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  • Asbestos

2011

CIS 12-0093 Bouvet R.
Compensation of asbestos victims by the FIVA
L'indemnisation des victimes de l'amiante devant la FIVA [en francés]
Written by a lawyer specialized in defending workers exposed to asbestos, this article explains the functioning of the French fund for the compensation of asbestos victims (French acronym FIVA).
Préventique-Sécurité, Nov.-Dec. 2011, No.120, p.58-60. Illus.
L'indemnisation_des_victimes_de_l'amiante_[BUY_THIS_ARTICLE] [en francés]

CIS 12-0198 Elshazley M., Shibata E., Hisanaga N., Ichihara G., Ewis A.A., Kamijima M., Ichihara S., Sakai K., Sato M., Kondo M., Hasegawa Y.
Pleural plaque profiles on the chest radiographs and CT scans of asbestos-exposed Japanese construction workers
Pleural plaques are asymptomatic focal thickenings of the pleura and considered the hallmark of asbestos exposure. However, it is often difficult to detect pleural plaques on chest x-rays (CXR). This retrospective study was based on chest CT scans of 140 Japanese asbestos-exposed construction workers who have probable or definite findings of pleural plaque on CXR. A plaque morphology-based classification for CXR was proposed and compared to interpretations of CT scans. Findings are discussed. It is concluded that chest radiography continues to be a suitable tool for screening asbestos-related pleural plaques considering its simplicity, wide availability and cost-effectiveness.
Industrial Health, Sep. 2011, Vol.49, No.5, p.626-633. Illus. 15 ref.
Pleural_plaque_profiles_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en inglés]

CIS 12-0248 Ravallec C., Bondéelle A., Lemarié J., Vaudoux D.
Asbestos - A poisonous legacy
Amiante - Un héritage empoisonné [en francés]
Despite the ban on asbestos processing and use in France since fifteen years, workers in building fittings and furnishings, asbestos removal workers and industrial maintenance workers remain exposed to this hazard, which is the main focus of this collection of articles. Other topics addressed: fibre counting using electronic microscopy; personal detector badges for exposure evaluation; international production and use of asbestos.
Travail et sécurité, Dec. 2011, No.723, p.16-35. Illus. 8 ref.
Amiante_Un_héritage_empoisonné_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en francés]

CIS 12-0132 Clin B., Morlais F., Launoy G., Guizard A.V., Dubois B., Bouvier V., Desoubeaux N., Marquignon M.F., Raffaelli C., Paris C., Galateau-Salle F., Guittet L., Letourneux M.
Cancer incidence within a cohort occupationally exposed to asbestos: A study of dose-response relationships
The aim of this study was to analyze the dose-response relationship between occupational asbestos exposure and risk of cancer. It was carried out in the form of a retrospective morbidity study based on 2024 subjects occupationally exposed to asbestos, conducted from 1978 to 2004. Analysis of the dose-response relationship between occupational asbestos exposure, as a time-dependant variable, and risk of cancer was performed using a Cox model. In order to account for the effect of latency, the analysis was conducted with a lag of 10 years. 285 cases of cancers were observed in the cohort. The relative risk of pleuro-peritoneal mesothelioma, lung cancer and colorectal cancer associated with asbestos exposure, adjusted for age as a time-dependant variable and for sex, was correlated with exposure intensity (or average exposure level, AEL). The risk of cancer, whatever the anatomical site, did not increase with the duration of exposure to asbestos. While confirming the established relationship between asbestos exposure and pleuropulmonary and peritoneal cancers, this study also suggests a causal relationship between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Nov. 2011, Vol.68, No.11, p.832-836. 29 ref.
Cancer_incidence_within_a_cohort_[BUY_THIS_ARTICLE] [en inglés]

CIS 12-0005 Asbestos time bomb in Bangladesh - A field assessment report
This report is a field assessment study on asbestos use and workers' exposure in Bangladesh. Topics addressed: imports of asbestos into the country, main uses; enterprises involved in manufacturing asbestos-based products; role of social advocacy groups and workers' organizations.
Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health And Environment Foundation (OSHE), 44 F/6 West Panthapath (4th Floor), 1215 Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2011. 25p. Illus.
Asbestos_time_bomb_in_Bangladesh_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en inglés]

CIS 11-0827 Alexopoulos E.C., Bouros D., Dimadi M., Serbescu A., Bakoyannis G., Kokkinis F.P.
Comparative analysis of induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) profile in asbestos exposed workers
Induced sputum (IS) cellular profile was compared with bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) profile in asbestos-exposed workers in order to assess its usefulness in monitoring workers exposed to asbestos for long periods of time. IS and BALF analyses were performed in 39 workers of a car brake and clutch plant using chrysotile asbestos. The type of cells, the existence of dust cells, of iron laden macrophages and of asbestos bodies were assessed and compared between IS and BALF samples. Findings are discussed. IS and BALF analyses showed a similar cellular profile indicating that IS sampling in exposed workers to asbestos, being a less invasive and expensive method, may be useful in providing an insight both for inhalation of dusts and inflammatory processes in the lung.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2011, 6:23, 7p. Illus. 22 ref.
Comparative_analysis.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 11-0790 Wilken D., Velasco Garrido M., Manuwald U., Baur X.
Lung function in asbestos-exposed workers, a systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review was conducted to assess whether asbestos exposure is related to impairment of lung function parameters independently of the radiological findings. Meta-analyses with data from 9,921 workers exposed to asbestos demonstrates a statistically significant reduction in VC, FEV1 and FEV1 /VC, even among those workers without radiological changes. Less severe lung function impairments are detected if the diagnoses are based on (high resolution) computed tomography rather than the less sensitive X-ray images. The degree of lung function impairment was partly related to the proportion of smokers included in the studies. It is concluded that asbestos exposure is related to restrictive and obstructive lung function impairment. The trend for functional impairment persists even in the absence of radiological evidence of parenchymal or pleural diseases.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2011, 6:21, 16p. Illus. 83 ref.
Lung_function.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 11-0520 Nogueira C.R., Nápolis L.M., Bagatin E., Terra-Filho M., Müller N.L., Silva C.I.S., Rodrigues R.T., Neder J.A, Nery L.E.
Lung diffusing capacity relates better to short-term progression on HRCT abnormalities than spirometry in mild asbestosis
Pulmonary function tests (PFT), particularly spirometry and lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), have been considered useful methods for the detection of the progression of interstitial asbestos abnormalities as indicated by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). However, it is currently unknown which of these two tests correlates best with anatomical changes over time. In this study, longitudinal changes (3-9 years follow-up) in PFTs were compared at rest and during exercise with interstitial abnormalities evaluated by HRCT in 63 ex-workers with mild-to-moderate asbestosis. At baseline, patients presented with low-grade asbestosis and most PFT results were within the limits of normality. In the follow-up, most subjects had normal spirometry, static lung volumes and arterial blood gases. In contrast, frequency of DLCO abnormalities almost doubled. Twenty-three subjects increased the interstitial marks on HRCT. These had significantly larger declines in DLCO compared to patients who remained stable (0.88 vs. 0.31ml/min/mm Hg/year and 3.5 vs. 1.2%/year, respectively). However, no between-group differences were found for the other functional tests, including spirometry. These data demonstrate that the functional consequences of progression of HRCT abnormalities in mild-to-moderate asbestosis are better reflected by decrements in DLCO than by spirometric changes. These results might have important practical implications for medico-legal evaluation of this patient population.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2011, Vol.54, p.185-193. Illus. 45 ref.

