The Cement Australia Railton Study
Chief Investigators
Funding
Cement Australia
Estimated completion date
This is an ongoing project with update linkages to cancer and death registries at periodic intervals (e.g. five- to ten-year intervals, funding dependent).
Summary
This cohort study tracks cancer and mortality of current and former workers at a cement manufacturing plant which previously produced asbestos-cement products in Railton, Tasmania. Although the use of asbestos was phased out at Railton in the 1980s, risk of health effects among this workforce may still remain because asbestos-related diseases may not emerge until many years after exposure.
One of the better-known health effects of asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen caused by inhaled asbestos fibres. The condition has a very low survival rate.
This cohort has been linked to the national cancer and death registries to estimate rates of cancers and causes of death of cohort members and compare with those of the general population, identifying trends associated with the exposure. The cohort will be re-linked to updated registry data at periodic intervals (e.g. five-ten years).
Projected impact
This cohort study helps understand the long-term risk of asbestos-related diseases associated with work at a factory that formerly produced asbestos-cement products. Although use of asbestos was phased out in Australia several decades ago, occupational asbestos exposure remains an ongoing concern in many countries where asbestos products continue to be manufactured and used.
Key findings to date
The first round of registry linkage in 2010 showed that the numbers of cancers and deaths in this cohort were not elevated compared with the general population, however the cohort size and comparatively short follow-up period for many cohort members is such that future linkages will be important for understanding the cancer and mortality profile of this cohort as its members age.