Asbestos exposure

Country Asbestos exposure limits Fiber type Exposure limits for SMF and nuisance dust... 

Asbestos exposure limits and measurement of airborne dust concentrations... 

Requirements for the control of asbestos exposures at work. Exposure is to be prevented or, if this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable by measures other than the use of respiratory protective equipment. 

Bronchogenic carcinoma A lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure. 

Levine, D.S. (1985). Does asbestos exposure cause gastrointestinal cancer Digest. Dis. Sci. 30, 1189-1198. 

In Chapter 2 we introduce some basic concepts from mineralogy and materials sicence before describing several mineral and synthetic fibrous inorganic materials. In Chapter 3 we outline the physiology of the human lung, cellular biology and the diseases associated with asbestos exposure—the pertinent information for discussions of the health effects of asbestos and other inorganic fibers. 

In 1955 Doll established a statistical relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer. Subsequently, Selikoff et al. (1968) and Enterline et al. (1975) in America, and McDonald and his associates (1973) in Canada, have confirmed these observations. However, authors who have distinguished between smoking and nonsmoking asbestos workers find only a slight increase in incidence of lung cancer in the latter but a spectacular increase (approximately 50 times) among asbestos workers who are heavy smokers. The effect is multiplicative rather than additive (Selikoff et al., 1968). 

Most studies have found Uttle pathology in the lungs of animals exposed for a few weeks to high doses of the asbestos but pulmonary fibrosis, and occasional malignant tumors do develop when the exposure and observation periods are increased (Middleton et al., 1975). This result suggests that tu-morgenicity by asbestos exposure through inhalation has a latency period but is also dose related. The effect of episodic exposure is unknown. 

Because of the international sources of asbestos minerals, the variety of manufacture and use of asbestos and asbestos products, notably as insulation and in cement pipe, coupled with the publicity given to their potential health effects, there is probably not a single country in the world that has not become attuned, in the last ten years, to the hazards of asbestos exposure. The epidemiological data collected on disease related to asbestos exposure, es-... 

The risk of gastrointestinal cancer from exposure to amosite asbestos has been suggested, but the reported studies are inconsistent (Peto et al., 1977 Selikoff et al., 1979 Morgan et al., 1985). Other cancers ascribed to asbestos exposure (ovarian, alimentary tract, for example) have low incidence (low SMRs), inconclusive evidence in establishing cause and effect. The amphibole materials, with their characteristic cleavage into sharp, finely divided particles and their low solubility (relative to chrysotile), are cited by many investigators as the bad actors in disease induction. 

The confusion and frustration of nonepidemiologists, especially those who must act on hehalf of the public, contribute further to the disarray. For ethical reasons, they propose regulations that seek the lowest possible level of asbestos exposure. But economics, not to mention common sense, continues to bring the results of these decisions to our attention. Inorganic fibers are ubiquitous. Are asbestos and other fibrous materials major health hazards for the world s population ... 

Gee, J. B. L. (1984). Occupational Lung Diseases. Vol. 2. of Contemporary Issues in Pulmonary Disease. Churchill Livingstone, New York, especially J. Riley, Pulmonary coimective tissue, pp. 1-23 M. R. Becklake and P. Ernst, Asbestos exposure and airway responses, pp. 25-42 J. E. Lockey and M. Moatmed, Health implications of non-asbestos fibers, pp. 43-59. 

Kannerstein, M., and J. Churg (1972). Pathology of carcinoma of the lung associated with asbestos exposure. Cancer 30 14-21. 

Neuberger, M., M. Kundi, and H. P. Friedl (1984). Environmental asbestos exposure and cancer mortality. Arch. Environ. Health 39 261-265. 

Wagner, J. C., C. A. Sleggs, and P. Marchand (1960). Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the Northwestern Cape Provice. Br. J. Indust. Med. 17 260-271. 

When two compounds exert the same action by acting at different sites, their interaction will often result in a synergistic effect but a simple additive effect is also a possibility (the synergism between smoking and asbestos exposure is the classical example). 

Bronchogenic carcinoma and mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum are causally associated with asbestos exposure excesses of cancer of the stomach, colon, and rectum have also been observed. Among 632 asbestos workers observed from 1943 to 1967, there... 

Selikoff IJ, Hammond EC, ChurgJ Asbestos exposure, smoking and neoplasia. JAMA 204 106-112, 1968... 

Asbestos exposure has affected thousands of workers and resulted in compensation claims from the companies. Of course, not smoking would result in the greatest reduction in cancers and other health-related effects of tobacco. 

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