CIS 11-0537 Nelson G., Murray J., Phillips J.I.
The risk of asbestos exposure in South African diamond mine workers
Asbestos is associated with South African diamond mines due to the nature of kimberlite and the location of the diamond mines in relation to asbestos deposits. However little is known about the health risks in the diamond mining industry. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of asbestos exposure during the process of diamond mining. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis were used to identify asbestos fibres in the lungs of diamond mine workers who had an autopsy for compensation purposes and in the tailings and soils from three South African diamond mines located close to asbestos deposits. The asbestos lung fibre burdens were calculated and asbestos-related pathological findings in diamond mine workers at autopsy were documented. Tremolite-actinolite asbestos fibres were identified in the lungs of five men working on diamond mines. Tremolite-actinolite and/or chrysotile asbestos were present in the mine tailings of all three mines. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and/or pleural plaques were diagnosed in six diamond mine workers at autopsy. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2011, Vol.55, No.6, p.569-577. Illus. 35 ref.
The_risk_of_asbestos.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 11-0536 Kakooei H., Hormozy M., Marioryad H.
Evaluation of asbestos exposure during brake repair and replacement
Occupational exposure to asbestos fibres among automobile brake repair mechanics has seldom been evaluated in Iran. This study evaluated asbestos fibre concentrations in the breathing zone of auto mechanics between July 2008 and December 2008. The asbestos fibre concentrations of 60 personal air samples collected from 30 car and trucks brake replacement mechanics were analyzed by phase-contrast optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The geometric means of the personal monitoring fibre concentrations were 0.92 fibres/ml and 0.46 fibres/ml respectively in car and heavy truck auto shops. Based on these findings, auto mechanics who worked with asbestos-containing brake linings may have been exposed to asbestos concentrations approximately seven times higher than the current OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 fibres/ml. Fiber morphology and energy dispersive X-ray analysis by SEM revealed that amphibole fibres such as tremolite and actinolite existed in the brake dusts and that the vast majority of the airborne chrysotile fibres were greater than 1 μm in diameter. It can be concluded that the imported chrysotile asbestos contains trace amounts of tremolite and actinolite fibres and they are responsible for the high airborne asbestos levels and occupational exposure to amphibole asbestos among auto mechanics. Thus, it is to be expected that the auto mechanics will suffer negative health effects due to exposure to the serpentine and amphibole asbestos fibres.
Industrial Health, 2011, Vol.49, p.374-380. Illus. 23 ref.
Evaluation_of_asbestos.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 11-0369 Bianchi C., Bianchi T.
Mesothelioma and aircraft industry
This letter to the editor comments an earlier article published in the journal concerning a case-control study conducted in France, showing a high risk of pleural mesothelioma for various occupations and industries, including the manufacture of aircraft parts. The authors of the letter confirm similar findings in the aircraft industry in Italy.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2011, Vol.54, p.494. 5 ref.

CIS 11-0410 Strauchen J.A.
Rarity of malignant mesothelioma prior to the widespread commercial introduction of asbestos: The Mount Sinai autopsy experience 1883-1910
Most malignant mesotheliomas are related to asbestos exposure. Whether malignant mesothelioma occurs in the absence of asbestos exposure remains unsettled. To address this question, a series of 2,025 autopsies performed at the Mount Sinai Hospital between 1883 and 1910 were reviewed, prior to the widespread commercial introduction of asbestos. No cases of malignant mesothelioma were identified in these autopsies. It is concluded that malignant mesothelioma was rare prior to the widespread commercial introduction of asbestos.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2011, Vol.54, p.467-469. 11 ref.

CIS 11-0361 Szeszenia-Dąbrowska N., Świątkowska B., Szubert Z., Wilczyńska U.
Asbestos in Poland: Occupational health problems
The review addresses current problems of health risk and health effects associated with exposure to asbestos, including data on historical exposure and on currently valid occupational exposure limits. The quantity and types of the raw material used for the production of various asbestos products are also discussed in relation to the particular types of asbestos-induced occupational diseases. The article describes the medical care system for former asbestos workers and those currently exposed during removal of asbestos-containing products. The national system for medical certification of occupational asbestos-related diseases and the compensation procedure are outlined. According to the parliamentary Act of 1997, importing, manufacture and sale of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials are prohibited in Poland. Thus, the assessment of asbestos exposure and the monitoring of health conditions of workers at asbestos-processing plants have become irrelevant. However, the delayed health effects attributable to past exposure continue to be the matter of concern for public health. Likewise, the environmental pollution from asbestos waste landfills in the vicinity of asbestos-processing plants (where high levels of asbestos fibre in ambient air have been recorded) will continue to be a serious public health problem. Presently, two programmes aimed at minimising the adverse effects of asbestos on population health are underway. Both programmes are briefly described.
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 2011, Vol.24, No.2, p.142-152. Illus. 25 ref.

