Digestive system cancer among persons subjected to occupational inhalation of asbestos particles: a literature review with emphasis on dose response

Abstract

Human data show a dose-response relationship between industrial exposure to asbestos and later development of cancer of the bronchus and lung and of cancer of the digestive tract. The data do not provide much evidence for a threshold or for the existence of a clearly "safe" level of exposure. Good dose-response data, with quantitative estimates of dose are uncommon; however, in all the literature reviewed only one paper did not support the conclusion that increased exposure to inhaled asbestos particles leads to increased digestive system cancer.