Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ASBESTOSIS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,531 records · Page 85Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Asbestos and lung cancer in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the relation between lung cancer and exposure to asbestos in men in west Scotland and to estimate the proportion of lung cancer which may be attributed to exposure to asbestos. DESIGN: An ecological correlation study of the incidence of lung cancer in men and past asbestos exposure. The unit of analysis was the postcode sector. Correction was made for past cigarette smoking, air pollution, and deprivation. SETTING: The region covered by the west of Scotland cancer registry, containing 2.72 million people and including Glasgow and the lower reaches of the River Clyde, where shipbuilding was once a major industry. SUBJECTS: All men diagnosed with lung cancer between 1975 and 1984 whose residence at the time of registration was within the west of Scotland. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The population attributable risk for asbestos related lung cancer. RESULTS: An estimated 5.7% (95% confidence interval 2.3 to 9.1%) of all lung cancers in men registered in the west of Scotland during the period 1975-84 were asbestos related, amounting to 1081 cases. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable proportion of cases of lung cancer in men in Glasgow and the west of Scotland from 1975 to 1984 were asbestos related. Most of these may not have been considered for compensation by the Department of Social Security. Given the very small annual number of recorded cases of asbestosis this condition is probably not a prerequisite for the development of asbestos related lung cancer. A heightened awareness of the increasing incidence of asbestos related neoplasms and their more thorough investigation are recommended.

Asbestos↗
PubMed2006

Retrospective mortality cohort study of Italian workers compensated for silicosis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate cause specific mortality in a large cohort of Italian workers compensated for silicosis. METHODS: The cohort included 14 929 subjects (14,098 men and 831 women) compensated for silicosis between 1946 and 1979, alive on 1 January 1980, and resident in Tuscany (a region of central Italy with 3,547,000 inhabitants). Mortality follow up ranged from 1980 to 1999. Vital status and the causes of death were determined by linkage with the regional mortality registry and with the national mortality database. The cohort mortality rates were compared to the rates of the local reference population. SMRs and their 95% confidence intervals were computed assuming a Poisson distribution of the observed deaths. Specific SMR analyses were performed according to the level of disability, the year of compensation assignment, and the job type. RESULTS: A significant excess mortality was observed in male silicotics for cancer of the lung, trachea, and bronchus and cancer of the liver, respiratory diseases (silicosis, asbestosis, antracosilicosis, and other pneumoconiosis), and for tubercolosis. Statistically significant mortality excess was observed in female silicotics for respiratory diseases (specifically silicosis and other pneumoconiosis) and tuberculosis. Analyses for period of compensation assignment showed a twofold increased SMR for biliary tract cancer among female workers and for liver cancer among male workers compensated before 1970. CONCLUSIONS: The excess mortality from respiratory tract cancers and respiratory tract diseases detected in Italian compensated silicotics are in agreement with previous epidemiological studies. Although the twofold increased risk for liver cancer among males is suggestive of a possible association with silica dust exposure, the finding needs to be confirmed.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Concentrations and dimensions of coated and uncoated asbestos fibres in the human lung.

Concentrations and length distributions of uncoated and coated amphibole-type fibres in samples of human lung taken at necropsy were measured by optical microscopy using the membrane filter technique that enables fibres with diameters down to about 0.2 micron to be detected. The subjects included 10 who died with mesothelial tumours, three with lung cancer, and eight of other causes. Measurements of fibre concentrations are compared with those of other workers. It can be deduced from the length distributions that fibres less than 5 microns long are cleared from the lung more efficiently than longer ones. The clearance of short fibres appears to be inhibited in subjects with asbestosis, however. The length distributions of uncoated and coated fibres were dissimilar. In general, few fibres less than 10 microns in length were coated and few greater than 40 microns in length were uncoated. The probability of a fibre of given length, however, becoming coated varied considerably from subject to subject. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Follow up study of workers manufacturing chrysotile asbestos cement products.