CIS 11-0238 Courtice M.N., Demers P.A., Takaro T.K., Vedal S., Ahmad S.K., Siddique Z., Davies H.W.
Asbestos-related disease in Bangladeshi ship breakers: A pilot study
This study examined the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases including asbestosis, work-related respiratory symptoms, and attitudes to occupational safety and health among a group of internal migrant ship breakers in Bangladesh. Data was collected on clinical and work history, respiratory symptoms, and occupational safety and health practices. Chest radiographs were rated using ILO scores by a certified reader. In the 104 male ship breakers studied, prevalence of asbestos-related disease was 12%, of which asbestosis accounted for 6%. Knowledge of asbestos and occupational safety and health measures were almost non-existent. The prevalence of asbestos-related diseases is low compared to studies in shipbuilders and repairers, but a risk underestimate could have resulted from various issued identified during study design and implementation, which are discussed.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2011, Vol.17, p.144-153. 40 ref.

CIS 10-0807 Egilman D., Menéndez L.M.
A case of occupational peritoneal mesothelioma from exposure to tremolite-free chrysotile in Quebec, Canada: A black swan case
Tremolite contamination has been proposed as the cause of mesothelioma in workers exposed to commercial chrysotile. The asbestos industry and scientists it has sponsored, for example, have argued that commercial chrysotile does not cause peritoneal mesothelioma. This article reports a case of peritoneal mesothelioma in a mill worker from a tremolite-free Canadian mine. Reports from pathology and occupational health and safety panels conclude that this mill worker developed work-related peritoneal mesothelioma. Therefore chrysotile without tremolite can cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2011, Vol.54, p.153-156. 20 ref.

CIS 10-0830 Current Intelligence Bulletin 62 - Asbestos fibers and other elongate mineral particles: state of the science and roadmap for research
Asbestos is a potential occupational carcinogen and NIOSH recommends that exposures be reduced to the lowest feasible concentration. As the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of worker injury and illness, NIOSH has undertaken a reappraisal of how to ensure optimal protection of workers from exposure to asbestos fibers and other elongate mineral particles. As a first step in this effort, NIOSH convened an internal work group to develop a framework for future scientific research and policy development. This report presents the findings and recommendations of this working group.
Publications Dissemination, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-2001, USA, Mar. 2011. Internet document, PDF format, xviii, 153p. Illus. Approx. 450 ref.
DHHS_(NIOSH)_Publication_No.2011-159.pdf [en inglés]

2010

CIS 12-0052 Occupational disease compensation fund - 2010 Annual Report
Fonds des maladies professionnelles - Rapport annuel 2010 [en francés]
Fonds voor de beroepsziekten - Jaarverslag 2010 [en holandés]
Contents of this annual report: administrative structure of the Belgian occupational disease insurance fund; occupational disease compensation claims (by diagnosis, disease code, nationality, area of residence, gender, age, industrial sector and occupation); compensation of occupational diseases (in private and public sectors); prevention of occupational diseases; legal claims; compensation for permanent invalidity; the asbestos fund; financial data. In appendices: schedule of occupational diseases and occupation disease codes.
Fonds des maladies professionnelles, Avenue de l'Astronomie 1, 1210 Brussels, Belgium, 2010, 213p.
Jaarverslag_2010_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en holandés]
Rapport_annuel_2010_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en francés]

CIS 11-0808 Loomis D., Dement J., Richardson D., Wolf S.
Asbestos fibre dimensions and lung cancer mortality among workers exposed to chrysotile
The objective of this study was to estimate exposures to asbestos fibres of specific sizes among asbestos textile manufacturing workers exposed to chrysotile using data from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and to evaluate the extent to which the risk of lung cancer varies with fibre length and diameter. A total of 3803 workers employed between 1950 and 1973 at one of three plants that produced asbestos textile products were followed for vital status until 31 December 2003. Historical exposures to asbestos fibres were estimated from work histories and 3578 industrial hygiene measurements taken in 1935-1986. Exposure-response relationships for lung cancer were examined within the cohort using Poisson regression. Indicators of fibre length and diameter obtained by TEM were positively and significantly associated with increasing risk of lung cancer. Exposures to longer and thinner fibres tended to be most strongly associated with lung cancer, and models for these fibres fit the data best. Simultaneously modelling indicators of cumulative mean fibre length and diameter yielded a positive coefficient for fibre length and a negative coefficient for fibre diameter.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sep. 2010, Vol.67, No.9, p.580-584. 25 ref.

CIS 11-0503 Aguilar-Madrid G., Robles-Pérez E., Juárez-Pérez C.A., Alvarado-Cabrero I., Rico-Méndez F.G., Javier K.G.
Case-control study of pleural mesothelioma in workers with social security in Mexico
Environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos in Mexico in the past has been a cause of deaths and health damages. Its magnitude is unknown to date. The objective of this study was to identify the proportion of cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that can be attributed to and occupational exposure to asbestos. It was conducted in the form of a case-control study of MPM in 472 workers insured by the Mexican Institute of Social Security, with 119 incident cases and 353 controls. Cases were histologically confirmed. Participants were questioned concerning their occupational history and socio-demographic data. Assignment to one of the four exposures was performed qualitatively by an expert hygienist. Odds ratios (ORs) and attributable risks (ARs) were calculated using a non-conditional logistic regression model. A total of 80.6% of cases and 31.5% of controls had occupational exposure to asbestos. ORs were adjusted for age and gender and by exposure category, and exhibited an increase with probability of exposure. These results show that the industrial uses of all forms of asbestos is generating an increase in mesothelioma-related diseases and deaths among Mexican workers. As a public health policy, Mexico should prohibit the use of asbestos in all production processes with the aim of controlling the epidemic and preventing the occurrence of new cases of MPM.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2010, Vol.53, p.241-251. Illus. 61 ref.

