Forms Of Asbestos Research Articles

EPA bans last form of asbestos used in US

EPA bans last form of asbestos used in US

Abstract 1468: Low exposures to amphibole or serpentine asbestos in germline Bap1-mutant mice induce mesotheliomacharacterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if minimal exposures to amphibole (crocidolite) and serpentine (chrysotile) asbestos fibers significantly increase the incidence and rate of malignant mesothelioma (MM) onset in mice with a germline heterozygous Bap1 mutation, and to assess the effect of the resulting gene × environment interactions on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The studies were carried out by chronically injecting intraperitoneally Bap1+/- and Bap1+/+ (wild-type, WT) mice with minimal doses of asbestos (in some experiments, as low as 0.0125 mg x 8 injections; total, 0.1 mg/mouse) and then monitoring the mice for tumor formation for up to 90 weeks. Pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic factors in the TIME were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) for immune cell markers. With either type of asbestos and at each dose tested, MMs occurred at a significantly higher rate and earlier onset time in Bap1-mutant mice than in WT littermates. MMs from mice injected with chrysotile, but less so with crocidolite, had widespread adhesions in the peritoneal cavity owing to an overwhelming immune response, particularly at the higher dose used. IHC staining demonstrated an increased number of immune cells in granulomas and MMs. In particular, pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages were found mainly in granulomas, whereas pro-tumorigenic M2 macrophages were predominant in MMs. IF staining revealed that the relative number of M2 macrophages was strikingly greater in chrysotile-induced than crocidolite-induced MMs, suggesting that chrysotile induces a more profound immune response. MMs from Bap1-mutant mice showed upregulation of both CD39/CD73-adenosine and Ccl2/Ccr2 pathways, which collectively are known to mechanistically create favorable conditions for neoplastic transformation, invasion, and the development of an immunosuppressive TIME, in part by attracting M2 macrophages. This implies that chemoprevention and immunotherapy strategies targeting these pro-tumorigenic immune pathways could be beneficial in BAP1 mutation carriers. In conclusion, we provide evidence that low-level exposures to either chrysotile or crocidolite in germline Bap1 heterozygous mice result in a markedly increased risk of MM characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Drawing parallels to humans, these experimental findings suggest that exposure of BAP1 mutation carriers to even minimal doses of different forms of asbestos may be associated with significantly enhanced susceptibility to MM. Citation Format: Yuwaraj Kadariya, Eleonora Sementino, Maggie Ruan, Mitchell Cheung, Andres J. Klein-Szanto, Kathy Cai, Joseph R. Testa. Low exposures to amphibole or serpentine asbestos in germline Bap1-mutant mice induce mesotheliomacharacterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1468.

Elongated particulate burden in an individual who died of mesothelioma and had an occupational history as a talc “mucker”

Introduction Tissue from a 77-year-old man diagnosed with mesothelioma was referred with a request for identification of the presence of fibrous structures in tissue samples. The individual’s work history including working as a “mucker” at a specific “industrial” talc mine. Methods Ferruginous bodies in the tissue digests as well as asbestos fibers were found. A bulk sample of a talc containing product from that mine was also analyzed. Discussions/Conclusions The correlation between the unique asbestos mineral/fibrous content of the talc to which he was exposed and findings of the same type of asbestos found in his lung is discussed. The type of asbestos found (tremolite) is a “non-commercial” type of asbestos that has been identified in some talc deposits. Tremolite, like all forms of asbestos is a causative agent for mesothelioma-the disease from which this individual suffered.

Analysis of the Indian Government’s position on the use of asbestos and its health effects

Based on WHO guidance, all forms of asbestos are a health risk. In India, the mining of asbestos has been stopped, but chrysotile (a type of asbestos) is still imported and processed in large quantities. Chrysotile is mainly used for asbestos-cement roofing, and the manufacturers claim its use to be safe. We sought to understand the Indian Government’s position on the use of asbestos. To do so, we have analysed the replies of the executive wing of the Indian Government to questions on asbestos in the Indian Parliament. This revealed that, despite a mining ban, the government has defended the import, processing and continued use of asbestos.

