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The Extra-Pleural and Pleural Spaces, including Plombages, Pleural Tumours and the Effects of Asbestos.
Published in Fred W Wright, Radiology of the Chest and Related Conditions, 2022
Because asbestos is incombustible, heat, electrical and sound resistant, and has a high degree of flexibility, it has been extensively used in many industries - building construction, insulation of heat, electricity or sound, brake linings, ship building, moulded plastics, and some fire resistant textiles and paints. Exposure to asbestos fibres may occur not only in those actually engaged in the mining, transport, manufacture and application of asbestos, but also in those who come into contact with it later. These include people serving in the Royal Navy, shipbuilders and dockyard workers (warships used to contain much asbestos), RAF radar operators, pipe and boiler laggers, railway engineering workshop and carriage manufacturers and dismantlers, lab. workers using asbestos filters in pipettes, theatre stage workers (as a result of fire curtains, etc.), and paint and fire resistant clothing operatives and users - the list of occupations is almost protean. In addition workers in asbestos factories, or laggers, etc. have often taken much asbestos home, on their clothing or in their hair, and this has affected their spouses or families. Even workers in the neighbourhood of factories or quarries have been affected - to leeward of the prevailing wind in London and Liverpool - many more so in South Africa, Turkey and the USA, etc.
Lung cancer and mesothelioma
Published in Peter Hoskin, Peter Ostler, Clinical Oncology, 2020
The dangers of asbestos exposure are now appreciated. Asbestos is used much more sparingly in industry. Care must still be taken when older buildings are renovated, with careful isolation of the working area and use of respirators. High-risk individuals should be offered regular chest radiographs.
The Lung and the Pleura
Published in E. George Elias, CRC Handbook of Surgical Oncology, 2020
There are five etiological factors to carcinoma of the lung, namely, smoking, air pollution, genetic susceptibility, radiation, and occupation factors. Several studies have linked smoking and lung cancer. Specifically, cigarette smoking has at least 25-fold increase in the incidence of lung cancer. Smoking releases two potent carcinogens, namely polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines. Squamous cell carcinoma and oat cell carcinoma of the lung are the most common tumors that are associated with smoking. Similarly, environmental as well as occupational chemicals may induce or promote lung cancer. Industrial pollution as well as auto exhaust fumes contain similar carcinogens. In addition, asbestos exposure increases the incidence of lung carcinoma as well as mesothelioma. While asbestos exposure may increase the risk four- to fivefold, the addition of smoking will increase that risk almost to 90 times when compared to nonsmokers. The risk from radiation is correlated to the high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma and oat cell carcinoma in uranium miners. Vitamin A deficiency may cause metaplasia in the lining epithelium of the trachea and the bronchi which when exposed to promoting factors may yield a higher incidence of carcinoma. It has also been suggested that relatives of patients with carcinoma of the lung have an increased risk of lung cancer, which suggests that a genetic factor may play a role.3
Natural mineral fibers: conducting inhalation toxicology studies – part A: Libby Amphibole aerosol generation and characterization method development
Published in Inhalation Toxicology, 2023
Anbo Wang, Amit Gupta, Michael D. Grimm, David T. Pressburger, Barney R. Sparrow, Jamie S. Richey, John R. Shaw, Karen E. Elsass, Georgia K. Roberts, Pei-Li Yao, Matthew D. Stout, Benjamin J. Ellis, Robyn L. Ray
Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment and is composed of soft and flexible fibers resistant to heat, electricity, and corrosion. Asbestos has been classified as a human carcinogen, and asbestos exposure may increase the risk of diseases associated with inflammation and scarring in the lung and pleural lesions, leading to an impaired respiratory function (Mossman and Gee 1989; Noonan 2017; Solbes and Harper 2018). To date, the asbestiform varieties of six minerals regulated as asbestos include chrysotile, actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and grunerite (amosite). However, there are related natural mineral fibers (e.g. erionite and winchite/richterite) that are not currently regulated as ‘asbestos’ but have similar chemical and physical properties and are associated with disease in humans (NIOSH 2011).
Asbestos dust concentrations and health conditions of workers at asbestos-cement corrugated sheet production manufacturers in Vietnam: a nationwide assessment
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2023
Hang Thi Le, Hoa Thi Dinh, Tam Thi Ngo
Asbestos is one of the compounds widely used around the world in the production of building materials, industrial products and various domestic products. Asbestos has durable, heat-insulating, sound-insulating and anti-friction properties, which enable its wide applications in many different products [1]. However, asbestos is one of the inorganic dust elements that are harmful to workers exposed in the production process and is a toxic substance in the list of substances with strict requirements on occupational safety and health [2,3]. Asbestos has been shown to cause pneumoconiosis asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural thickening and calcification [4]. Annually, the number of deaths from asbestos-related causes is estimated at 255,000, mainly due to asbestos exposure in the workplace [5]. However, asbestos has only been banned in more than 60 countries and is still widely used in other countries, especially developing countries [6]. For example, there were approximately 2 million tons of asbestos being produced annually. The majority of these came from Russia and the major markets were China and India [7]. Another report in 2019 indicated that asbestos has not been completely banned in more than 100 nations including major countries such as the USA, Russia, China, India and Indonesia [8].
The role of BCL-2 family proteins and therapeutic potential of BH3-mimetics in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Published in Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 2021
Surein Arulananda, Erinna F Lee, W Douglas Fairlie, Thomas John
The exclusive causative agent for malignant transformation in mesothelial cells to MPM is exposure to asbestos [3]. Asbestos is a collective name used to classify a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals composed of fibers that are difficult to break down. The risk of mesothelioma may differ dependent on the type of asbestos fiber, although all types have been linked to the disease [4]. It is used commercially for its thermal, electrical, and chemical corrosion resistance properties [5]; hence, asbestos became an important ingredient in the mid- to late-20th century for insulation, flooring, wall and roof sheeting, brake linings, paint, oven insulation, and piping, amongst other applications [6,7]. Asbestos use is now banned in most Western countries due to its conclusive link with MPM, however, continues to be unrestricted in rapidly industrializing countries such as India, China, and Brazil [5]. Hence,asbestos-related disease will continue to remain a significant problem in many parts of the world for decades to come.