Use Of Asbestos Research Articles

Occupational Burden of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Korea, 1998-2013: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer.

BackgroundAsbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) including asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Although Korea used substantial amounts of asbestos in the past, no study has focused on its occupational burden of disease (OBD). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the OBDs of ARDs in Korea.MethodsThe CARcinogen Exposure (CAREX) database was used to determine the proportion of exposed population. Relative risks for lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer were used to determine the population-attributable fraction. Data for deaths caused by ARDs during 1998–2013 were obtained from the World Health Organization mortality database. The potential years of life lost (PYLL) and annual average PYLL (APYLL) indicated OBDs.ResultsIn Korea, the number of ARD-attributable deaths and PYLL due to all ARDs during 1998–2013 were 4,492 and 71,763.7, respectively. The number of attributable deaths and PYLL due to asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer were 37 and 554.2, 808 and 15,877.0, 3,256 and 47,375.9, 120 and 1,605.5, and 271 and 6,331.1, respectively; additionally, the APYLL were 15.0, 19.7, 14.6, 13.4, and 23.4, respectively, and the average age at death was 70.4, 62.6, 69.1, 69.9, and 61.8, respectively. Our study showed that although the use of asbestos has ceased in Korea, the incidence of ARDs tends to increase.ConclusionTherefore, efforts to reduce future OBDs of ARDs, including early detection and proper management of ARDs, are needed in Korea.

Brazil asbestos ban impacts U.S. imports

The U.S. chlor-alkali industry is feeling the hit from a Nov. 29 ruling of the Brazil Supreme Federal Court that bans the mining, use, and commercialization of asbestos in Brazil. About 95% of the asbestos used in the U.S. in 2016 was imported from Brazil, with the rest coming from Russia. The chlor-alkali industry used nearly all of the material, or about 340 metric tons, according to estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey. Much of the U.S. chlor-alkali industry still uses asbestos diaphragms to produce chlorine. The industry is phasing out such diaphragms and replacing them with more expensive ion-exchange membranes as has been done in Europe to replace mercury cells (see page 12), but not all companies have made the switch. Some members of Congress are raising concerns about having Russia as the sole supplier of asbestos to the U.S. By continuing to allow industrial use of asbestos, a

The Tale of Asbestos in Sweden 1972-1986-The Pathway to a Near-Total Ban.

This paper provides a narrative of the national intervention strategy in Sweden aimed to restrict the industrial use of asbestos. For many years, asbestos was imported for widespread industrial use, resulting in large amounts throughout Swedish society. In 1972, the whistle was blown in a Communist Party parliamentary motion describing asbestos as a health hazard and requesting action to prohibit its use. Although the motion was rejected, it initiated the extensive charting of asbestos sources on a tripartite basis, involving government agencies, and employer and trade-union organizations. Restrictive asbestos management practices were enforced from July 1982. The year 1985 saw the Government Asbestos Commission review, covering use-determining factors, international regulations, and assessments of cancer risks. The relative risks of chrysotile and amphibole were considered internationally (by the IARC), since chrysotile (a Canadian export) was regarded as unharmful in Canada at that time. Prohibiting asbestos use resulted in its virtual disappearance as an import to Sweden from the early 1980s. However, asbestos has undergone a transition from an occupational to a public-health hazard (although some work-related hazards, such as handling and disposal, remain). The transition reflects the public’s exposure to existing stocks, in homes, workplaces, etc. Mesothelioma incidence has come to be regarded as an indicator of prevention effectiveness.

Mesothelioma in Australia: a review.

The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Australia is among the highest in the world as a result of widespread use of asbestos by industry and in construction throughout the 20th century. The risk of developing malignant mesothelioma after asbestos exposure is dose-related; a transient, low dose exposure confers a correspondingly very low risk of disease. Malignant mesothelioma is a heterogeneous disease, partly explaining the limited role of biomarkers in screening and diagnosis. The prognosis remains poor, and early advice on medico-legal compensation and a collaborative team approach to managing malignant mesothelioma are both essential. Chemotherapy can have a modest treatment effect in some people. New therapies, such as immunotherapy, do not yet have a defined role in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. As treatment options for malignant mesothelioma are limited and no cure is available, there is no established role for early detection or screening of at risk populations. A multidisciplinary approach to caring for patients with malignant mesothelioma and their carers is vital.