A cohort study has been carried out of 2167 subjects employed between 1941 and 1983 at an asbestos cement factory in England. The production process incorporated the use of chrysotile asbestos fibre only, except for a small amount of amosite during four months in 1976. Measured airborne fibre concentrations available since 1970 from personal samplers showed mean levels below 1 fibre/ml, although higher levels had probably occurred previously in certain areas of the factory. No excess of lung cancer was observed in the mortality follow up by comparison with either national or local death rates, and analyses of subgroups of the workforce by job, exposure level, duration of employment, duration since entry, or calendar years of employment gave no real suggestion of an asbestos related excess for this cause of death. There was one death from pleural mesothelioma and one with asbestosis mentioned as an associated cause on the death certificate, but neither is thought to be linked to asbestos exposure at this factory. Other suggested asbestos related cancers, such as laryngeal and gastrointestinal, did not show raised risks. Although the durations of exposure were short in this study, the findings are consistent with two other studies of workers exposed to low concentrations of chrysotile fibre in the manufacture of asbestos cement products which reported no excess mortality.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1987

Determinants of respiratory symptoms in insulation workers exposed to asbestos and synthetic mineral fibres.

The determinants of respiratory symptoms were studied in an active workforce of insulation workers exposed to asbestos and synthetic mineral fibres. Responses to a mailed respiratory symptom questionnaire from 537 insulation workers without diagnosed asbestosis were analysed using logistic regression. Wheezing complaints and breathlessness were related primarily to current cigarette smoking and to symptoms suggesting an asthmatic predisposition antedating work in the trade. There was also evidence that these complaints were related to occupational exposure (estimated by number of hours worked in the trade) in subjects with prior airways hyperreactivity. An asthmatic predisposition antedating work in the trade was the major determinant of acute respiratory symptoms in the workplace. The effects of workplace exposures on respiratory symptoms may have been underestimated due to selective withdrawal from the active workforce and due to inaccuracies in the measure of exposure used.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Serum type III procollagen peptide in asbestos workers: an early indicator of pulmonary fibrosis.

Serum type III procollagen peptide (PIIIP) concentrations were determined in 36 male workers exposed to asbestos fibres in the production of asbestos cement items and in 13 healthy male controls. Mean (SD) PIIIP serum concentrations were 9.3 (1.5) ng/ml (range 7-12) in the controls and 13.7 (3.5)ng/ml (range 7.5-20) in the asbestos workers; the difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). The exposed workers were subdivided according to presence or absence of radiological signs of asbestosis and intensity and duration of exposure. PIIIP serum values of workers with asbestos related interstitial fibrosis were the highest of the groups at 14.6 (2.3) ng/ml. In workers with heavy exposure the PIIIP values were significantly related to duration of exposure (r = 0.95; p less than 0.01). PIIIP serum values may be a useful index for the early diagnosis of asbestos induced pulmonary fibrosis and its use should be considered as part of the biological monitoring of exposed workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Alterations in the laryngeal mucosa after exposure to asbestos.

The laryngeal mucosa of 195 workers in an asbestos cement factory (Salonit Anhovo, Yugoslavia) and in a control group was examined. The factory manufactures asbestos cement products containing about 13% of asbestos (8% amosite, 12% crocidolite, and 80% chrysotile) of different provenance. Alterations in the laryngeal mucosa were more frequent in the factory workers than in the control group. The changes, mostly consistent with chronic laryngitis, were closely related to the degree of workplace pollution and less so to the duration of employment Ten workers exhibiting the most severe clinical changes underwent biopsy, the results of which showed histomorphological changes characteristic of hyperplastic chronic laryngitis. Four tissue specimens were examined also by scanning electron microscopy and in three of them asbestos fibres were found on the epithelial surface. No case of laryngeal carcinoma was identified. On the basis of our results it is thought that asbestos related changes of the larynx should receive more attention and that the use of the term "laryngeal asbestosis" is justified. The clinical picture is non-specific but in view of their frequency such changes should be considered a consequence of exposure to asbestos.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The distribution of amosite asbestos in the periphery of the normal human lung.