A comparative study of the disease burden attributable to asbestos in Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia between 1990 and 2019

BackgroundBrazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia are the main asbestos-producing countries, and all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. The objective of this study was to estimate the disease burden attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019 in major producing countries, including Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia.MethodsAge-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates (ASDR) of disease burden attributable to asbestos by country, age, and sex were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Percentage change and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were used to assess the trends of ASDR and ASMR of disease burden attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019.ResultsAsbestos-related diseases were highly heterogeneous across Global, Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. There was a downward trend in ASMR and ASDR of diseases burden related to asbestos globally. The age-specific mortality rate of disease attributable to asbestos increased in men and women, although it decreased in women aged 85–89, the highest age-specific mortality rate were observed in age 95 + group in men [162.14 (95% UI: 103.76–215.45)] and women [30.58 (95% UI: 14.83–44.33)] per 100 000 population, respectively. Tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer was the leading cause of death and DALYS attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019 globally and in Brazil, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. China had the highest percentage change (73.31%) and EAPC [3.41 (95% CI: 2.75–4.08)] in ASMR related to exposure to asbestos in men, with the highest percentage change (73.31%) and EAPC [3.41 (95% CI: 2.75–4.08)] in ASDR in men.ConclusionsThe ASMR and ASDR of disease burden attributable to asbestos decreased between 1990 and 2019 globally. TBL cancer was the leading cause of death and DALYs attributable to asbestos between 1990 and 2019. There has been an increasing trend in mortality and DALYs globally, especially in older men. The burden of disease attributable to asbestos is increasing in China, especially in men.

The silent malignant mesothelioma epidemic: a call to action

Malignant mesothelioma, recognised as a new disease in the 1950s, is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure and usually diagnosed decades after first exposure. The disease was initially restricted to asbestos workers, but diagnoses after non-occupational exposure continue to surge. Despite the acknowledgment by WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), more than 40 years ago, that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic, global asbestos use increased exponentially, 1 Frank AL Joshi TK The global spread of asbestos. Ann Glob Health. 2014; 80: 257-262 Crossref PubMed Scopus (115) Google Scholar leading to an almost ubiquitous presence of these minerals in homes, commercial buildings, ships, vehicles, and thousands of products. When asbestos bans were introduced in Europe and Australia, their use surged in countries where traders suggested that chrysotile asbestos were safe. 2 Furuya S Chimed-Ochir O Takahashi K David A Takala J Global asbestos disaster. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15: 1000 Crossref PubMed Scopus (93) Google Scholar Despite mounting evidence of the carcinogenicity, many countries have yet to recognise the urgency of banning asbestos and do not support WHO's aim of reducing or ending the incidence of asbestos-related cancers (figure 1). Representatives of ten countries—Russia, Kazakhstan, Syria, Zimbabwe, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela, Pakistan, Cuba, India, and Iran—continue to block a 15-year-old UN motion to label chrysotile asbestos as especially hazardous. As the global malignant mesothelioma epidemic shows no sign of abating, 3 Zhai Z Ruan J Zheng Y et al. Assessment of global trends in the diagnosis of mesothelioma from 1990 to 2017. JAMA Netw Open. 2021; 4: e2120360 Crossref PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar , 4 Alpert N van Gerwen M Taioli E Epidemiology of mesothelioma in the 21st century in Europe and the United States, 40 years after restricted/banned asbestos use. Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2020; 9: S28-S38 Crossref PubMed Scopus (50) Google Scholar oncologists should reinforce the idea that the continued harm caused by asbestos cannot be reduced without ceasing all asbestos mining and trade, increasing public awareness, enforcing regulations, and improving diagnosis and treatment. In this Essay, we re-examine how asbestos has silently caused a global epidemic and summarise mesothelioma carcinogenesis, prevention, and novel treatments. The role of the pro-asbestos lobby will be exemplified. Further reading can be found in the appendix.

Asbesto como carcinógeno ocupacional en Colombia: desde la biología molecular hasta la salud pública

Asbestos is the name assigned for decades to a group of fibrous materials with multiple commercial uses. All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans, and can cause lung cancer, larynx cancer, ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other related diseases. On July 11, 2019 was promulgated in Colombia the Law 1968 Ana Cecilia Nino that prohibits to exploit, produce, commercialize, import, distribute or export any variety of asbestos and the products made with it in the national territory. With the objective of generating a wide panorama on the asbestos as occupational carcinogen in Colombia, the present review approaches four fundamental perspectives of interest: the molecular and cellular mechanisms, the molecular pathology, the clinical research and the public health in Colombia.

