DOI xxxxxxxx
Varyvonchyk D. V.
SI «Institute or Occupational Health of NAMS of Ukraine», Kiev
Workers of asbestos-cement production (ACP) are exposed at workplace to no less than two production carcinogenic agents of the 1st group (by IARC Classification) — by industrial dust, containing chrysotile asbestos and crystal silicon dioxide (quartz). 17-year epidemiological studies shows, that standardized sex-aged indices of the general cancer morbidity and malignant neoplasm (MN) in target organs for chrysotile asbestos among ACP workers do not exceed population levels. The following standardized sex-aged indices for male workers demonstrate the «sufficient» degree of epidemiological evidence, by IARC criteria: high morbidity rates of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (25,8 times more as compared with the population level); low rates — prostate cancer (8,9 times). The results of epidemiological «case — control» studies showed, that depending on the ACP workers exposure to asbestos the occurrence of OR for all MN was recorded at most in storehouse workers (5,95) and in maintenance personnel (1,39) (p < 0,01) as well as in occupational groups — in general-duties men (2,94), repair-men (2,93), batcher-men (2,88) (p < 0,01); the development of MN in target-organs was exceeded significantly only for larynx cancer (5,02) (p < 0,01). An individual carcinogenic risk of chrysotile asbestos and crystal silicon dioxide for ACP workers of main professions (for 35 years of the work experience) is at «acceptable» level for the occupational exposure (ICR = 10-4—10-3) and the population carcinogenic risk of MN in target organs is 0,34 case for 35 years (1,34 per 100 000 exposed workers per year), developing due to chrysotile asbestos — by 32,3 %, to crystal silicon dioxide — by 67,7 %. Recommendations have been proposed for improvement of the control of risk management at ACP.
Key words: asbestos, asbestos-cement production, cancer, carcinogenic risk