History of Asbestos Ban in Hong Kong.

As millions of immigrants moved to Hong Kong (HK) from China in the recent decades, large amount of residential housings were built in the early years and a substantial proportion of those buildings used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Since the number of new cases of ARDs diagnosed has increased year by year since 1990’s, the remarkable increase of incidences had drawn the attention of the public and most importantly the HK government. It became one of the trigger points leading to asbestos ban in HK history. Comparatively, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labor unions and patients’ self-help organizations demonstrated a more aggressive and proactive attitude than the HK government and have played a key role in the development of asbestos banning policy in HK. After numerous petitions and meetings with the government representatives by those parties in the past decade, the HK government eventually changed its attitude and started to consider terminating the endless threat from asbestos by amending the policy, and the new clause of legislation for banning of all forms of asbestos was enacted on 4 April 2014. Other than the restriction of asbestos use, the compensation system about ARDs has also made some great moves by the effort of those parties as well. Based on the experience we learnt through the years, efforts from different stakeholders including patients’ self-help organizations, NGOs, legislative councilors, and media power are absolutely essential to the success of progression and development in today’s asbestos banning in HK.

Toward an Asbestos Ban in the United States.

Many developed countries have banned the use of asbestos, but not the United States. There have, however, been multiple efforts in the US to establish strict exposure standards, to limit asbestos use, and to seek compensation through the courts for asbestos-injured workers’. In consequence of these efforts, asbestos use has declined dramatically, despite the absence of a legally mandated ban. This manuscript presents a historical review of these efforts.

Mesothelioma incidence and asbestos exposure in Italian national priority contaminated sites.

Objectives This study aimed to (i) describe mesothelioma incidence in the Italian national priority contaminated sites (NPCS) on the basis of data available from the Italian National Mesothelioma Registry (ReNaM) and (ii) profile NPCS using Bayesian rank analysis. Methods Incident cases of mesothelioma and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were estimated for both genders in each of the 39 selected NPCS in the period 2000-2011. Age-standardized rates of Italian geographical macro areas were used to estimate expected cases. Rankings of areas were produced by a hierarchical Bayesian model. Asbestos exposure modalities were discussed for each site. Results In the study period, 2683 incident cases of mesothelioma (1998 men, 685 women) were recorded. An excess of mesothelioma incidence was confirmed in sites with a known past history of direct use of asbestos (among men) such as Balangero (SIR 197.1, 95% CI 82.0-473.6), Casale Monferrato (SIR 910.7, 95% CI 816.5-1012.8), and Broni (SIR 1288.5, 95% CI 981.9-1691.0), in sites with shipyards and harbors (eg, Trieste, La Spezia, Venice, and Leghorn), and in settings without documented direct use of asbestos. The analysis ranked the sites of Broni and Casale Monferrato (both genders) and Biancavilla (only for women) the highest. Conclusions The present study confirms that asbestos pollution is a risk for people living in polluted areas, due to not only occupational exposure in industrial settings with direct use of asbestos but also the presence of asbestos in the environment. Epidemiological surveillance of asbestos-related diseases is a fundamental tool for monitoring the health profile in NPCS.

Distribution and function of the complement protein C1q in malignant pleural mesothelioma microenvironment

