| Mesothelioma deaths among workers is a sad | | | | occupational exposure were identified for ten who |
| part of this country's history. However, there is | | | | had been employed in the residential construction |
| some important research being done regarding | | | | industry. One maintenance worker was exposed |
| asbestos and its complications. | | | | to asbestos in the household and another had |
| One interesting study is called, "Asbestos-induced | | | | neighborhood exposure. For 9 (75%) of the |
| sister chromatid exchanges in cultured Chinese | | | | school teachers, the only identifiable potential |
| hamster ovarian fibroblast cells." By Livingston GK, | | | | source of asbestos exposure was derived from |
| Rom WN, Morris MV. - J Environ Pathol Toxicol. | | | | in-place ACBM in schools. One teacher had spent a |
| 1980 Sep;4(2-3):373-82. Here is an excerpt: | | | | season in the merchant marine aboard an iron |
| "Abstract - Asbestos fibers were tested for | | | | ore-hauling ship and 2 had worked in the residential |
| possible mutagenic activity using the Fluorescent | | | | construction industry. Two of the teachers were |
| Plus Giemsa (FPG) sister chromatid exchange | | | | sisters, and in two instances, two teachers had |
| (SCE) technique. Amosite, crocidolite, and | | | | taught in the same school facility. We conclude |
| chrysotile fibers were added to cell cultures at | | | | that individuals occupationally exposed to in-place |
| final concentrations of 10 and 100 micrograms/ml. | | | | ACBM are at risk for the subsequent |
| Chrysotile completely inhibited cell growth at both | | | | development of mesothelioma." |
| concentrations; cells exposed to amosite and | | | | Another interesting study is called, "Predictions of |
| crocidolite proliferated but only at the lower | | | | mortality from pleural mesothelioma in Italy: A |
| concentration. Crocidolite significantly elevated the | | | | model based on asbestos consumption figures |
| SCE rate and larger (greater than 5 mu) | | | | supports results from age-period-cohort models" - |
| chromosomes were most sensitive. Amosite | | | | International Journal of Cancer - Volume 115, |
| appeared to have a lesser effect on SCE | | | | Issue 1, pages 142–147, 20 May 2005. Here |
| frequency. Asbestos fibers are capable of | | | | is an excerpt: "Abstract - Italy was the second |
| disturbing cellular processes associated with | | | | main asbestos producer in Europe, after the |
| chromosomal stability and effects vary with the | | | | Soviet Union, until the end of the 1980s, and raw |
| asbestos type." | | | | asbestos was imported on a large scale until 1992. |
| Another interesting study is called, "Mesothelioma | | | | The Italian pattern of asbestos consumption lags |
| among employees with likely contact with in-place | | | | on average about 10 years behind the United |
| asbestos-containing building materials." By | | | | States, Australia, the United Kingdom and the |
| Anderson HA, Hanrahan LP, Schirmer J, Higgins D, | | | | Nordic countries. Measures to reduce exposure |
| Sarow P. - Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991 Dec 31. Here | | | | were introduced in the mid-1970s in some |
| is an excerpt: "Abstract - The occurrence of | | | | workplaces. In 1986, limitations were imposed on |
| mesothelioma is a sentinel event in occupational | | | | the use of crocidolite and in 1992 asbestos was |
| and environmental disease. A mesothelioma | | | | definitively banned. We have used primary pleural |
| surveillance system was established utilizing | | | | cancer mortality figures (1970–1999) to |
| existing computerized Wisconsin vital statistics | | | | predict mortality from mesothelioma among Italian |
| data maintained since 1959 and a Cancer | | | | men in the next 30 years by age-cohort-period |
| Reporting System (CRS) established in 1978. | | | | models and by a model based on asbestos |
| Review of the death certificate listing of usual | | | | consumption figures. The pleural cancer |
| occupation and industry from 487 mesothelioma | | | | mesothelioma ratio and mesothelioma misdiagnosis |
| deaths in Wisconsin from 1959 to 1989 led to the | | | | in the past were taken into account in the |
| investigation of 41 persons with likely exposure to | | | | analysis. Estimated risks of birth cohorts born |
| inplace asbestos-containing building materials | | | | after 1945 decrease less quickly in Italy than in |
| (ACBM): 12 school teachers, 10 school | | | | other Western countries. The findings predict a |
| maintenance employees, 7 public building | | | | peak with about 800 mesothelioma annual deaths |
| maintenance workers, 5 private building | | | | in the period 2012–2024. Results estimated |
| maintenance workers, and 7 commercial and | | | | using age-period-cohort models were similar to |
| factory workers performing maintenance | | | | those obtained from the asbestos consumption |
| activities. For 10 (34%) of the 29 maintenance | | | | model." |
| workers the only source of asbestos exposure | | | | We all owe a debt of gratitude to these fine |
| identified was their maintenance work. For five | | | | researchers for their important work. If you |
| (17%) histories indicated some prior employment | | | | found any of these excerpts helpful, please read |
| in occupations and industries with probable | | | | the studies in their entirety. |
| asbestos exposures. Opportunities for indirect | | | | |