[Mortality study of asbestos cement workers in Emilia-Romagna].

OBJECTIVE: The present study updates to 06/30/1998 the cohort mortality study of 3358 workers employed in 10 asbestos cement production plants in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort includes 2712 males and 646 females. RESULTS: Overall mortality was significantly increased (SMR=131, IC95%:108-127). Excess mortality has been observed for all malignant neoplasms (SMR=131, IC95%: 115-149, 250 observed) and for respiratory diseases (SMR=153, IC: 105-216, 32 observed), 3 deaths due to asbestosis. Mortality for all respiratory tract neoplasms (SMR=179, IC: 148-215, 114 observed), pulmonary cancer (SMR=157, IC: 126-192, 90 observed) and pleural cancer (SMR=1922, IC: 1139-3038, 18 observed) are significantly increased. DISCUSSION: This study confirms the previous cohort study observation of increased mortality for all causes, all neoplasm and cancer affecting lungs and pleura.