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an asbestos-related cancer with a median survival of 12 months. The MPM incidence is 1–6/100,000 and is increasing as a result of historic asbestos exposure in industrialized countries and continued use of asbestos in developing countries. Lack of accurate biomarkers makes diagnosis, prognostication and treatment prediction of MPM challenging. The aim of this review is to identify the front line of MPM biomarkers with current or potential clinical impact. Literature search using the PubMed and PLoS One databases, the related-articles function of PubMed and the reference lists of associated publications until April 26th 2015 revealed a plethora of candidate biomarkers. The current gold standard of MPM diagnosis is a combination of two positive and two negative immunohistochemical markers in the epithelioid and biphasic type, but sarcomatous type do not have specific markers, making diagnosis more difficult. Mesothelin in serum and pleural fluid may serve as adjuvant diagnostic with high specificity but low sensitivity. Circulating proteomic and microRNA signatures, fibulin-3, tumor cell gene-ratio test, transcriptomic, lncRNA, glycopeptides, pleural fluid FISH assay, hyaluronate/N-ERC mesothelin and deformability cytometry may be important future markers. Putative predictive markers for pemetrexed–platinum are tumor TS and TYMS, for vinorelbine the ERCC1, beta-tubuline class III and BRCA1. Mutations of the BAP1 gene are potential markers of MPM susceptibility. In conclusion, the current status of MPM biomarkers is not satisfactory but encouraging as more sensitive and specific non-invasive markers are emerging. However, prospective validation is needed before clinical application.

In vitro genotoxicity of asbestos substitutes induced by coupled stimulation of dissolved high-valence ions and oxide radicals.

The wide use of asbestos and its substitutes has given rise to studies on their possible harmful effects on human health and environment. However, their toxic effects remain unclear. The present study was aimed to disclose the coupled effects of dissolved high-valence ions and oxide radicals using the in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of chrysotile (CA), nano-SiO2 (NS), ceramic fiber (CF), glass fiber (GF), and rock wool (RW) on Chinese hamster lung cells V79. All samples induced cell mortality correlated well with the chemical SiO2 content of asbestos substitutes and the amount of dissolved Si. Alkali or alkaline earth metal elements relieved mortality of V79 cells; Al2O3 reinforced toxicity of materials. Asbestos substitutes generated lasting, increasing amount of acellular ·OH which formed at the fiber surface at sites with loose/unsaturated bonds, as well as by catalytic reaction through dissolved iron. Accumulated mechanical and radical stimulation induced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation, morphology change, and deviating trans-membrane ion flux. The cellular ROS appeared as NS > GF > CF ≈ CA > RW, consistent with cell mortality rather than with acellular ·OH generation. Chromosomal and DNA lesions in V79 cells were not directly associated with the cellular ROS, while influenced by dissolved high-valence irons in the co-culture medium. In conclusion, ions from short-time dissolution of dust samples and the generation of extracellular ·OH presented combined effects in the elevation of intracellular ROS, which further synergistically induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality - United States, 1999-2015.

Malignant mesothelioma is a neoplasm associated with occupational and environmental inhalation exposure to asbestos* fibers and other elongate mineral particles (EMPs) (1-3). Patients have a median survival of approximately 1 year from the time of diagnosis (1). The latency period from first causative exposure to malignant mesothelioma development typically ranges from 20 to 40 years but can be as long as 71 years (2,3). Hazardous occupational exposures to asbestos fibers and other EMPs have occurred in a variety of industrial operations, including mining and milling, manufacturing, shipbuilding and repair, and construction (3). Current exposures to commercial asbestos in the United States occur predominantly during maintenance operations and remediation of older buildings containing asbestos (3,4). To update information on malignant mesothelioma mortality (5), CDC analyzed annual multiple cause-of-death records† for 1999-2015, the most recent years for which complete data are available. During 1999-2015, a total of 45,221 deaths with malignant mesothelioma mentioned on the death certificate as the underlying or contributing cause of death were reported in the United States, increasing from 2,479 deaths in 1999 to 2,597 in 2015 (in the same time period the age-adjusted death rates§ decreased from 13.96 per million in 1999 to 10.93 in 2015). Malignant mesothelioma deaths increased for persons aged ≥85 years, both sexes, persons of white, black, and Asian or Pacific Islander race, and all ethnic groups. Despite regulatory actions and the decline in use of asbestos the annual number of malignant mesothelioma deaths remains substantial. The continuing occurrence of malignant mesothelioma deaths underscores the need for maintaining measures to prevent exposure to asbestos fibers and other causative EMPs and for ongoing surveillance to monitor temporal trends.

