In spite of hard epidemiological and clinical evidence associating asbestos fibre with asbestosis and cancer, the issue is controversial and likely to remain so. The focus is now shifting to non-occupational exposure, differential risk to various asbestos fibre types and the relatively low level of carinogenicity of the chrysotile form. This creates further space for scientific debate and the o...

Various researchers and agencies recommend different conversion factors for different asbestos exposures. The aim of this study was to develop conversion factors from particles per cm3 (p cm(-3)) to fibres per cm3 (f cm(-3)) and from mg m(-3) to f cm(-3). More than 1000 exposure measurements were available in the Slovenian asbestos-cement factory Salonit Anhovo. Three types of measurement of as...

Cellular mechanisms of asbestos toxicity rely, at least in part, on the chemical composition of these minerals. Iron ions are directly involved in the accepted mechanism of fiber toxicity because they constitute active centers where release of free radicals and reactive oxygen species takes place. Although no current technology is available for the remediation of asbestos polluted sites, the so...

Asbestos associated diseases consist of both benign and malignant conditions. A rare constellation of asbestosis, laryngeal carcinoma, and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma occurring in a patient with long term occupational exposure to airborne asbestos fibres is presented. The observation illustrates the powerful disease-causing potential of occupational exposure to asbestos. A brief discussio...

Asbestos disease in the occupational setting has been documented since the beginning of this century. Modern usage of asbestos fiber has brought with it concomitant and widespread contamination of the environment. The need to control asbestos is required in the forms of legislation and surveillance, to prevent the spread of asbestos disease into the general population.

Two patients with pleural plaques developed pleural effusion and subsequent diffuse pleural fibrosis 50 and 39 yrs after their first exposure to asbestos. The diagnosis of benign asbestos pleural effusion was suggested, but the work-up finally suggested bromocriptine-induced pleural disease in both patients. These two cases illustrate that drug-induced pleural effusion is an important different...

By using a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer, it Was possible to detect the morphological, structural, and chemical characteristics of individual asbestos fibers and clay minerals without any realignment of the equipment. A rapid and convenient procedure for semiquantitative analysis is proposed. Analyses are given for 21 hydrous silicates, asbesto...

Asbestos is a commercial term that represents several different silicate minerals which separate into long thin fibers. Asbestos has been used in numerous commercial applications due to its outstanding incombustible and insulating characteristics but causes fatal diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma so strict regulations and controls for asbestos bearing rocks and...

In an effort to understand the properties of asbestos fibres that might contribute to their being toxic, we incubated three different varieties of asbestos with phospholipid emulsions and looked for evidence of lipid peroxidation. Although all three types of asbestos were able to catalyse lipid peroxidation in the native state, this catalytic activity was inhibited by pre-washing of the asbesto...

OBJECTIVE To investigate cause-specific mortality among asbestos workers and potentially exposed workers in Belgium and evaluate potential excess in mortality due to established and suspected asbestos-related diseases. DESIGN This cohort study is based on an individual record linkage between the 1991 Belgian census and cause-specific mortality information for Flanders and Brussels (2001-2009)...