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Friday, July 20, 2012

Asbestos Cement Factories Pose High Risk Mesothelioma

English: Mesothelioma of the left lower lung.

Mesothelioma of the left lower lung.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
An increased risk of developing asbestos related disease, including mesothelioma, was identified in a recent study. Asbestos exposure has caused an epidemic of claims for workers' compensation benefits in the United States decades following exposure because of the long latency period between exposure to asbestos fiber and the manifestation of disease.

Epidemics of malignant mesothelioma are occurring among inhabitants of Casale Monferrato and Bari never employed in the local asbestos-cement (AC) factories. The mesothelioma risk increased with proximity of residence to both plants.


To provide information on the intensity of environmental asbestos exposure, in the general population living around these factories, through the evaluation of the lung fibre
burden in mesothelioma patients.


A analysed by a scanning electron microscope equipped with X-ray microanalysis wet (formalin-fixed) lung tissue samples from eight mesothelioma patients who lived in Casale Monferrato or Bari and underwent surgery. Their occupational and residential history was obtained during face-to-face interviews. Semi-quantitative and quantitative indices of cumulative environmental exposure to asbestos were computed, based on residential distance from the AC plants and duration of stay.


 The lung fibre burden ranged from 110 000 to 4 300 000 fibres per gram of dry lung (f/g) and was >1 000 000 f/g in three subjects. In four cases, only amphibole fibres were detected. Environmental exposures had ceased at least 10 years before samples were taken. No patient had other definite or probable asbestos exposures. A linear relationship was observed between the lung fibre burden and all three indices of environmental cumulative exposure to asbestos.


Environmental exposure to a mixture of asbestos fibres may lead to a high lung fibre burden of amphiboles years after exposure cessation. The epidemiological evidence of an increased mesothelioma risk for the general population of Casale Monferrato and Bari, associated with asbestos contamination of the living environment, is corroborated.
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For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.


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