The initiating hypothesis of the present study was that exposure to respirable fibers from
mineral wool in concentrations seen at the place of production is carcinogenic to the respiratory system. In a test of this hypothesis 5,369 employees in the
mineral wool production plant in question were followed from first employment at the plant until day of death or until the end of 1977. The factory started producing
mineral wool in 1937 and the Danish
Cancer Registry started working on a nationwide scale in 1943; therefore there was a maximum 40 years' duration of employment and 35 years' follow-up in the
Cancer Registry. The observed numbers of
cancer cases were compared with the expected numbers calculated on the basis of the age-, sex-, and time-specific incidence rates for
cancer among the Danish population. Within the study period the Registry received notification of 136 cohort members with one
cancer and 4 with two primary
cancers, ie, a total of 144
cancer cases was observed against the 133.8 expected. Among workers with 20 or more years from first employment in the plant a significant excess of
cancer of the lungs, bladder, and skin was found (observed versus expected cases: 9 vs 4.3, 4 vs 1.6 and 5 vs 2.4, respectively). This study thus supports the working hypothesis of an association between
lung cancer and
mineral wool production when the latency period for this type of
cancer is taken into consideration.