Sichletidis studied the disagreement that exists regarding the relationship between chrysotile exposure and mesothelioma or lung cancer. To do this he looked at the cause of death in workers who had been exposed to relatively pure chrysotile in an asbestos cement factory where the asbestos fibre concentration was always below permissible levels. The date and cause of death were recorded for active and retired workers. Fifty-two workers died during the study, 28 from cancer of which 16 had lung cancer. No case of mesothelioma was reported. The authors concluded that occupational exposure to relatively pure chrysotile within permissible levels was not associated with a significant increase in lung cancer or with mesothelioma.
Rees, D., Goodman, K., Fourie, F., Chapman, R., Blignaut, C., Bachman, MO., Myers, JS. Afr. Med. J