Variations in mesothelioma mortality rates among migrants to Australia and Australian-born

ABSTRACTBackground: Australia’s use and consumption of asbestos occurred at the same time as its immigration boom. Our objective was to investigate mesothelioma death rates among migrants and Australian-born between 1981 and 2012.Methods: Australian national mesothelioma deaths from 1981 to 2002 and 2006 to 2012 together with national censuses from 1981 to 2011 were extracted and combined. Directly standardised rates and negative binomial regression were applied examining differences in mesothelioma death rates with regard to country of birth.Results: Migrants from the UK and Ireland, Italy and Germany had significantly higher mesothelioma death rates than Australian-born; lower rates were observed among migrants from other countries.Conclusions: Our findings suggest there may have been differences in occupational health and safety between foreign and Australian-born. Because of changes in the demographics of migrants to Australia since the 1970s and changes in occupational circumstances over time, further comparisons of occupational-related health outcomes between foreign and Australian-born could identify potential occupational inequalities that may still exist today.

Policy Roundup

Policy Roundup ShareShare onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail C&EN, 2017, 95 (1), p 15January 2, 2017Cite this:C&EN 95, 1, 15AbstractLead in lipstick, blush, eye shadow, lotion, and other cosmetics should not exceed 10 parts per million, FDA says in draft guidelines for industry. The guidance does not apply to hair dyes that contain lead acetate or topically applied drugs. Animal testing to study the safety of chemicals, food ingredients, pesticides, and drugs would be phased out by 2025, under a plan released by the Dutch government. Last March, Dutch Minister for Agriculture Martijn van Dam asked a national committee to develop the plan. Asbestos manufacture, use, import, and export would be banned in Canada as of 2018 under a government plan. The Canadian health and environment agencies expect to develop regulations over the next two years to protect people from the carcinogenic substance in brake pads, construction materials, and other products. Honeywell International was awarded the management and operating contract for Sandia National Laboratories, which develop nuclear weaponsView: PDF | Full Text HTML

MTE29.01 Advances in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

More than 30 years have passed since industrialized countries started to strictly regulate the use of asbestos, including, in several of them, introducing a total ban on import of raw material and of asbestos-containing products. The use of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) to classify deaths from mesothelioma has been a source of concern in the past because, before the 10th version of ICD (ICD-10), no specific code existed for this type of neoplasm, and analyzes based on entities such as ‘pleural cancer’ were subject to misclassification. Since the late 1990s ICD-10 has been used for death certification in many developed countries. We analyzed age-specific mesothelioma mortality rates (all sites), calculated on the basis of the data of the WHO Mortality Database, among men from Canada (2000-2011), USA (1999-2013), Japan (1995-2008), France (2000-2011), Germany (1998-2013), Italy (2003-2012), the Netherlands (1996-2013), Poland (1999-2013), United Kingdom (2001-2013) and Australia (1998-2011), based on ICD-10, to identify temporal patterns following reduction of asbestos exposure. Mortality in the age groups 35-54 and 55-64 decreased throughout the study period in all countries (median decrease, 7.9% per year and 4.1% per year, respectively) except in Poland and (up to 2007) in Japan, two countries which started from lower rates. In the age group 65-74, mortality decreased in the USA and, since 2009, in the Netherlands, was stable in Australia, and increased in other countries (median increase, 3.0% per year). In the age group above age 74, a decrease was apparent only in the USA after 2003 (median increase in the other countries, 3.5% per year). Our analysis, based on consistent mortality data for mesothelioma, provide strong evidence for a decrease in mortality in the young age groups in most high-income countries: these birth cohorts experienced reduced opportunity for exposure to asbestos during their occupational life. In the case of older age groups, whose members had greater opportunity of exposure, in particular to amphiboles, the evidence of a decrease in mortality is present only in a few countries. Overall, these results stress the importance of early-life exposure circumstances to determine mesothelioma risk throughout life.

