Former asbestos miners face elevated mortality decades after exposure
A study of 11,343 former asbestos miners in South Africa found that their all-cause mortality was 4% higher than the general population, with women experiencing a 17% higher mortality rate. The study identified predictors of mortality, including severity of lung abnormalities and reduced lung function.
Researchers at the University of Cape Town's School of Public Health studied 11,343 former asbestos miners recorded in the Asbestos and Kgalagadi Relief Trusts' electronic database between January 2004 and March 2023. The study found that all-cause mortality among former asbestos miners was 4% higher than the general population, with a 17% higher mortality rate among women. Severity of lung abnormalities on chest radiographs was strongly associated with increased risk of death, ranging from 13% to 42%. Former miners with severely reduced lung function had a 60% increased risk of dying. Predictors of mortality also included low body mass index and smoking history. The findings underscore the importance of routine respiratory monitoring and early management of lung disease in exposed workers.
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