Asbestos, mesothelioma and lung cancer: An update (original) (raw)

Asbestos, Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: A Comment

Galore International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 2017

The full text can be downloaded here and is available at: http://www.gijhsr.com/GIJHSR\_Vol.2\_Issue.4\_Dec2017/4.pdf RELATED ARTICLES: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6176708/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325226815\_Asbestos\_mesothelioma\_and\_lung\_cancer\_PJCM\_2018241 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285991502\_Asbestos-related\_research\_first\_objectivity\_then\_conclusions https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334081621 RUSSIAN: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273007212\_Antiasbestovaa\_kampania\_i\_zdravyj\_smysl\_anti-asbestos\_campaign\_and\_the\_common\_sense https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276027662\_Asbest\_i\_antiasbestovaa\_kampania\_v\_poiskah\_razumnyh\_resenij\_The\_anti-asbestos\_campaign\_in\_search\_for\_reasonable\_solutions

Asbestos, Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer: A letter from Russia

Pakistan Journal of Chest Medicine, 2013

The full text can be downloaded here and is available at: https://www.pjcm.net/index.php/pjcm/article/view/68/64 The last update: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325226815\_Asbestos\_mesothelioma\_and\_lung\_cancer\_PJCM\_2018241 RELATED ARTICLES: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30319235 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285991502\_Asbestos-related\_research\_first\_objectivity\_then\_conclusions RUSSIAN: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273007212\_Antiasbestovaa\_kampania\_i\_zdravyj\_smysl\_anti-asbestos\_campaign\_and\_the\_common\_sense https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276027662\_Asbest\_i\_antiasbestovaa\_kampania\_v\_poiskah\_razumnyh\_resenij\_The\_anti-asbestos\_campaign\_in\_search\_for\_reasonable\_solutions

Asbestos-related cancers: the ‘Hidden Killer’ remains a global threat

Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 2020

Introduction: Asbestos, the most frequent cause of occupational cancer, continues to be consumed on a massive scale, with millions of people exposed on a daily basis. This review explains why we have failed in curtailing the silent epidemic of asbestos-related disease and why the numbers of asbestos victims are likely to remain high. Emerging and developed countries have to be reminded that asbestos exposure has yet to become a problem of the past. The worldwide spread of asbestos, followed by the surge of asbestos-related cancers, resembles the lung cancer epidemic caused by smoking and stimulated by manufacturers. Areas covered: Underreporting of malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-induced lung cancer, frequently-used arguments in the amphibole/chrysotile debate and the conclusion from bona-fide research organizations, that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic, are reviewed. Special attention is paid to the consequences of ubiquitous environmental asbestos and the 'changing face' of malignant mesothelioma in countries with heavy asbestos use in the past. Expert opinion: Experts in oncology, respiratory medicine, occupational and public health, and basic researchers must take responsibility and acknowledge the ongoing silent epidemic of asbestos-related diseases. The call for a worldwide asbestos ban is more urgent than ever.

Asbestos-Related Research: First Objectivity then Conclusions

Journal of Environmental Studies, 2015

Asbestos-related risks have been extrapolated from the past, when high-dose occupational exposures were frequent. The linear no-threshold dose-response pattern has been assumed, but its applicability to low-dose asbestos exposures has never been proven. Morphologically, malignant mesothelioma can resemble various cancers. There are diagnostic algorithms; however, a tumor diagnosed by standard methods as mesothelioma is not a welldefined entity, in all cases substantially different from other cancers. Well-aimed search and screening effect have probably contributed to the enhanced incidence of mesothelioma and other asbestosrelated diseases in exposed populations. Asbestos-related diseases have been extensively studied in Russia. The prevailing view is that, if all precautions are observed, modern technologies of asbestos production and processing are acceptably safe, whereas bans and prohibitions applied by some countries are excessive. At the same time, there are economic interests to promote chrysotile. Biases due to industrial interests have compromised the objectivity of some asbestosrelated reports. In the author's opinion, the "all fibers equal" basis of official regulations can be accepted provisionally pending objective and reliable evidence on toxicity of different asbestos types and manmade substitutes. On the basis of independent scientific data, the bans and restrictions on asbestos in some countries should be reexamined and potentially revised. Any permit of continued production or use of asbestos materials must be coupled with regulations and efficient measures to prevent environmental contamination associated even with minimal additional risks.

