Objectives: The impact of early-life exposure to asbestos on disease risk remains uncertain. Childhood exposure to blue asbestos at Wittenoom has previously been linked to the development of malignant mesothelioma and various cancers in adulthood, as well as to a greater risk of all-cause mortality compared with the general population. This study aims to provide an update on mortality and cancer incidence rates after this exposure.
Methods: The cohort of all those who lived in the asbestos mining town of Wittenoom as children (less than 15 years of age; 1279 males and 1185 females) was linked to state and national cancer and death registries. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for a range of cancers, and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality for the cohort compared with the general Western Australian population.
Results: Compared with the Western Australian population, males from the cohort had an increased risk of all cancers and mesothelioma, as well as melanoma and cancers of the lip and mouth, liver, and brain. Females had a significantly elevated risk of all cancers, mesothelioma, and cancers of the ovary and brain. Higher rates of mesothelioma were observed among those with a longer duration of exposure and higher cumulative exposure, consistent with a known exposure-response relationship. Former Wittenoom children also had a greater risk of all-cause mortality and mortality from cancer, mesothelioma, and ill-defined symptoms.
Conclusions: This update confirms earlier studies and shows that exposure to asbestos in childhood is associated with several cancer and mortality outcomes in adulthood.
Keywords: Wittenoom; asbestos; cancer incidence; childhood; mortality.
© 2025 The Author(s). American Journal of Industrial Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.