CIS 11-0538 Calleja Vila A., Hernández Carracosa S., Freixa Blanxart A.
Operaciones de demolición, retirada o mantenimiento con amianto: ejemplos prácticos
This technical note describes three demolition, removal and maintenance operations of materials containing asbestos: the removal of a non-friable material not releasing asbestos fibers, such as asbestos-cement panels, together with two examples of work on brittle materials, namely the removal of insulation containing asbestos on the metallic structure of an office building and the repair of pipes with thermal insulation containing asbestos. It explains the precautions to be taken when entering and exiting the work areas and the personal protective equipment required to perform this work.
Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo, c/Torrelaguna 73, 28027 Madrid, Spain, 2010. 6p. Illus. 6 ref.
NTP_862.pdf [en español]

CIS 11-0365 Euzenat D.
Exposure of workers to occupational diseases in 2007
L'exposition des salariés aux maladies professionnelles en 2007 [en francés]
In 2007 in France, there were 44,000 cases of compensated occupational disease. Four out of five of these cases were musculoskeletal diseases. These pathologies are particularly frequent in the meat, clothing, home appliance, laundry and construction industries. Blue-collar workers are the most affected, and this is particularly true of women. Occupational diseases caused by asbestos represent 15% of occupational diseases but constitute the vast majority of occupational cancers; they affect almost exclusively men. Hearing loss affects mainly blue-collar male workers, while young female hairdressers are the most affected by skin diseases.
Ministère du travail, de l'emploi et de la santé, Délégation à l'information et à la communication - DICOM, 14 Avenue Duquesne, 75350 Paris 07 SP, France, Sep. 2010. 11p. Illus. 13 ref.
DARES_Analyses_No.56.pdf [en francés]

CIS 11-0352 Massari S., Bianchi A.R., Binazzi A., Branchi C., di Marzio D., Marinaccio A., Scano P., Scarselli A., Iavicoli S.
Occupational cancer registry: The ISPESL experience
Il registro dei tumori di sospetta origine professionale: l'esperienza dell'ISPESL [en italiano]
In Italy, legislation governing the collection of data on occupational cancer cases has been recently updated. The data collected by the Italian Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention (ISPESL) has been recoded to match the new requirements. For the period 1994-2007, 1042 cases of occupational cancer were notified to the ISPESL, mainly regarding men. The most frequent cancer sites were the lung, pleura and nasal cavity. The most affected activity sectors were basic metals and the metal industry, construction, and health care and social services. The most represented carcinogenic agents were asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and silica.
Prevenzione oggi, Jan.-June 2010, Vol.6, No.1/2, p.43-59. Illus. 51 ref.

CIS 11-0234 Abejie B.A., Wang X., Kales S.N., Christiani D.C.
Patterns of pulmonary dysfunction in asbestos workers: A cross-sectional study
Restrictive patterns of pulmonary function abnormalities associated with asbestos exposure are well described. Studies are less consistent, however, regarding the association of asbestos inhalation with airway dysfunction and obstructive impairment. This study compared pulmonary function test results between 277 chrysotile exposed workers and 177 unexposed controls, who worked at an asbestos textile products plant in China. Information on exposure and smoking were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Standardized spirometry and diffusion capacity (DCLO) methods were utilized. Chest radiographs were read based on ILO pneumoconiosis guidelines. Asbestos exposed subjects had significantly reduced forced vital capacity (FVC), one-second forced expiratory volume FEV1 and DCLO. Restricting the analysis to non-smokers, asbestos workers still had about 3% lower FEV1/FVC ratio than controls. Among exposed workers, the presence of radiographic evidence of asbestosis further lowered FVC and DLCO but not the FEV1/FVC ratio compared to asbestos exposure without radiographic asbestosis. Additionally, smoking asbestos workers had significantly lower DLCO compared to non-smoking workers. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2010, No.5:12, 7p. Illus. 49 ref.
Patterns.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 11-0231 Harington J.S., McGlashan N.D., Chelkowska E.Z.
South Africa's export trade in asbestos: Demise of an industry
South Africa's export of each of its three types of asbestos, crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile, and the total amounts to 84 countries in metric tons is examined over a 24-year period, 1980-2003. For convenience, the countries are divided into nine world regional groups, Europe, Eastern Europe, North America with the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Middle East, Far East, South Asia, and Oceania. The three greatest importing countries of total asbestos in metric tons were all in the Far East region, ranging from Japan, South Korea to Thailand, and followed by USA and Italy. All exports to all countries diminished steadily as the South African trade came virtually to an end by 2003, due to ever increasing international pressure. The export trade has changed significantly since 1960 from being dominantly to European countries to being directed in recent years to the Far East, with serious implications for asbestos-related ill-health in those countries.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2010, Vol.53, p.524-534. Illus. 21 ref.

CIS 11-0226 Felten M.K., Knoll L., Eisenhawer C., Ackermann D., Khatab K., Hüdepohl J., Zschiesche W., Kraus T.
Retrospective exposure assessment to airborne asbestos among power industry workers
The objectives of this study were to assess former levels of airborne asbestos exposure in the power industry in Germany and to propose a basic strategy for health surveillance and the early detection of asbestos related diseases. Between March 2002 and the end of 2006, a retrospective questionnaire survey of occupational tasks and exposures with airborne asbestos fibres was conducted in a cohort of 8632 formerly-exposed power industry workers. Data of 7775 (90% of the total) participants working in installations for power generation, power distribution or gas supply could be evaluated. Findings are discussed.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2010, No.5:15, 9p. 29 ref.
Retrospective_exposure_assessment.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 11-0109 Perret V., Gueniat J., Dutoit T., Stoll B.
Identifying asbestos presence in construction materials - Performance assessment of an NIR (PhazlRTM) direct reading analyzer
Identification de la présence d'amiante dans les matériaux de construction - Evaluation des performances d'un appareil à lecture directe NIR (PhazlRTM) [en francés]
A new direct reading instrument is being proposed for in-situ qualitative detection of asbestos in construction materials. This new analyzer was assessed with respect to a standard method of analysis (polarized light optical microscopy, PLOM), taken as a reference. The direct reading analyzer was used to test 1103 samples of various types of material (17% containing asbestos), which had been previously analyzed using PLOM. Findings are discussed. It is concluded that the direct reading instrument is insufficiently sensitive and is not recommended as an exclusive method for detecting the presence of asbestos.
Cahiers de notes documentaires - Hygiène et sécurité du travail, Mar. 2010, No.218, p.51-58. Illus. 8 ref.
ND 2325-218-10.pdf [en francés]

CIS 10-0805 Harding A.H., Darnton A.J.
Asbestosis and mesothelioma among British asbestos workers (1971-2005)
The Great Britain (GB) Asbestos Survey was established in 1971 to monitor long-term health outcomes among workers covered by regulations to control asbestos at work. Asbestosis and mesothelioma cases were defined by multiple cause of death, and were ascertained by identifying asbestos workers on the GB Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Registers. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated; the risks of asbestosis and mesothelioma were modeled with Poisson regression analysis. Deaths to the end of 2005 were included. There were 15,557 deaths between 1971 and 2005 among the 98,912 workers. Altogether 477 asbestosis and 649 mesothelioma cases were identified. The SMR for all causes was 1.42, for asbestosis 51.3, and for mesothelioma 13.5. There was some evidence that the risk of asbestosis and mesothelioma was lower in later birth cohorts and among those first occupationally exposed to asbestos more recently. However due to the long latency of both diseases, further follow-up is required to confirm these trends.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Nov. 2010, Vol.53, No.11, p.1070-1080. Illus. 27 ref.