US EPA to strengthen asbestos risk evaluation

In a win for environmental and public health groups, the US Environmental Protection Agency on Oct. 12 committed to broadening and speeding up its review of the health risks of asbestos under two legal settlements . Asbestos is one of the first 10 substances the EPA evaluated under the 2016 revisions to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The agency released its final assessment Dec. 30, 2020, finding unreasonable risks to workers and consumers who handle many products containing asbestos, including chlor-alkali diaphragms the chemical industry uses to produce chlorine. But the EPA did not evaluate risks from legacy uses of asbestos, such as insulation and other construction materials that are still found in older buildings. The agency also did not consider all forms of asbestos and instead focused only on chrysotile, the type of asbestos imported into the US. The EPA said it would assess legacy uses in a

Epidemiology and Clinical Aspects of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Simple SummaryMesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by breathing in asbestos fibres. Asbestos was widely used in industry in the last century in most developed countries and is still present in many older buildings to this day. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Symptoms of mesothelioma can include worsening breathlessness, chest pain and loss of weight. There is no cure, and the treatment of mesothelioma is limited, although there have been some recent improvements in therapy. Survival is very variable although most people live for around one year after diagnosis. Efforts to improve and maintain the quality of life for patients with mesothelioma remain a priority.Mesothelioma is a cancer predominantly of the pleural cavity. There is a clear association of exposure to asbestos with a dose dependent risk of mesothelioma. The incidence of mesothelioma in different countries reflect the historical patterns of commercial asbestos utilisation in the last century and predominant occupational exposures mean that mesothelioma is mostly seen in males. Modern imaging techniques and advances in immunohistochemical staining have contributed to an improved diagnosis of mesothelioma. There have also been recent advances in immune checkpoint inhibition, however, mesothelioma remains very challenging to manage, especially considering its limited response to conventional systemic anticancer therapy and that no cure exists. Palliative interventions and support remain paramount with a median survival of 9–12 months after diagnosis. The epidemiology and diagnosis of mesothelioma has been debated over previous decades, due to a number of factors, such as the long latent period following asbestos exposure and disease occurrence, the different potencies of the various forms of asbestos used commercially, the occurrence of mesothelioma in the peritoneal cavity and its heterogeneous pathological and cytological appearances. This review will describe the contemporary knowledge on the epidemiology of mesothelioma and provide an overview of the best clinical practice including diagnostic approaches and management.

Молекулярные аспекты канцерогенеза, индуцированного асбестом

One of the key problems of modern healthcare is the prevention and personalized medicine of diseases caused by exposure to adverse environmental factors. According to the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, all forms of asbestos have adverse effects on the human body and can induce various forms of cancer. It has been evidenced by the inclusion of asbestos in the first category of the list of carcinogens. Today the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the largest asbestos-producing countries. An understanding of the key mechanisms of carcinogenesis due to inhalation of asbestos is needed to effectively diagnose asbestos-induced cancer in the early stages of development. The article reports on the most modern concepts of the genetic and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis mediated by the effect of chrysotile asbestos and confirms the danger of this compound to human health.

Fibres in Meise Botanic Garden: A Future for Heritage Collections?

The precious historical collection of fibres in Meise Botanic Garden, with over 500 specimens in old hand-blown glass jars, was rehabilitated in 2017. Most of the specimens date back to the second half of the 19th century, a period of technological revolution. The rehabilitation retraces the industrious search for every possible raw material provided by nature at that time. The result is astonishing, not only regarding the origin and quality of the preserved material, its label information and its accompanying manuscripts, but also because of the extremely wide range of fibre species and their processing. Noted collectors enriching our collections were, inter alios, the Josephite Brother Bernardin of Melle (Belgium), Carl von Martius and his brother Theodor Martius of Erlangen (Germany) and Henri Van Heurck of Antwerp (Belgium). Famous museums and botanic gardens such as the Museum of French Colonies in Paris (France) and the Experimental Garden in Eala (Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC) were also important suppliers. Samples originate from all over the world with strong representation from India, the DRC and Brazil. The nature of the fibres in the collection is very diverse and ranges from stem, bark and leaf fibres to husk fibres and seed hairs. Some of them have been processed into bundles and braids, beaten bark, spun thread and twined rope, as well as rough or organza-like fabrics. Even plant pith, pulp and paper are included, next to silkworm silk and mineral tremolite (a form of asbestos). Not only are familiar plant fibres such as cotton, sisal, ramie, coir, flax and jute present, but also Congo jute, Cuban bast, lacebark, piassava, esparto, fern wool, fibres of linden, sunflower, banana and pineapple, next to different types of paper and bark cloth. More than a hundred genera appear. Dominant families in terms of specimen numbers are Malvaceae (including Tiliaceae), Liliaceae (including Agavaceae), Palmae, Urticaceae, Bombacaceae, Musaceae and Gramineae. This upgraded collection exhibits an unexpected data diversity and consequently offers multitudinous possibilities for innovative research. One of our mission statements is undoubtedly: safeguarding historical collections for the future.

