| Exposure to brake dust and malignant mesothelioma: a study of 10 cases with mineral fiber analyses. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12765873 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVES: A large number of workers in the USA are exposed to chrysotile asbestos through brake repair, yet only a few cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) have been described in this population. Epidemiologic and industrial hygiene studies have failed to demonstrate an increased risk of MM in brake workers. We present our experience of MM in individuals whose only known asbestos exposure was to brake dust and correlate these findings with lung asbestos fiber burdens. METHODS: Consultation files of one of the authors were reviewed for cases of MM in which brake dust was the only known asbestos exposure. Lung fiber analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in all cases for which formalin-fixed or paraffin-embedded lung tissue was available. RESULTS: Ten cases of MM in brake dust-exposed individuals were males aged 51-73 yr. Nine cases arose in the pleura and one in the peritoneum. Although the median lung asbestos body count (19 AB/g) is at our upper limit of normal (range 0-20 AB/g), half of the cases had levels within our normal range. In every case with elevated asbestos fiber levels by SEM, excess commercial amphibole fibers were also detected. Elevated levels of chrysotile and non-commercial amphibole fibers were detected only in cases that also had increased commercial amphibole fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Brake dust contains exceedingly low levels of respirable chrysotile, much of which consists of short fibers subject to rapid pulmonary clearance. Elevated lung levels of commercial amphiboles in some brake workers suggest that unrecognized exposure to these fibers plays a critical role in the development of MM. |
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Authors:
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Kelly J Butnor; Thomas A Sporn; Victor L Roggli |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: The Annals of occupational hygiene Volume: 47 ISSN: 0003-4878 ISO Abbreviation: Ann Occup Hyg Publication Date: 2003 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2003-05-26 Completed Date: 2003-08-27 Revised Date: 2006-04-19 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0203526 Medline TA: Ann Occup Hyg Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 325-30 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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University of Vermont Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Aged Air Pollutants, Occupational / adverse effects, analysis* Asbestos, Amphibole / adverse effects, analysis* Automobiles* Dust* Humans Male Mesothelioma / etiology* Microscopy, Electron Middle Aged Mineral Fibers / analysis Occupational Exposure / adverse effects* Peritoneal Neoplasms / etiology Pleural Neoplasms / etiology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Air Pollutants, Occupational; 0/Asbestos, Amphibole; 0/Dust; 0/Mineral Fibers |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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