British Navy face higher risk of lung cancer due to on-board asbestos exposure, study finds

A University of Oxford study has found that asbestos exposure led to a higher incidence of asbestos-related lung cancers in British naval personnel than in any other armed forces.

The research, which was carried out in partnership with the University of Adelaide, was based on data collected from more than 30,000 United Kingdom and Australian personnel who served in the 50s and 60s – when asbestos-containing materials were commonly used in naval vessels.

Three of the four cohorts had previously been studied by the University of Adelaide and the UK Health Security Agency to identify the effects of radiation exposure from British nuclear testing; however, a raised incidence of mesothelioma, a cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure, was seen in naval personnel in all cohorts.

The University of Adelaide’s Dr Richie Gun and Oxford University’s Dr Gerry Kendall were prompted by this finding to examine the dataset for the occurrence of lung cancers, which can also arise from asbestos exposure.

The fourth cohort was Australian veterans of the Korean War, which had been studied by the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Dr Gun said:

“We found the lung cancer rate was higher overall in naval personnel than in the other armed services, and, while smoking remains the dominant cause of lung cancer, it is unlikely the excess could be explained by a higher smoking rate in the navy,”

“Although actual measurements of airborne asbestos levels were not available, and estimates are difficult, we have concluded that the higher lung cancer rate in sailors was most probably caused by onboard asbestos exposure.

“This conclusion was strengthened by the occurrence of deaths in sailors from asbestosis, a condition which is non-cancerous but is nevertheless disabling and potentially fatal.”

The researchers have estimated that the proportion of lung cancers related to onboard asbestos exposure were of the order of 27 per cent in Australian seamen and 12 per cent in British seamen.

Dr. Gun said the effects of asbestos exposure are likely being underestimated unless lung cancer is considered alongside mesothelioma and asbestosis:

“Although it remains true that smoking causes most lung cancers, other agents such as asbestos can contribute to the incidence of cancer in an exposed population,” he said.

“Moreover, we know from other studies that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure has an enhanced influence on lung cancer risk; this interactive effect would have contributed to the observed lung cancer excess.”

The discovery of a link between asbestos exposure and a higher incidence of lung cancer is a timely reminder of the need for protection against exposure to other harmful airborne dusts.

“Strict control measures are required to protect workers potentially exposed not only to asbestos but to other hazardous dusts, such as dust from engineered stone now installed in many kitchens,” said Dr Gun.

Further reading

Mesothelioma and Asbestos-related claims – Oakwood Solicitors

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