CIS 10-0804 Finkelstein M.M.
Absence of radiographic asbestosis and the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-cement workers: Extended follow-up of a cohort
A previous study of lung cancer risk among asbestos-cement workers in the Canadian Province of Ontario has been updated with an additional 12 years of follow-up. Subjects had received radiographic examination at 20 and 25 years from first exposure to asbestos. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using the general population of Ontario as reference. Among asbestos-cement workers without radiographic asbestosis at 20 years latency, the lung cancer SMR was 3.84. Among workers without asbestosis when examined at 25 years latency, the SMR was 3.69. It is concluded that workers who did not have radiographic asbestosis at 20 or 25 years from first exposure to asbestos continued to have an increased risk of death from lung cancer during an additional 12 years of follow-up.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Nov. 2010, Vol.53, No.11, p.1065-1069. 10 ref.

CIS 10-0801 Rolland P., Gramond C., Lacourt A., Astoul P., Chamming's S., Ducamp S., Frenay C., Galateau-Salle F., Ilg A.G., Imbernon E., Le Stang N., Pairon J.C., Goldberg M., Brochard P.
Occupations and industries in France at high risk of pleural mesothelioma: A population-based case-control study (1998-2002)
Occupational exposure to asbestos, widely used in various industries for decades, is the most important risk factor for pleural mesothelioma. The objective of this population-based case-control study was to establish the ranking of occupations and industries in France at high risk for this cancer among men and women. It was conducted from 1998 to 2002, included 462 cases (80.3% men) and 897 controls. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews with a standardized questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for each occupation and industry; subjects never employed in each category were the reference. For men, risks were high for several occupations and industries. Besides the expected high risks for non-metallic mineral product makers and manufacturing asbestos products, occupations such as plumbers (OR=5.57), sheet-metal workers, welders, foundry workers and cabinetmakers were also at high risk. Elevated risks were found in the industries of shipbuilding (OR=9.13) and construction, but also in the manufacturing of metal products, chemicals, and railroad and aircraft equipment. The results for women showed increased but non-significant risks in several occupational activities.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2010, Vol.53, p.1207-1219. Illus. 38 ref.

CIS 10-0684 Park D., Choi S., Ryu K., Park J., Paik N.
Trends in occupational asbestos exposure and asbestos consumption over recent decades in Korea
This study analyzed 2,089 asbestos exposure data sets compiled from 1995 through 2006 in Korea, covering various asbestos industries. Exposure levels were characterized according to type of asbestos industry and year. Asbestos exposure levels have decreased over time, dropping sharply from 0.92 fibers/cc (f/cc) in 1996, 0.60 f/cc in 1997, 0.19 f/cc in 1998 and 0.06 f/cc in 1999, in part because of enforcement of 1997 legislation banning the use of amosite and crocidolite. In particular, a substantial reduction in asbestos exposure levels was most evident among primary industries handling raw asbestos directly. A similar relationship was found between a significant decline in asbestos consumption volume and the timing of regulation enforcement.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1st quarter 2008, Vol.14, No.1, p.18-24. Illus. 22 ref.

CIS 10-0526 Vierikko T., Järvenpää R., Toivio P., Uitti J., Oksa P., Lindholm T., Vehmas T.
Clinical and HRCT screening of heavily asbestos-exposed workers
The objective of this study was to clarify the indications for high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the surveillance of workers heavily-exposed to asbestos. A group of 627 workers known to have been heavily-exposed to asbestos were screened and HRCT findings were classified and divided in two groups: pulmonary fibrosis (n = 86) and no fibrosis (n = 541). Most of the detected fibrosis cases were mild. The magnitude of asbestos exposure showed an unexpected inverse relation with fibrosis. In multivariate analyses, age, lung function and diffusing capacity were associated with HRCT fibrosis, but asbestos exposure was not. Asbestosis seems to be characterized by mild fibrosis today even in heavily exposed workers. Implications of these and other findings are discussed.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Jan. 2010, Vol.83, No.1, p.47-54. 30 ref.
Clinical_and_HRCT_screening.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 10-0552 Collegium Ramazzini, eds.
Asbestos is still with us: Repeat call for a universal ban
All forms of asbestos are proven human carcinogens. All forms of asbestos cause malignant mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancers, and may cause gastrointestinal and other cancers. No exposure to asbestos is without risk. Asbestos cancer victims die painful lingering deaths. These deaths are almost entirely preventable. When evidence of the carcinogenicity of asbestos became incontrovertible, many concerned parties called for a universal ban on the mining, manufacture and use of asbestos. Asbestos is now banned in 52 countries, and safer products have replaced many materials that once were made with asbestos. Nonetheless, a large number of countries still use, import and export asbestos and asbestos-containing products. And in many countries that have banned other forms of asbestos, the so-called "controlled use" of chrysotile asbestos is exempted from the ban, an exemption that has no basis in medical science but rather reflects the political and economic influence of the asbestos mining and manufacturing industry. All countries of the world have an obligation to their citizens to join in the international endeavour to ban all forms of asbestos. An international ban on asbestos is urgently needed.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2010, Vol.52, No.5, p.469-472. 54 ref.