Multidisciplinary Treatment Of Malignant Pleural And Peritoneal Mesothelioma In Klaipeda University Hospital. Case Report

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive tumor of serosal surfaces, such as the pleura, the peritoneum, the pericardium and the tunica vaginalis. There is a substantial interest in this disease by part of medical community and the general public because millions of people have been exposed to asbestos fibers, and many articles about the dangers of asbestos had appeared in the press. 80 percent of patients with pleural malignant mesothelioma are male, commonly present with a pleural effusion, associated with breathlessness and often accompanied by chest-wall pain (more than 60 percent of patients). The main cause of malignant mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos – the carcinogen associated with malignant mesothelioma. Indeed, malignant mesothelioma was rare before the widespread use of asbestos, and increasing incidence worldwide is expected to peak in 5 to 10 years. The pathologic diagnostic of malignant mesothelioma is very difficult even with pathology experts in mesothelioma. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is important for therapeutic reasons. The most frequent diagnostic problem is the differentiation of malignant mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma – a distinction that is particularly difficult to make when the tumor has invaded the pleura. For many years surgery has proved to be most useful for palliation – for example, for local control of recurrent effusions. Debulking surgery is used in some centers until now. Systemic chemotherapy, cytoreductive surgery, HYPEC and multidisciplinary team discussion can help to cure or extend survival of patients. The case report showed successful multidisciplinary approach treatment for young man with malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Environmental health centers for asbestos and their health impact surveys and activities.

In 2009, Korea banned the import, transport, and use of asbestos, and the Asbestos Injury Relief Act (AIRA) was promulgated in 2011. Two environmental health centers for asbestos (EHCA), including Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) and SoonChunHyang University Cheonan Hospital (SCHUCH), were adapted to find environmental asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and to support the purposes of AIRA. EHCA conducted a health impact survey (HIS) on persons who resided or reside near asbestos factories or mines. A total of 13,433 persons have taken screening examinations in PNUYH EHCA, and 623 persons (4.6%) have had secondary examinations. Of the 21,014 persons who had screening examinations in SCHUCH EHCA, 2490 persons (11.8%) had secondary examinations. Some of those who tested positive for ARDs through HISs filed applications for the asbestos victims’ medical pocketbook (AVMP). Approximately 116 and 612 persons received AVMPs as a result of PNUYH and SCHUCH examinees, respectively. EHCAs have conducted HISs, public relations, and education for asbestos victims, ordinary citizens, and physicians. As HISs are based on voluntary participation, they does not monitor high-risk groups. Active surveillance focusing on high-risk groups has been blocked by the personal information protection act. Although important work has been performed in finding environmental asbestos victims and increasing public awareness on asbestos, it is necessary to improve the current system and registration.

Attacking asbestos from all angles

Ads in which a lawyer talks about compensation for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma have been a television mainstay in the U.S. for a long time. Watching those, one might assume that the science of asbestos—how it’s formed, how it’s transported in the environment, and how it causes lung cancers—is a closed book. It turns out, however, there’s still lots to learn about the long, thin fibrous material. Prized for its flame and heat resistance, asbestos was used for decades in products such as floor and ceiling tiles, wallboard, electrical insulation, and brake linings. Once the mineral’s link to mesothelioma was established, the use of asbestos in the U.S. plummeted but never completely stopped. Many other countries banned new uses of asbestos minerals (see page 28). Still, asbestos waste lingers at various sites across the globe, and buildings containing the material continue to age and decay. By some estimates, as many

How Canada's Asbestos Industry Was Defeated in Quebec.

Less than a decade ago, the Quebec asbestos industry enjoyed support from all the political parties in the Canadian House of Commons and the Quebec National Assembly, as well as from business and union organizations. Two lobby organizations (Chrysotile Institute and International Chrysotile Association) had significant global impact in promoting asbestos use and defeating asbestos ban efforts in developing countries. Quebec's two asbestos mines planned to expand operations and make Quebec the second biggest global asbestos exporter. With the aid of lobbyists, public relations consultants, and government financing, the asbestos industry came close to succeeding. The article examines how a campaign of international solidarity, involving scientific experts, asbestos victims, and health activists in Quebec, Canada, and overseas, succeeded in closing the two mines and defeating the political and social power that the Quebec asbestos industry had wielded for a century. This victory ended Canada's destructive role as global propagandist for the asbestos industry.