Although theoretical models and experiments on animals exist that predict the distribution of asbestos fibres in the lung, there are few studies in man that relate to this question and they have generated contradictory results. To examine this distribution analytical electron microscopy was employed to determine the amosite fibre concentration, size, surface area, and mass in 29 circumferential sites around the periphery of a mid-sagittal slice from nine morphologically normal left lungs of heavily exposed shipyard workers and insulators. Fibre concentrations were heaviest in the apical segment of the upper lobe, and low concentrations were seen in the posterior basal portion of the lower lobe. Overall, the upper lung zones had significantly greater concentrations than the lower lung zones. Fibre length was shortest in the anterior portion of the upper lobe, greater in the lingula, and greatest in the posterior basal portion of the lower lobe; fibre length overall was significantly greater in the lower compared with the upper zones. Aspect ratio followed a similar pattern. Distinct geographic runs of high or low concentrations and long or short lengths and aspect ratios were present. No consistent distribution patterns for fibre width, surface area, or mass were found. It is concluded that: (1) in the periphery of the normal lung, concentration of amosite fibres is greatest in the apex and least in the peripheral lower lobe. This distribution is the opposite of what would be expected from the known distribution of asbestosis (peripheral lower zone); nor does it correlate with bronchial pathlength or branch number, contrary to predictions from studies on animals and theoretical models; (2) fibre length and related parameters show a distribution opposite to that of fibre concentration and again do not correlate with theoretical predictions.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Comparison of fibre types and size distributions in lung tissues of paraoccupational and occupational cases of malignant mesothelioma.

The results of analysis of mineral fibres in lung tissues from 10 paraoccupational cases of malignant mesothelioma were compared with analysis obtained from seven cases of malignant mesotheliomas that had developed in gas mask workers. Nine of the paraoccupational cases were considered to have developed their tumours because of exposure to asbestos on their husbands' working clothes and one cancer developed in the daughter of a man who had died of asbestosis. The gas mask workers had direct exposure to asbestos while working in a factory that produced military gas masks. The results of mineral fibre analysis in the paraoccupational cases were variable; six showed high crocidolite concentrations, seven raised amosite concentrations and two normal concentrations of all types of asbestos fibre measured. Chrysotile was raised in one case but crocidolite and amosite were also increased. The gas mask workers showed a consistent pattern with high crocidolite concentrations and normal or low concentrations of chrysotile and amosite. Fibre lengths for chrysotile were similar in both groups and predominantly less than 5 microns. Crocidolite fibres tended to be longer in the gas mask workers than in the paraoccupational group and longer than chrysotile in both groups. Amosite fibres tended to be more variable in width than those of chrysotile or crocidolite.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Fibre distribution in the lungs and pleura of subjects with asbestos related diffuse pleural fibrosis.

The lungs from 13 cases of diffuse pleural fibrosis associated with a history of exposure to asbestos were examined. Samples were taken from the visceral pleura and central and subpleural zones of the lungs for histopathological and mineralogical studies. The fibre type, size, and number were estimated for each of these regions by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x ray analysis. Amphibole fibre counts were raised when compared with a non-occupationally exposed group and matched those seen in cases of pleural plaques, mild asbestosis, and mesothelioma. A wide case to case variation of distribution was seen. No significant difference was apparent between central and subpleural zones, whereas low asbestos counts were found in the pleura; these were mainly short chrysotile fibres. Within the lungs more (45%) of the longer (greater than 4 microns) and thinner (less than 0.25 micron) amphibole fibres were retained in keeping with other studies implicating such fibre profiles in the pathogenesis of asbestos related disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary effects of exposure to fine fibreglass: irregular opacities and small airways obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Man made mineral fibres imitate asbestos and produce tumours of the pleura in animals. To answer the question, Does prolonged exposure to fibreglass adversely affect pulmonary function or produce radiographic abnormalities in human subjects? we studied workers in a midwestern appliance plant where refrigerator doors and previously entire cabinets were insulated with fibreglass sheeting and loose rotary spun fibreglass. METHODS: Spirometry and lung volumes were measured, respiratory and occupational questionnaires were administered, and chest x-ray films were read for pneumoconiosis using International Labour Office (ILO) 1980 criteria in 284 workers with exposure of 20 years or more. RESULTS: Expiratory flows were reduced including FEV1 (mean 90.3% of predicted (pr), FEF25-75 (85.5% pr), and FEF75-85 (76.2% pr). Forced vital capacity was significantly reduced (92.8% pr) and total lung capacity was significantly increased (109.2% pr). In white male smokers, a group large enough for comparisons, parameters of pulmonary function were reduced further in the presence of irregular opacities. Forty three workers (15.1%) had evidence of pneumoconiosis on chest radiographs: 26 of these (9.1%), had no known exposure to asbestos and 17 (6.0%) had some exposure. The best judgement was that in 36 (13.0%), pulmonary opacities or pleural abnormalities were due to fibreglass. CONCLUSION: Commercial rotary spun fibreglass used for insulating appliances appears to produce human disease that is similar to asbestosis.