CIS 10-0542 Boffetta P., Autier P., Boniol M., Boyle P., Hill C., Aurengo A., Masse R., de Thé G., Valleron A.J., Monier R., Tubiana M.
An estimate of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France
A quantitative estimate of the proportion of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France in 2000 was performed. Exposure data for established carcinogens were obtained from a 1994 survey and other sources. Relative risks for 23 exposure-cancer combinations were derived from meta-analyses and pooled analyses. A total of 4335 cases of cancer among men (2.7% of all cancers) and 403 cases among women (0.3% of all cancers) were attributed to occupational exposures. Asbestos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and chromium VI were the main occupational carcinogens in men, while asbestos and passive smoking were the main carcinogens in women. Corresponding proportions for cancer deaths were 4.0% and 0.6% in men and women, respectively. Lung cancer represented 75% of deaths attributable to occupational exposures.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Apr. 2010, Vol.52, No.4, p.399-406. 49 ref.

CIS 10-0387 Post-employment medical supervision following exposure to asbestos - Guidance report of the hearing committee, April 2010 - Public hearing
Suivi post-professionnel après exposition à l'amiante - Rapport d'orientation de la Commission d'audition, avril 2010 - Audition publique [en francés]
The French public health authority (Haute autorité de santé) published three documents on the post-employment medical supervision of workers exposed to asbestos: recommendations, a guidance report of the hearing committee and the complete transcriptions of the experts testifying during the hearing. This article consists of a full reproduction of the 2nd document, explains the methodology of the public hearing, and includes the list of experts heard and a sheet describing the study. Contents of the guidance report: pleuropulmonary pathologies related to asbestos; tools for identifying occupational exposures and the post-employment surveillance system; medical and non-medical advantages of screening; recommendations.
Documents pour le médecin du travail, 3rd Quarter 2010, No.123, p.271-285.
TM_14.pdf [en francés]

CIS 10-0385 Abiko H., Furuse M., Takano T.
Quantitative evaluation of the effect of moisture contents of coconut shell activated carbon used for respirators on adsorption capacity for organic vapors
Activated carbon is an elemental material used for hygienic applications, particularly as an adsorbent for harmful gases and vapours. In Japanese industrial and occupational hygiene, activated carbon produced from coconut shell is a traditional and popular adsorbent material due to its excellent adsorption ability and cost advantage. The aim of this project was to clarify the effect of the preliminary content of moisture on adsorption capacity. Adsorption capacities were measured as breakthrough times for six types of organic vapor, and the relationships between the relative weight increase of water adsorption and the decrease of adsorption capacities of the activated carbon specimens for the organic vapours were determined. Findings are discussed.
Industrial Health, Jan. 2010, Vol.48, No.1, p.52-60. Illus. 24 ref.
Quantitative_evaluation.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 10-0384 Azari M.R., Nasermoaddeli A., Movahadi M., Mehrabi Y., Hatami H., Soori H., Moshfegh E., Ramazni B.
Risk assessment of lung cancer and asbestosis in workers exposed to asbestos fibers in brake shoe factory in Iran
Occupational exposure of 61 male workers to chrysotile asbestos in a brake shoe factory in Iran was monitored. Cumulative exposures were determined through multiplication of typical exposure and work history. Risk assessment of exposed workers was estimated by risk criteria recommended by the American Environmental Protection Agency. Lung function parameters such as forced expiratory volume in one second and forced volume capacity of exposed workers were obtained. Unadjusted correlation and adjusted correlation analysis for support of the association between cumulative exposure and lung function parameters were used. Exposure of majority of exposed group was far greater than the occupational exposure limits (0.1 fibres/mL) in the range of 0.06-8.06 fibres/mL. According to the risk criteria stated by ATSDR, risk assessment of workers in term of fibrotic changes was predicted for at least 24.6% of the exposed subjects. Again, according to the lung cancer risk criteria stated by EPA, 59% of the workers will have excess risk. Other findings are discussed.
Industrial Health, Jan. 2010, Vol.48, No.1, p.38-42. 31 ref.
Risk_assessment_of_lung_cancer.pdf [en inglés]

CIS 10-0196 Occupational disease compensation fund - 2009 Annual Report
Fonds des maladies professionnelles - Rapport annuel 2009 [en francés]
Fonds voor de beroepsziekten - Jaarverslag 2009 [en holandés]
Contents of this annual report: administrative structure of the Belgian occupational disease insurance fund; occupational disease compensation claims (by diagnosis, disease code, nationality, area of residence, gender, age, industrial sector and occupation); compensation of occupational diseases (in private and public sectors); prevention of occupational diseases; legal claims; compensation for permanent invalidity; the asbestos fund; financial data. In appendices: schedule of occupational diseases and occupation disease codes.
Fonds des maladies professionnelles, Avenue de l'Astronomie 1, 1210 Brussels, Belgium, 2010. CD-ROM.
http://www.fbz.fgov.be/Pdfdocs/Rapports/Rap2009F.pdf [en francés]
http://www.fbz.fgov.be/Pdfdocs/Rapports/ver2009N.pdf [en holandés]

CIS 10-0221 Nymark P.
Molecular alterations in asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestos-related lung cancer is one of the most common types of occupational cancer. This thesis sheds light on the molecular alterations related to asbestos exposure in lung cancer and may point the way for the development of molecular-based clinical methods for asbestos-related lung cancer.
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FIOH-Bookstore, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, 00250 Helsinki, Finland, 2010. 111p. Illus. Bibl.ref. Price: EUR 23.00. Downloadable version free of charge.

CIS 10-0242 Binkert L.
Refresher training on asbestos and occupational
Fortbildung Asbest Arbeitsmedizin [en alemán]
Formation continue sur le thème de l'amiante et de la médecine du travail [en francés]
Review of the communications presented at a refresher training seminar on asbestos and occupational medicine. Main topics addressed: occupational diseases due to asbestos; statistical trends of mesothelioma over the past 20 years in Switzerland and forecasts; cost of occupational diseases due to asbestos; types of asbestos and their hazards; early screening; histological, immunohistochemical and radiological diagnosis; awareness and preventive measures; addressing the issue of asbestos in vocational training.
IZA - Sicherheit und Gesundheit, 2010, No.4, p.6-8. Illus.

