Lung cancer mortality and silicosis in Québec, 1938-85.

Men who had received compensation for silicosis in Québec between 1938 and 1985 were studied up to the end of 1986 to estimate risk of lung cancer mortality. Particular attention was paid to selection biases inherent in the study of such workers. Age-specific and calendar-year-specific mortality rates of Québec men from 1931 to 1985 were used for comparison. Risk of death from lung cancer in men who had received compensation for silicosis was more than 3 times higher than expected; silicosis may be a strong risk factor for lung cancer mortality.