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Does Asbestos Cause Kidney Cancer?

The aggregate of scientific evidence gathered to date seems to suggest at least some increased risk of kidney cancer in asbestos exposed populations.  The exact extent of this increase, however, is a point of debate.

One review of the research produced sufficient evidence for the review authors to conclude a “causal association” between asbestos exposure and kidney cancer, suggesting that the former was a “probably cause” of the latter.  However, this review was based on the results of only three cohort studies, supplemented by two animal studies and evidence of asbestos fibers found in human kidneys and urine (though not necessarily cancer).

A more recent and more comprehensive review of 107 completed and ongoing research studies (including data from 239 patients diagnosed with kidney cancer) presented more modest conclusions, suggesting that it is unlikely that asbestos exposure is responsible for a substantial risk of kidney cancer; however, exposure to very high levels of asbestos may increase kidney cancer risk slightly.

Compensation Cases

Although scientific researchers are hesitant to make the contention that asbestos causes kidney cancer, the burden of evidence for proving a causal link between asbestos and kidney cancer in compensation claims is lower than the requirements of the scientific community.  As such, Veteran’s Administration (VA) compensation boards have found in favor of veterans seeking compensation for kidney cancer diagnoses that resulted from asbestos exposure during the course of active duty.  In other words, compensation boards have acknowledged the legitimacy of notion that asbestos exposure and kidney cancer are connected, and that kidney cancer patients who can prove that they were exposed to asbestos during the course of duty are entitled to compensation from the US government.