2009

CIS 12-0207 Harding A.H., Frost G.
Health and Safety Executive
The Asbestos Survey - Mortality among asbestos workers 1971-2005
The Asbestos Survey was established to monitor the long-term health of workers covered by regulations to control occupational exposure to asbestos. The aim of this report was to provide an updated analysis of mortality among asbestos workers, to investigate which causes of death were associated with exposure to asbestos and to undertake a more detailed analysis of the stripping/removal workers. From 1971, workers were recruited during initially voluntary and later statutory medical examinations, during which a brief questionnaire was completed. There were 15,496 deaths among the 98,912 workers included in the analysis. All-cause mortality was significantly higher than in the general population. Known associations between asbestos exposure and mortality from lung, peritoneal and pleural cancers, mesothelioma and asbestosis were confirmed, and some evidence of associations with stroke and stomach cancer mortality was observed. Limited evidence suggested that asbestos-related disease risk may be lower among those first exposed in more recent times. Among the removal workers, deaths were elevated for all causes, all cancers including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and circulatory disease. Spending more than 40 hours per week in a stripping enclosure increased the risk of all cause, circulatory disease, and ischaemic heart disease mortality. However the different dust suppression techniques and respirator types did not affect mortality rates.
HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2009. xii, 135p. Illus. 100 ref.
The_Asbestos_Survey_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en inglés]

CIS 12-0206 Tan E., Warren N.
Health and Safety Executive
Projection of mesothelioma mortality in Great Britain
There has been an increase in mesothelioma mortality in the United Kingdom, with 1705 deaths recorded in 2006. In 2005, a statistical model was developed based on a simple birth-cohort model, which assumes that the risk of mesothelioma depends on age and years of exposure, and that an individual's asbestos exposure depends on the year of exposure. An optimization technique was used to fit the model and a profile of the population exposure was estimated. Projections of the future burden of mesothelioma mortality were calculated; however statistical uncertainties in the formulation of the model could not be taken into account. In this report, the model was refined and refitted. Credible intervals for model parameters as well as prediction intervals for future cases of mortality among male workers are presented. Mortality is expected to keep increasing, reaching a peak at around 2,040 deaths in the year 2016, with a rapid decline following the peak year. Around 91,000 deaths are predicted to occur by 2050 with around 61,000 of these occurring from 2007 onwards.
HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2009. vi, 42p. Illus. 13 ref.
Projection_of_mesothelioma_mortality_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en inglés]

CIS 12-0212 Peto J., Rake C., Gilham C., Hatch J.
Health and Safety Executive
Occupational, domestic and environmental mesothelioma risks in Britain
There are just over 2100 people diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United Kingdom each year with about five times as many cases in men as in women In this study, more than 600 patients with mesothelioma and 1400 healthy people were interviewed to examine United Kingdom rates of the disease linked to different occupations. It was calculated that men born in the 1940s who worked as carpenters for more than 10 years before they reached the age of 30 have a lifetime risk for mesothelioma of about one in 17. For plumbers, electricians and decorators born in the same decade who worked in their trade for more than 10 years before they reached the age of 30, the risk is one in 50 and for other construction workers one in 125. For every case of mesothelioma, asbestos also causes about one case of lung cancer so the overall risk of asbestos related cancer for this particular group of carpenters is about one in 10. The risk was also increased in other industries and the study showed that two-thirds of all British men and one quarter of women had worked in jobs involving potential asbestos exposure at some time in their lives. There was also a small increased risk in those who had lived with someone who had been exposed to asbestos. The risk of mesothelioma for the rest of the United Kingdom population who haven't experienced these occupational exposures is about one in 1000. These apparently-unexposed cases account for 60 per cent of all mesotheliomas in women and 15 per cent in men. This is higher than the overall rate in women in most other countries, suggesting that many of these unexplained cases were caused by unrecognized environmental asbestos exposures which occurred in certain situations because of the widespread use of asbestos during the 1960s and 1970s.
HSE Books, P.O. Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, United Kingdom, 2009, x, 63p. Illus. 46 ref.
Occupational_domestic_[INTERNET_FREE_ACCESS] [en inglés]

CIS 11-0237 Pezerat H.
Chrysotile biopersistence - The misuse of biased studies
Although it is widely accepted that exposure to any asbestos type can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung and pleural disorders, manufacturers and some chrysotile miners' unions contend that chrysotile either does not cause disease or that there is insufficient evidence to reach a conclusion. This article consists of a critical review of a recent publication that claims weak chrysotile carcinogenicity, and concludes that the findings contradict results obtained by independent scientists and can only be explained by an aggressive pre-treatment of fibres leading to rapid hydration and breaking of long fibres in the lungs.
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Jan.-Mar. 2009, Vol.15, No.1, p.102-106. 55 ref.

CIS 10-0838 Pira E., Pelucchi C., Piolatto P.G., Negri E., Bilei T., La Vecchia C.
Mortality from cancer and other causes in the Balangero cohort of chrysotile asbestos miners
The objective of this study was to provide further information on mortality from cancer and other causes among chrysotile asbestos miners several years after exposure ceased, updating the analyses from the Balangero mine worker cohort with follow-up to the end of 2003. The cohort included 1056 men, for a total of 34,432 man-years of observation. Employment data were obtained from personnel records, the vital status and causes of death were obtained through population registers and death certificates from municipal registration offices. Expected numbers of deaths and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were computed for relevant causes using the province of Turin and national death rates, for each 5-year calendar period and age group. Significant excess mortality was found from pleural cancer only (4 deaths, SMR 4.67) and pleural and peritoneal cancers combined (5 deaths, SMR 3.16). All pleural and peritoneal cancer deaths occurred 30 or more years after first exposure. The SMRs were 1.27 for lung cancer (45 deaths), 1.82 for laryngeal cancer (8 deaths) and 1.12 for all cancers (142 deaths). Cumulative dust exposure and the various time factors considered did not show a clear pattern of risk associated with mortality from lung cancer. There were 57 deaths from cirrhosis (SMR 2.94) and 54 from accidents and violence (SMR 1.88). Overall, 590 deaths were observed as compared to 412.9 expected (SMR 1.43).
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dec. 2009, Vol.66, No.12, p.805-809. 33 ref.

