Lung cancer prevalence among shipyard workers

Our plain-English summary of Lung cancer prevalence among shipyard workers, by W.J. Nicholson, R. Lilis, A.L. Frank, et al (American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1980).

The study

• Authors: W.J. Nicholson, R. Lilis, A.L. Frank, I.J. Selikoff
• Journal: American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Published: 1980;1(2):191-203
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 6 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher
• In J-M's library: Johns-Manville's company medical library held a copy (J-M no. 002047).

Abstract

The prevalence of lung cancer has been ascertained during a survey of 286 shipyard workers all 20 to 45 years from onset of asbestos exposure in shipyard work. Two men had had previous thoracic surgery for lung cancer. In addition, bronchogenic carcinoma was found in five men. One was among the 35 men less than 30 years in the yard; three were in the 191 who had begun work 30 to 39 years before, and one was in the group of 60 men who were 40+ years from onset. The potential usefulness of large-scale surveillance programs for the early detection of lung cancer among current and former shipyard workers is discussed.

In plain English

The authors examined 286 men from a ship repair yard on the US East Coast in February 1979 (139 still working, 147 retired) to find out how many had lung cancer. All had started shipyard work 20 or more years earlier. Only three had worked regularly as insulators, but about half of the rest were in trades that sometimes handled asbestos material directly. Two men had already had surgery for lung cancer. Chest x-rays showed probable bronchogenic carcinoma (a type of lung cancer) in five more men, and tissue examination later confirmed each case. All five were smokers. One was among 35 men under 30 years from starting in the yard, three among 191 at 30 to 39 years, and one among 60 at 40 years or more. Of 284 men with usable x-rays, 86.3% showed x-ray signs of pneumoconiosis (dust-related lung changes). The authors said the results gave some guidance on whether large-scale lung cancer surveillance should begin but were not definitive. They said generalizations were unwarranted and that more data should be sought quickly in similar high-risk groups.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Cross-sectional health survey measuring how many men had lung cancer at one point in time (a prevalence survey), with case reports of the five newly found cases
• Who was studied: 286 shipyard workers (139 currently employed and 147 retired union members) at a ship repair yard on the East Coast of the United States, all 20 or more years from the start of shipyard employment, examined February 24-27, 1979
• Exposure: Asbestos exposure from shipyard work, direct and indirect, across many trades (no fiber type named). Only three men had worked regularly as insulators. About half of the rest were in crafts that occasionally worked directly with asbestos material. Indirect exposure was common in other trades.
• Main results:
  • Two of the 286 men had previously had chest surgery for lung cancer.
  • Probable bronchogenic carcinoma was found on x-ray in five further men, and each case was later confirmed by tissue examination.
  • All five newly found lung cancer cases were smokers.
  • By time since starting shipyard work, the five new cases were: 1 of 35 men under 30 years, 3 of 191 men at 30-39 years, and 1 of 60 men at 40 or more years.
  • Among the 284 men with usable x-rays, 86.3% showed radiological evidence of pneumoconiosis.
  • 57 of 81 men (70.0%) whose survey x-rays were abnormal, and who knew the results of an x-ray taken in the previous two years, were unaware of any abnormality.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the findings suggest additional data should be sought as rapidly as possible in similar high-risk groups. This would help decide whether large-scale surveillance for early detection of lung cancer should be set up.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The authors said the results provide some guidance but are not definitive.
  • The authors said the experience was limited and generalizations were unwarranted.
  • The authors said little could be said about the long-term course and many more observations were needed.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer, Shipyards and maritime work.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Lung Cancer, Asbestos Exposure, Thoracic Surgery, Bronchogenic Carcinoma.

Related studies

• Prevalence of radiographic abnormalities among Northern California shipyard workers — P.L. Polakoff, B.R. Horn, et al. (1979)
• Asbestos disease in United States shipyards — I.J. Selikoff, R. Lilis, et al. (1979)
• Asbestosis, pulmonary symptoms and functional impairment in shipyard workers — K.H. Kilburn, R. Warshaw, et al. (1985)
• Airway obstruction in asbestos-exposed shipyard workers: with and without irregular opacities — K.H. Kilburn, R.H. Warshaw (1990)
• Radiological evidence of asbestos disease among ship repair workers — I.J. Selikoff, W.J. Nicholson, et al. (1980)
• Incidence of bronchial carcinoma in shipyard workers with pleural plaques — J.R. Edge (1979)

Browse more research in American Journal of Industrial Medicine, or return to medical research.