Asthma↗
PubMed1993

Absence of amosite asbestos in airway mucosa of non-smoking long term workers with occupational exposure to asbestos.

There is considerable experimental evidence that asbestos fibres are taken up by epithelial cells, and that uptake of fibres is associated with various deleterious, particularly mutagenic, effects. It is not known, however, if asbestos fibres are taken up by human bronchial epithelial cells in vivo. To investigate this question, the amosite asbestos content of the mucosa of seven different airways and four parenchymal sites supplied by these airways in six necropsy lungs from heavily exposed never-smoking long term shipyard and insulation workers without asbestosis was examined. Amosite asbestos was readily found in moderately high concentration in all parenchymal samples, but 33 of 40 airway samples that could be evaluated showed no amosite fibres. The seven positive airways had fibre concentrations that were always much lower than the parenchymal concentrations, and these very few fibres may have been contaminants from the parenchyma. These data suggest that, at least in non-smokers, amosite asbestos either does not penetrate into or does not accumulate in human airway mucosa. These findings also call into question the idea that asbestos acts as a direct airway carcinogen in humans.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of small opacities in chest radiographs of nickel sinter plant workers.

Radiographs from 745 nickel sinter plant workers were taken and classified by five readers using the International Labour Office (1980) protocol. Each reader worked independently and the films were randomly mixed with films from a non-dust exposed office population and also with films from subjects known to have silicosis or asbestosis. The prevalence of small irregular opacities was selected as the outcome of interest. In the sinter workers this was within the range identified in cigarette smokers or in workers exposed to dusts of low fibrogenicity. Only minimal evidence of small round opacities was noted. There was no evidence from the chest radiographs that exposures to high concentrations of dusts containing compounds of nickel caused an inflammatory or fibrogenic response in the lungs of the exposed population.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Four cases of mesothelioma among Finnish anthophyllite miners.

Four cases of mesothelioma in a cohort of 999 Finnish anthophyllite miners and millers are described. Three deaths were due to pleural mesothelioma and one to peritoneal mesothelioma among the total of 503 male deaths up to 1991. All four patients with mesothelioma had had long term (13 to 31 years) exposure in anthophyllite mining and milling. The latency time from the onset of employment until diagnosis was 39 to 58 years. All four patients were smokers or ex-smokers and had asbestosis. In three of the cases the pulmonary fibre concentration and fibre type were analysed by transmission electron microscopy. High concentrations (270 to 1100 million fibres/g dry tissue) of anthophyllite fibres were detected. The anthophyllite fibres were thicker and had lower aspect ratios than the values reported for crocidolite fibres retained in the lungs of patients with mesothelioma.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Asbestos related diseases from environmental exposure to crocidolite in Da-yao, China. I. Review of exposure and epidemiological data.