CIS 10-0541 Pintos J., Parent M.E., Case B.W., Rousseau M.C., Siemiatycki J.
Risk of mesothelioma and occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers: Evidence from two case-control studies in Montreal, Canada
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of exposure to occupational asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) across a wide range of occupations on risk of mesothelioma. Two population-based case-control studies provided 35 histologically confirmed mesothelioma cases and 1965 controls. A detailed job history was obtained to evaluate occupational exposure to many agents, including asbestos and MMVF. The mesothelioma odds ratio for exposure to any asbestos type was 3.7. The odds ratio was 7.0 for the subset exposed to amphibole fibers. In workers with exposure levels lower than in most historical cohort studies and across a wide range of industries, a strong association was found between asbestos, especially amphibole, and mesothelioma.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Oct. 2009, Vol.51, No.10, p.1177-1184. 27 ref.

CIS 10-0460 Rodríguez C.A.
Los convenios de la OIT sobre seguridad y salud en el trabajo: una oportunidad para mejorar las condiciones y el medio ambiente de trabajo
The purpose of this publication is to explain and promote ILO international labour standards for occupational safety and health in Latin America. It examines various ILO conventions on different subjects of interest. The history of each convention is reviewed, its contents discussed, and the situation concerning its application in various Latin American countries is examined. A CD-ROM which contains the publication in PDF format, as well as the texts of the conventions and of all the documents cited, is included.
Publications of the International Training Centre of the ILO, Viale Maestri del Lavoro, 10, 10127 Torino, Italy, 2009. 337p. + CD-ROM .
Los_convenios_de_la_OIT.pdf [en español]

CIS 10-0102 Dufresne A., Drolet D., Perrault G., Lemay F., Viau S., Dion C.
Relationship between the materials' asbestos content and the fibre concentration in the ambient air during dismantling work
Relation entre la teneur en amiante dans les matériaux et la concentration de fibres dans l'air ambiant lors de travaux de démantèlement [en francés]
The dismantling of asbestos-containing materials generates significant concentrations of fibres, including in the workers' breathing zones. The objective of this study was to document the sources of fibre emissions in air when carrying out specific tasks, by analyzing material and air samples collected during the various phases of dismantling work. Based on the findings, several recommendations are made concerning the sampling of workers' breathing atmospheres, as per the requirements of Quebec regulations.
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail du Québec (IRSST), 505 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal (Quebec) H3A 3C2, Canada, 2010. vii, 71p. Illus. 70 ref. Price: CAD 10.50. Downloadable version (PDF format) free of charge.
http://www.irsst.qc.ca/files/documents/PubIRSST/R-600.pdf [en francés]

CIS 09-1333 Gaul M.
Asbestos in rehabilitation and demolition operations - Identifying asbestos: The weak link
L'amiante dans les opérations de réhabilitation et de démolition. Repérage amiante: le maillon faible [en francés]
Rehabilitation and demolition are very high risk operations given the potential presence of asbestos in numerous materials and products, and thus require a comprehensive search for any asbestos-containing products and materials concerned by the work prior to its being undertaken. In the Manche Department in northwest France, the labour inspectorate has been carrying out a targeted campaign since 2005 to check the reliability of asbestos identification reports. The results are particularly worrying in that an absence, unsuitability or poor quality of identification was highlighted in 70 to 80 % of the cases. They confirm that asbestos identification currently constitutes the weakest link of on-site asbestos treatment. The article presents the various types of asbestos identification and how they are adapted to rehabilitation and demolition operations. It then goes on to examine the statistical study undertaken in 2005 and 2006 in the Manche Department, and includes practical examples.
Cahiers de notes documentaires - Hygiène et sécurité du travail, 3rd Quarter 2009, No.216, p.3-10. Illus. 12 ref.
http://www.hst.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/ND%202311/$File/ND2311.pdf [en francés]

CIS 09-1245 Loomis D., Dement J.M., Wolf S.H., Richardson D.B.
Lung cancer mortality and fibre exposures among North Carolina asbestos textile workers
This cohort study of the relationship between lung cancer mortality and asbestos fibre exposure involved workers employed between 1950 and 1973 in one of four asbestos textile products plants in North Carolina. Vital status was ascertained through 31 December 2003. Historical exposures to asbestos fibres were estimated from work histories and industrial hygiene measurements. The mortality of the cohort was compared with that of the national population. Mortality from all causes, all cancers and lung cancer was significant higher among exposed subjects, with standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) of 1.47, 1.41 and 1.96 respectively. SMRs for pleural cancer, mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis were also elevated. The risk of lung cancer and asbestosis increased with cumulative fibre exposure. Other findings are discussed.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aug. 2009, Vol.66, No.8, p.535-542. 42 ref.

CIS 09-1305 Clin B., Morlais F., Guittet L., Gislard A., Marquignon M.F., Paris C., Caillard J.F., Launoy G., Letourneux M.
Performance of chest radiograph and CT scan for lung cancer screening in asbestos-exposed workers
The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and the specificity of chest CT scans with chest radiographs for the biennial screening of bronchopulmonary cancer in a cohort of asbestos-exposed workers. The screening procedures were applied to 972 individuals who had been highly exposed to asbestos. The study focused on the 1230 screens for which a two-year follow-up period was available, during which 24 cases of bronchopulmonary cancer were diagnosed. Findings are discussed. Overall, the study confirms the superior sensitivity of chest CT scans compared with conventional chest radiography. A recommended diameter of 5mm is proposed as the threshold for considering non-calcified lesions as "suspect" for the surveillance of asbestos-exposed individuals.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aug. 2009, Vol.66, No.8, p.529-534. Illus. 31 ref.

CIS 09-1328 Zaebst D.D., Seel E.A., Yiin J.H., Nowlin S.J., Chen P.
Summary of retrospective asbestos and welding fume exposure estimates for a nuclear naval shipyard and their correlation with radiation exposure estimates
An earlier nested case-control study at a U.S. nuclear naval shipyard primarily assessed the relationship between lung cancer and ionizing radiation. Chemical confounders considered important were asbestos and welding fumes, and the chromium and nickel content of welding fume. In this study, exposures to the potential confounders were estimated by an expert panel based on a set of quantitatively defined categories of exposure. Findings suggest that a fairly large proportion of study population workers were exposed to asbestos and welding fumes. However, the levels of these exposures were not sufficient to affect the risk estimates.
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, July 2009, Vol.6, No.7, p.404-414. Illus. 21 ref.

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