Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume 75, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 29-36

Migration and work in postwar Australia: Mortality profile comparisons between Australian and Italian workers exposed to blue asbestos at Wittenoom (Article)

Reid A.* , Merler E. , Peters S. , Jayasinghe N. , Bressan V. , Franklin P. , Brims F. , De Klerk N.H. , Musk A.W.
  • a School of Public Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
  • b Venetian Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Unit, Local Health Authority, National Health Service, Padua, Italy
  • c School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  • d School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  • e Venetian Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Unit, Local Health Authority, National Health Service, Padua, Italy
  • f School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  • g School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
  • h School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  • i School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia

Abstract

Objectives: Three hundred and thirty thousand Italians arrived in Australia between 1945 and 1966, many on assisted passage schemes where the worker agreed to a 2-year unskilled employment contract. Italians were the largest of 52 migrant groups employed at the Wittenoom blue asbestos mining and milling operation. We compare mortality from asbestos-related diseases among Italian and Australian workers employed at Wittenoom. Methods: A cohort of 6500 male workers was established from employment records and followed up at state and national mortality and cancer registries. SMRs were calculated to compare mortality with the Western Australian male population. Time-varying Cox proportional hazards models compared the risk of mesothelioma between Australian and Italian workers. Results: 1031 Italians and 3465 Australians worked at Wittenoom between 1943 and 1966. Duration of employment was longer for the Italian workers, although the concentration of exposure was similar. The mesothelioma mortality rate per 100 000 was higher in Italians (184, 95% CI 148 to 229) than Australians (128, 95% CI 111 to 149). The risk of mesothelioma was greater than twofold (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.43 to 3.60) in Italians at the lowest asbestos exposure category (<10 fibre years/per mL). Conclusions: A hierarchy in migration, isolation and a shortage of workers led to Italians at Wittenoom incurring higher cumulative exposure to blue asbestos and subsequently a greater rate of malignant mesothelioma than Australian workers. Impact Poor working conditions and disparities between native and foreign-born workers has had a detrimental and differential impact on the long-term health of the workforce. © 2018 Article author(s).

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

proportional hazards model asbestos Australia Proportional Hazards Models analysis follow up human Cohort Studies Ethnic Groups ethnic group priority journal comparative study Asbestosis Asbestos, Crocidolite crocidolite mining manufacturing industry Young Adult Humans migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants Italian (citizen) female lung tumor occupational exposure Western Australia Lung Neoplasms cancer registry Article major clinical study adult migration Mesothelioma mortality rate industrial worker cohort analysis Australian Italy Transients and Migrants employment mortality
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85039067521&doi=10.1136%2foemed-2017-104322&partnerID=40&md5=7c3d551b370fb1a186c3f012c55d2424
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104322
ISSN: 13510711
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English