Autoimmune antibodies and asbestos exposure: Evidence from Wittenoom, Western Australia.

Studies comparing different forms of asbestos are rare, and limited by the failure to compare results with unexposed populations. We compare autoimmune responses among former workers and residents of the crocidolite mining and milling town of Wittenoom, Western Australia, with an unexposed population. ANA testing using indirect immunofluorescence was performed on randomly selected serum samples from Wittenoom workers or residents and compared with those from participants of another unexposed cohort study. ANA scores were higher in the Wittenoom participants compared with Busselton and the odds of being ANA positive was fivefold greater among Wittenoom participants than Busselton (OR 5.5, 95%CI 2.3-13.0). This study is the first to report increased ANA positivity among persons exposed exclusively to crocidolite. This finding of a high frequency of positive ANA tests among crocidolite-exposed subjects may be an indicator for an increased risk of systemic autoimmune diseases and needs further scrutiny.

Evaluation of thermally treated asbestos based on fiber number concentration determined by transmission electron microscopy

Appropriate treatment of asbestos waste is a significant problem. In Japan, inertization of asbestos-containing waste by novel techniques approved by the Ministry of the Environment is now promoted. A quantitative method of testing with high sensitivity to the asbestos levels present in the inertization products is required for the approval process, but many testing methods are only qualitative. Thus, we have developed an evaluation method for asbestos in inertized products, consisting of the extraction of fibers from inertized products and determination of fiber number concentration by transmission electron microscopy. We adopted this testing method to evaluate thermally treated asbestos. It was found that fiber number concentrations of thermally treated asbestos decreased with increased treatment temperature, and were below the environmental level (102 Mf/g) at more than 1000 °C for chrysotile and crocidolite and more than 1400 °C for amosite and other amphibole forms of asbestos.

The decline of the cigarette filter

People are smoking less than they used to. That’s good news for public health. But for the few chemical firms that make the cellulose acetate fibers used in cigarette filters, the decline poses a long-term threat to one of their most profitable businesses. These companies now find themselves shuttering plants dedicated to the cigarette raw material. Some are looking for new markets in related chemicals to help cover the declining demand. Cigarette filters became mainstream in the 1950s. “Once pooh-poohed as refinements intended for dilettantes and eccentric millionaires, filter cigarettes have by now gained acceptance among the public,” C&EN declared in a 1956 article. At the time, cellulose acetate was emerging as the preeminent filter material, beating out cotton and crocidolite, a form of asbestos. To make cellulose acetate, companies expose wood pulp to acetic anhydride, which replaces hydroxyl groups in the cellulose with acetyl groups. The resulting cellulose acetate

Scientific journal publishes second eratum regarding false information by scientists funded by asbestos interests.

In a paper published on Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health, Ilgren et al. claimed that cases of mesothelioma among workers of the Balangero (a municipality of the province of Turin, Northern Italy) chrysotile mine and nearby residents were not caused by chrysotile, but by other forms of asbestos. In support, they cited a reference where no pertaining evidence can be found. One year after the paper, an erratum was published by the journal editors in chief, warning that an erroneous citation was present. The erratum is weak and misleading, concealing the fact that a false statement was supported by such error and that it may serve the interests of the chrysotile industry, by dismissing evidence of chrysotile carcinogenicity. Some of the article authors, of the editors in chief and members of the journal editorial board had financial ties to asbestos interests.

Asbestos contamination in feldspar extraction sites: a failure of prevention? Commentary.

