr. Gun emphasized that the adverse effects of asbestos exposure may be underestimated unless lung cancer is considered alongside mesothelioma and asbestosis. He stated, “While it remains true that smoking is the primary cause of most lung cancers, agents like asbestos can contribute to cancer incidence in an exposed population. Furthermore, other studies have demonstrated that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly heightens the risk of lung cancer, a factor that likely contributes to the observed excess of lung cancer cases.”
This discovery of a direct link between asbestos exposure and an increased incidence of lung cancer serves as a timely reminder of the imperative need for comprehensive safeguards against exposure to various harmful airborne dust particles. Dr. Gun concluded, “Stringent control measures are essential to safeguard workers who may potentially encounter not only asbestos but also other hazardous dusts, such as those arising from engineered stone, increasingly found in many kitchens.”
Reference: Scientific Reports, 14 November 2023, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44847-4.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about asbestos-related lung cancer
What is the main finding of the research?
The research highlights a significant increase in lung cancer rates among British and Australian naval personnel, primarily attributed to asbestos exposure during their service.
How was the study conducted?
The study involved analyzing data from 30,085 individuals who served in the British and Australian armed forces during the 1950s and 1960s. Researchers examined the occurrence of lung cancers and mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure, in these cohorts.
Is smoking the sole cause of the elevated lung cancer rates among naval personnel?
While smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, the research suggests that the excess cases of lung cancer in naval personnel cannot be solely attributed to a higher smoking rate within the navy.
What is the estimated proportion of lung cancers related to onboard asbestos exposure?
The study estimated that approximately 27 percent of lung cancer cases in Australian seamen and 12 percent in British seamen could be attributed to asbestos exposure during their service.
What implications does this research have for asbestos-related diseases today?
Despite bans and regulations, asbestos still poses a risk to workers and some homeowners. The research underscores the ongoing importance of strict control measures to protect against not only asbestos but also other hazardous dust particles.
More about asbestos-related lung cancer
- Scientific Reports, 14 November 2023
- University of Adelaide
- Oxford University
- UK Health Security Agency
- Australian Department of Veterans Affairs
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- New South Wales Dust Diseases Register
3 comments
wow, so many naval folks gettin’ lung cancer from asbestos, srsly bad stuff yo, protect those peeps!!
links, links, give me links to research, uni sites, all info plz!
27% Oz seamen, 12% UK seamen – asbestos risk high, we must protec!