Identification of the Polyethylene Grade Most Suitable for Natural Rubber-Polyethylene Blends used for Roofing Applications

In Sri Lanka, roofing materials are manufactured with clay, metal, plastic, wood and asbestos, and each of these has its own inherent drawbacks. Asbestos due to the economic advantages it offers, is now the most widely used roofing material in the country. However, it has scientifically proven health risks. The Government of Sri Lanka has initiated action to ban the use of asbestos as a roofing material. The focus of this study is on the development of a roofing material formed of rubberthermoplastic blends containing Natural Rubber (NR) and Polyethylene (PE). Polyethylene is being currently used as a roofing material, but since it is lightweight it needs to be anchored tightly to the roof structure. Rubber being an energy absorbing material, can be incorporated into thermoplastics to make the latter more tough. Polymer blending is a current trend which is being used to develop technically advanced new materials from commonly available polymers. Polymer blends has an excellent combination of physicochemical properties of each of their parent materials. Sri Lanka exports natural rubber and thus there is a good opportunity to make value-additions to raw rubber exports. Similarly, the development of a new material will address the current problems associated with the use of asbestos as a roofing material. This study shows the most suitable grade of PE from among its most common grades such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), for blending with natural rubber The best blended composition that will have standard properties of a roofing material such as tensile strength, tear strength, hardness, water absorption level, thermal conductivity etc., is then identified.

Recent Scientific Evidence Regarding Asbestos Use and Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure.

To justify the continuous use of two million tons of asbestos every year, it has been argued that a safe/controlled use can be achieved. The aim of this review was to identify recent scientific studies that present empirical evidence of: 1) health consequences resulting from past asbestos exposures and 2) current asbestos exposures resulting from asbestos use. Articles with evidence that could support or reject the safe/controlled use argument were also identified. A total of 155 articles were included in the review, and 87% showed adverse asbestos health consequences or high asbestos exposures. Regarding the safe/controlled use, 44 articles were identified, and 82% had evidence suggesting that the safe/controlled use is not being achieved. A large percentage of articles with evidence that support the safe/controlled use argument have a conflict of interest declared. Most of the evidence was developed in high-income countries and in countries that have already banned asbestos.

Differential Counting of Asbestos Using Phase Contrast and Fluorescence Microscopy.

Considering the increasing use of various asbestos substitutes, asbestos risk management in many industries may require accurate techniques for detecting and distinguishing asbestos from non-asbestos fibers. Using fluorescently labeled asbestos-binding proteins, we previously developed a novel method for detection and counting of asbestos fibers under fluorescence microscopy (FM). This method can provide speedy, on-site detection and identification of the asbestos fibers and has higher sensitivity than phase contrast microscopy (PCM). However, current asbestos exposure limits are derived from risk assessments based on epidemiological studies that were conducted using PCM fiber counts. Therefore, the sensitivity of asbestos testing should be maintained at PCM level to properly assess compliance with these limit values. Here, we developed and tested a novel application of FM as a differential counting method that complements PCM analysis and is fully compatible with the PCM-based epidemiological data. In the combined PCM-FM method, the fluorescent asbestos-binding probe is applied prior to filter clearing. The method makes it possible to easily switch between two microscopic techniques while analyzing the same fields of view: PCM is used for counting fibers, and FM for differentiating asbestos from non-asbestos fibers. Using airborne dust samples from demolition sites in Japan, we compared PCM-FM with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based differential counting method. Statistical analysis indicated a slight conservative bias of PCM-FM method, combined with relatively high variability across the full range of fiber concentrations in our sample set. Using correlative microscopy, we also evaluated the specificity of FM staining, which is a potential cause of variability between the two methods. The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that ~95% of fluorescently stained fibers in the demolition site samples were correctly identified as asbestos. While further research is needed to fully clarify the causes of variability between FM- and SEM-based differential counting, PCM-FM could be used for rapid and selective detection of asbestos fibers in field samples.