Asbestos and cancer

La Medicina del lavoro

This review assesses the contribution of occupational asbestos exposure to the occurrence of mesothelioma and lung cancer in Europe. Available information on national asbestos consumption, proportions of the population exposed, and exposure levels is summarized. Population-based studies from various European regions on occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, and lung cancer are reviewed. Asbestos consumption in 1994 ranged, per capita, between 0.004 kg in northern Europe and 2.4 kg in the former Soviet Union. Population surveys from northern Europe indicate that 15 to 30% of the male (and a few percent of the female) population has ever had occupational exposure to asbestos, mainly in construction (75% in Finland) or in shipyards. Studies on mesothelioma combining occupational history with biologic exposure indices indicate occupational asbestos exposure in 62 to 85% of the cases. Population attributable risks for lung cancer among males range between 2 and 50% for definite asbestos exposure. After exclusion of the most extreme values because of methodologic aspects, most of the remaining estimates are within the range of 10 to 20%. Estimates of women are lower. Extrapolation of the results to national figures would decrease the estimates. Norwegian estimates indicate that one-third of expected asbestos-related lung cancers might be avoided if former asbestos workers quit smoking. The combination of a current high asbestos consumption per capita, high exposure levels, and high underlying lung cancer rates in Central Europe and the former Soviet Union suggests that the lung cancers will arise from the smoking-asbestos interaction should be a major concern.

Mesothelioma from asbestos exposures: Epidemiologic patterns and impact in the United States

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B

Mesothelioma, a rare tumor, is highly correlated with asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma, similar to all asbestos-related diseases, is dose/intensity dependent to some degree, and studies showed the risk of mesothelioma rises with cumulative exposures. Multiple processes occur in an individual before mesothelioma occurs. The impact of mesothelioma in the United States has been continuous over the last half century, claiming between 2,000 and 3,000 lives each year. Mesothelioma is a preventable tumor that is more frequently reported as associated with asbestos exposure among men than women. However, the rate of asbestos-associated mesothelioma is on the rise among women due to better investigation into their histories of asbestos exposure. It is of interest that investigators detected asbestos-associated cases of mesothelioma in women from nonoccupational sources-that is, bystander, incidental, or take-home exposures. It is postulated that asbestos-associated mesotheliomas, in both men and women, are likely underreported. However, with the implementation of the most recent ICD-10 coding system, the correlation of mesothelioma with asbestos exposure is expected to rise to approximately 80% in the United States. This study examined the demographic and etiological nature of asbestos-related mesothelioma. Questions often arise as to what exposures to asbestos contribute to mesothelioma. In answering this question, it is important to understand both historical as well as current knowledge related to etiology and epidemiology. This study addresses such knowledge, including the role of multiple exposures to asbestos. However, as the potencies of asbestos fiber types have been discussed in detail elsewhere, this topic is not addressed in this article (Aust, Cook,

Environmental asbestos exposure and mesothelioma

Current opinion in pulmonary medicine, 2000

Epidemiologic studies of mesothelioma have focused primarily on occupational exposures to asbestos. Nonoccupational exposure to asbestos can be grouped into three main categories: paraoccupational (familial), neighborhood, and true environmental exposures. Elevated mesothelioma rates not attributable to occupational exposures have been observed in asbestos mining and manufacturing areas. Asbestos is one of the most dangerous environmental carcinogens because of the small dose known to cause mesothelioma and the rapid lethality of the disease once it develops. Further research is needed to characterize the contribution and risk profile for environmental asbestos and mesothelioma, and for the development of public health policy.

Malignant mesothelioma: attributable risk of asbestos exposure

Occupational and environmental medicine, 1994

To evaluate a case-control study of malignant mesothelioma through patterns of exposure to asbestos based upon information from telephone interviews with next of kin. Potential cases, identified from medical files and death certificates, included all people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and registered during 1975-1980 by the Los Angeles County Cancer Surveillance Program, the New York State Cancer Registry (excluding New York City), and 39 large Veterans Administration hospitals. Cases whose diagnosis was confirmed in a special pathology review as definite or probable mesothelioma (n = 208) were included in the analysis. Controls (n = 533) had died of other causes, excluding cancer, respiratory disease, suicide, or violence. Direct exposure to asbestos was determined from responses to three types of questions: specific queries as to any exposure to asbestos; occupational or non-vocational participation in any of nine specific activities thought to entail exposure to asbestos...

Asbestos and its substitutes: International coordination and independent research needed

Journal of Environmental and Occupational Science, 2015

The last update: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370251740\_Asbestos-related\_Cancer\_Exaggerated\_Risk\_Perception RELATED ARTICLES: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6176708/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321527973\_Asbestos\_mesothelioma\_and\_lung\_cancer\_a\_comment https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285991502\_Asbestos-related\_research\_first\_objectivity\_then\_conclusions https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334081621\_Author\_reply\_to\_Ruff\_K\_Scientists\_allied\_to\_asbestos\_interests\_criticized\_once\_again\_for\_putting\_forward\_seriously\_misleading\_information\_RightOnCanadaca\_E-Bulletin\_Feb\_25\_2016 RUSSIAN: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273007212\_Antiasbestovaa\_kampania\_i\_zdravyj\_smysl\_anti-asbestos\_campaign\_and\_the\_common\_sense