Fibrous tremolite is a mineral species belonging to the amphibole group. It is present almost everywhere in the world as a natural contaminant of other minerals, like talc and vermiculite. It can be also found as a natural contaminant of the chrysotile form of asbestos. Tremolite asbestos exposures result in respiratory health consequences similar to the other forms of asbestos exposure, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although abundantly distributed on the earth's surface, tremolite is only rarely present in significant deposits and it has had little commercial use. Significant presence of amphibole asbestos fibers, characterized as tremolite, was identified in mineral powders coming from the milling of feldspar rocks extracted from a Sardinian mining site (Italy). This evidence raises several problems, in particular the prevention of carcinogenic risks for the workers. Feldspar is widespread all over the world and every year it is produced in large quantities and it is used for several productive processes in many manufacturing industries (over 21 million tons of feldspar mined and marketed every year). Until now the presence of tremolite asbestos in feldspar has not been described, nor has the possibility of such a health hazard for workers involved in mining, milling and handling of rocks from feldspar ores been appreciated. Therefore the need for a wider dissemination of knowledge of these problems among professionals, in particular mineralogists and industrial hygienists, must be emphasized. In fact both disciplines are necessary to plan appropriate environmental controls and adequate protections in order to achieve safe working conditions.

Current Research and Opportunities to Address Environmental Asbestos Exposures.

SummaryAsbestos-related diseases continue to result in approximately 120,000 deaths every year in the United States and worldwide. Although extensive research has been conducted on health effects of occupational exposures to asbestos, many issues related to environmental asbestos exposures remain unresolved. For example, environmental asbestos exposures associated with a former mine in Libby, Montana, have resulted in high rates of nonoccupational asbestos-related disease. Additionally, other areas with naturally occurring asbestos deposits near communities in the United States and overseas are undergoing investigations to assess exposures and potential health risks. Some of the latest public health, epidemiological, and basic research findings were presented at a workshop on asbestos at the 2014 annual meeting of the Society of Toxicology in Phoenix, Arizona. The following focus areas were discussed: a) mechanisms resulting in fibrosis and/or tumor development; b) relative toxicity of different forms of asbestos and other hazardous elongated mineral particles (EMPs); c) proper dose metrics (e.g., mass, fiber number, or surface area of fibers) when interpreting asbestos toxicity; d) asbestos exposure to susceptible populations; and e) using toxicological findings for risk assessment and remediation efforts. The workshop also featured asbestos research supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Better protection of individuals from asbestos-related health effects will require stimulation of new multidisciplinary research to further our understanding of what constitutes hazardous exposures and risk factors associated with toxicity of asbestos and other hazardous EMPs (e.g., nanomaterials).

The asbestos paradox: global gaps in the translational science of disease prevention.

The asbestos paradox: global gaps in the translational science of disease prevention.

Researcher Patricia Martens turned dry data into stories.

Researcher Patricia Martens turned dry data into stories.

Quebec and Canadian governments end their historic support of the asbestos industry

Quebec’s asbestos mines have operated for 130 years and made Quebec a world leader in export of asbestos over the past century. Even though the scientific evidence was overwhelming that use of asbestos was causing epidemics of asbestos-related diseases and death, the Quebec and Canadian governments continued to give the asbestos industry unquestioning financial and political backing. This legitimization of the asbestos trade by the Quebec and Canadian governments had disastrous repercussions around the world. Canada was more than a major asbestos exporter; it played a key strategic role as leading propagandist in denying the scientific evidence and in arguing for continuation of the global asbestos trade. As industrialized countries recognized the deadly health effects of asbestos and ceased to be customers, Canada successfully targeted developing countries as a source of new markets for asbestos sales. As a consequence, world asbestos sales have stayed steady at around 2 million tons of asbestos a year for the past two decades. 1–3 Canada created and aggressively promoted the marketing message that chrysotile asbestos, unlike other forms of asbestos, poses virtually no threat to health. Lobbyists, funded by the Quebec and Canadian governments and the asbestos industry, circled the world, bearing the Canadian flag, claiming that chrysotile asbestos could be, and was being, used under ‘safe, controlled conditions’, and was an excellent product for developing countries. Due to its credibility and expertise on the world stage, Canada succeeded in playing a pivotal albeit malignant role at United Nations (UN) gatherings, helping to defeat efforts of health experts to end or restrict use of asbestos. Canada has, for example, blocked the listing of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance under the UN Rotterdam Convention for over a decade, thus allowing its continuing global trade without even minimal safety restrictions.