A recent study conducted by the University of Adelaide and Oxford University reveals that exposure to asbestos has led to a higher prevalence of asbestos-related lung malignancies among British and Australian navy personnel compared to other armed forces. The study examined data from 30,085 British and Australian troops who served in the 1950s and 1960s when asbestos-containing materials were present on naval vessels. The research found a higher incidence of mesothelioma, strongly linked to asbestos exposure, in naval personnel. The study estimates that approximately 27% of lung cancers in Australian seamen and 12% in British seamen were related to onboard asbestos exposure. The findings emphasize the need for stringent measures to protect workers from exposure to harmful dusts, including asbestos.
