Documents amphibole 8 results

"The incidence of cancer among employees of a Norwegian asbestos-cement factory was studied in relation to duration of exposure and time since first exposure. The factory was active in 1942-1968. Most of the asbestos in use was chrysotile, but for technical reasons 8% amphiboles were added.This study showed a high incidence of mesothelioma and a high ratio of mesothelioma to lung cancer among asbestos-cement workers. The high incidence of mesothelioma was probably due to the fact that a relatively high proportion of amphiboles was used in the production process."

BACKGROUND:

The possible role of short asbestos fibers in the development of asbestos-related diseases and availability of lung fiber burden data prompted this study on the relationships between fiber characteristics and asbestos-related diseases among compensated workers.

METHODS:

Data collected between 1988 and 2007 for compensation purposes were used; lung asbestos fibers content of 123 Quebec workers are described according to socio-demographic characteristics, job histories and diseases (asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer).

RESULTS:

Most workers (85%) presented chrysotile fibers in their lungs, and respectively 76%, 64%, and 43% had tremolite, amosite, and crocidolite. Half of the total fibers were short, 30% were thin fibers and 20% corresponded to the World Health Organization definition of fibers (length???5?
m, diameter???0.2 and <3?
m). Chrysotile fibers were still observed in the lungs of workers 30 years or more after last exposure.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings stress the relevance of considering several dimensional criteria to characterize health risks associated with asbestos inhalation."

"Vermiculite from the mine near Libby, Montana, is contaminated with tremolite asbestos and other amphibole fibers (winchite and richterite). Asbestos-contaminated Libby vermiculite was used in loose-fill attic insulation that remains in millions of homes in the United States, Canada, and other countries. OBJECTIVE: This report describes asbestos-related occupational respiratory disease mortality among workers who mined, milled, and processed the Libby vermiculite. METHODS: This historical cohort mortality study uses life table analysis methods to compare the age-adjusted mortality experience through 2001 of 1,672 Libby workers to that of white men in the U.S. population. RESULTS: Libby workers were significantly more likely to die from asbestosis [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 165.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 103.9-251.1], lung cancer (SMR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.1), cancer of the pleura (SMR = 23.3; 95% CI, 6.3-59.5), and mesothelioma. Mortality from asbestosis and lung cancer increased with increasing duration and cumulative exposure to airborne tremolite asbestos and other amphibole fibers. CONCLUSIONS: The observed dose-related increases in asbestosis and lung cancer mortality highlight the need for better understanding and control of exposures that may occur when homeowners or construction workers (including plumbers, cable installers, electricians, telephone repair personnel, and insulators) disturb loose-fill attic insulation made with asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana."

The evidence for the association between occupational chrysotile (12001295) exposure and cancer was reviewed to evaluate the amphibole hypothesis which proposed that the mesotheliomas observed among workers exposed to chrysotile may actually be caused by contamination by relatively low concentrations (below 1%) of tremolite (77536686) fibers. The review considered evidence obtained in studies investigating chrysotile lung burdens, epidemiologic and laboratory animal studies investigating asbestos carcinogenicity, and mechanistic studies. Low concentrations of chrysotile fibers have been found in the lungs of asbestos workers, even those who worked primarily in chrysotile producing industries. Unexpectedly high concentrations of amphibole asbestos (1332214) forms were found. These findings provided the primary basis for the amphibole hypothesis. Most case/control studies investigating associations between asbestos lung burdens and mesothelioma risk have found clear dose response relationships with amphibole lung burdens, but not chrysotile lung burdens. Some studies, however, have found associations between mesothelioma risk and chrysotile lung burdens. Both epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that chrysotile can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma and that its carcinogenic activity was not due to contamination with tremolite. Some of the epidemiologic evidence has indicated that chrysotile may be less potent than the amphiboles in causing mesothelioma. The experimental animal evidence showed than when expressed on a per weight basis, chrysotile fibers are as at least as potent as amphibole asbestos fibers in causing lung cancer. The authors conclude that the toxicologic and epidemiologic literature strongly support the view that occupational exposure to chrysotile increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. It is considered prudent that chrysotile be treated with the same level of concern as the amphibole forms of asbestos.

"Asbestos is one of the main occupational carcinogens recognized and studied in the literature. Its uses have undergone major changes in recent decades, with severe restrictions on commercial amphiboles according to different patterns: in developed countries asbestos is strictly controlled or banned, except in Japan, while in developing countries consumption has leveled off or increased. As an example, Brazil is one the seven world leaders in asbestos production and consumption. Although there is a clear excess of mesotheliomas linked to amphibole exposure, mainly to crocidolite, there is no evidences that chrysotile is harmless to the pleura. Also, the relationship between fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis is not sufficiently understood to defend the concept that there are protective exposure limits to both diseases. "Controlled use" policy may be effective at the occupational level in a select group of companies, representing only a fraction of the exposed population. In developing countries subject to economic pressures, these issues merit proper discussion to avoid unnecessary disease and death."

"Background Efforts have been made for 25 years to develop asbestos risk assessments that provide valid information about workplace and community cancer risks. Mathematical models have been applied to a group of workplace epidemiology studies to describe the relationships between exposure and risk. EPA's most recent proposed method was presented at a public meeting in July 2008.Methods Risk assessments prepared by USEPA, OSHA, and NIOSH since 1972 were reviewed, along with related literature. Results and Conclusions None of the efforts to use statistical models to characterize relative cancer potencies for asbestos fiber types and sizes have been able to overcome limitations of the exposure data. Resulting uncertainties have been so great that these estimates should not be used to drive occupational and environmental health policy. The EPA has now rejected and discontinued work on its proposed methods for estimating potency factors. Future efforts will require new methods and more precise and reliable exposure assessments. However, while there may be genuine need for such work, a more pressing priority with regard to the six regulated forms of asbestos and other asbestiform fibers is to ban their production and use."