Taiwanese scientists say people who work in shipbreaking,
the dismantling of decommissioned ships, are more likely to die of mesothelioma
or another asbestos disease.
Cancer researchers in Taiwan found that shipbreaking workers
are more likely to develop a range of cancers, including cancers of the mouth
and throat and lung-related cancers like mesothelioma. An article on the new
research has just been posted on the Surviving Mesothelioma website and can be
read by clicking here.
Public health and environmental experts from universities
across Taiwan analyzed cancer incidence among more than 4,000 shipbreaking
workers over a 24-year period.
According to study author Dr. Wei-Te Wu of the National
Health Research Institutes, “Asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer
and mesothelioma, were seen in excess in these shipbreaking workers and some
cases appeared to have a dose-dependent relationship.”
The study is one of the few to evaluate the risk of
mesothelioma and other cancers in shipbreaking workers over several decades. It
was published in the journal Environmental Research.
“This is just another reminder that ships are dangerous
places to work,” says Surviving Mesothelioma’s Managing Editor Alex Strauss.
“Mesothelioma has long threatened the lives of people who built or worked on
ships. Now, it seems likely that the next wave of mesothelioma in ship workers
will be among those who are taking apart these same vessels.”
The Taiwanese study found that mesothelioma tended to be
more common among workers who worked as flame cutters. To read more on the
shipbreaking study, including the breakdown of mesothelioma and other cancers,
see Mesothelioma Remains a Serious Risk for Shipbreaking Workers, available now
on the Surviving Mesothelioma website.
Wu, WT et al, “Cancer incidence of Taiwanese shipbreaking
workers who have been potentially exposed to asbestos”, May 14, 2014,
Environmental Research, Epub ahead of print, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24837247.
For nearly ten years, Surviving Mesothelioma has brought
readers the most important and ground-breaking news on the causes, diagnosis
and treatment of mesothelioma. All Surviving Mesothelioma news is gathered and
reported directly from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Written for
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more informed decisions.
Source: bus by way. 3 June 2014
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