BACKGROUND: Scattered patches of crocidolite, one form of asbestos, were found in the surface soil in the rural county of Da-yao in southwestern China. In 1983, researchers from the West China University of Medical Sciences (WCUMS) discovered that residents of two villages in Da-yao had hyperendemic pleural plaques and excessive numbers of pleural mesotheliomas. AIMS: To review and summarise epidemiological studies, along with other relevant data, and to discuss the potential contribution to environmental risk assessment. METHODS: This report is based on a review of several clinical/epidemiological studies conducted by WCUMS researchers since 1984, which included one cross sectional medical examination survey, one clinical/pathological analysis of 46 cases of mesothelioma, and three retrospective cohort mortality studies. Additional information acquired from reviewing original data first hand during a personal visit along with an interview of medical specialists from Da-yao County Hospital was also incorporated. RESULTS: The prevalence of pleural plaque was 20% among peasants in Da-yao over 40 years of age in the cross sectional survey. The average number of mesothelioma cases was 6.6 per year in the 1984-95 period and 22 per year in the 1996-99 period, in a population of 68 000. For those mesothelioma cases that were histology confirmed, there were 3.8 cases/year in the first period and 9 cases/year in the second. Of the 2175 peasants in this survey, 16 had asbestosis. Lung cancer deaths were significantly increased in all three cohort studies. The annual mortality rate for mesothelioma was 85 per million, 178 per million, and 365 per million for the three cohort studies, respectively. The higher exposed peasants had a fivefold increased mesothelioma mortality compared to their lower exposed counterparts. There were no cases of mesothelioma in the comparison groups where no crocidolite was known to exist in the environment. In the third cohort study, almost one of five cancer deaths (22%) was from mesothelioma. The ratio of lung cancer to mesothelioma deaths was low for all three studies (1.3, 3.0, and 1.2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The observation of numerous mesothelioma cases at Da-yao was a unique finding, due mainly to their lifetime exposure to crocidolite asbestos. The finding of cases dying at a younger age and the relatively high ratio of mesothelioma cases to lung cancer could also be another unique result of lifetime environmental exposure to crocidolite asbestos. Although the commercial use of crocidolite has been officially banned since 1984, the incidence of mesothelioma has continued to show a steady increase, particularly among peasants. Since the latency of mesothelioma is approximately 30-40 years, the ban had little effect in the 1990s. The increased awareness and changes in diagnosis over time may also contribute to the increase. Furthermore, exposure to asbestos stoves and walls continued. The government implemented reduction of these exposures. However, from a public health standpoint, the most important issue is the complete avoidance of further exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos, Crocidolite↗
PubMed1981

Ferritin, finger clubbing, and lung disease.

The serum ferritin concentration has been determined by an immunoradiometric assay in 90 subjects with a variety of pulmonary diseases. No association between ferritin concentrations and finger clubbing has been found in any of the diseases studied. Ferritin levels were significantly raised in the subjects with bronchial carcinoma, but were not useful in monitoring recurrence of the tumour. Pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein ferritin concentrations were similar to systemic venous concentrations. It is therefore unlikely that the tumour releases ferritin into the pulmonary circulation. Ferritin levels were raised in patients with acute pneumonias but did not correlate with the total white cell count or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Serum ferritin concentrations were also increased in a variety of chronic lung diseases but were normal in subjects with asbestosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

Presence of fibronectin in pneumoconiotic lesions.

During the last 10 years our investigations have confirmed that collagen is not the major protein material in the lesions of progressive massive fibrosis of coal workers. In previous studies it was demonstrated that a substance similar in composition to fibrin was an important component in these masses. We report immunohistochemical studies on the lungs of seven coalworkers which show that the complex extracellular material in six of the lesions of massive fibrosis contains fibronectin. Preliminary observations indicate that fibronectin is also present in the lesions of silicosis and asbestosis.

Fibronectins↗
PubMed1982

Pulmonary asbestos and dust content in East Anglia.

Measurements were made of the asbestos fibre and dust content of samples from 96 surgically excised lungs; 42 necropsies on patients with lung cancer, 11 necropsies on patients with non-pulmonary malignancies, and 59 necropsies on patients without any malignant disease. The patients' ages ranged from 45 to 74 years at the time of study. None of the patients had asbestosis. The distribution of fibres and dust content of the lungs showed a log-normal distribution. There was no significant difference in fibre counts or dust content between men and women, and between lung cancer and non-cancer patients. The only group with an association with a high asbestos fibre count was four necropsy cases of pleural mesothelioma. There was no significant relationship between asbestos fibre count and dust content of the lung. The present data suggest that asbestos fibre counts below 100,000 per gram of dried lung are not related to specific asbestos disease, although in the surgical cases who were closely questioned on their residential and occupational histories most of those with fibre counts above 30,000 per gram dried lung had had occasions of definite or very likely asbestos exposure.

Adenocarcinoma↗