Too Soon to Breathe Easy: Trends in Asbestosis Morbidity and Mortality in Wisconsin

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bedno S ; Creswell PD ; McCoy KE ; Modji KKS ; Morris CR
• Description:
  Objectives: This study aimed to describe asbestosis morbidity and mortality in two statewide samples. We considered trends, demographic disparities, and excess mortality. Methods: We assessed trends and demographic differences in asbestosis morbidity using hospital and emergency department (ED) visits. We calculated asbestosis mortality rates using vital records data and computed proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) to assess excess deaths by standardized industry and occupation codes. Results: Asbestosis diagnoses peaked in 2008 and have declined since that time. Several occupations and industry codes, including those in Production/Manufacturing, Construction, and Transportation, were associated with an excess burden of asbestosis mortality. Conclusions: Despite declining diagnoses, asbestosis remains a risk for workers. Our findings of excess mortality for Transportation-related industry and occupation codes are unique and may indicate previously unrecognized risks in these jobs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Emergency Responders Epidemiology Inorganic Chemicals Morbidity Mortality Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Asbestosis Author Keywords: Epidemiology Emergency Treatment Hazardous Exposures Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Occupational/Environmental Disease Occupational Exposure Occupations
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  36-43
• Volume:
  67
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070625
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2025 Jan; 67(1):36-43
• Contact Point Address:
  Paul D. Creswell, PhD, Occupational Health Safety and Surveillance Program, Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1 West Wilson St, Room 150, Madison, WI 53703
• Email:
  pdcreswell@wisc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Madison
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:226cf30c6f073966c60a8a2ba00123fb3165a70268a8c3968e7f2a1af717bf4d362b3fa6890feca6046b185cf98af0da4fb360db765cf13c014e3d9c4a53a337
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208804/cdc_208804_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 231.59 KB ]