scholarly journals Is Mesothelioma Unrelated to the Lung Asbestos Burden? Comment on Visonà et al. Inorganic Fiber Lung Burden in Subjects with Occupational and/or Anthropogenic Environmental Asbestos Exposure in Broni (Pavia, Northern Italy): An SEM-EDS Study on Autoptic Samples. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2053

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Mirabelli ◽  
Alessia Angelini ◽  
Pietro Gino Barbieri ◽  
Roberto Calisti ◽  
Fabio Capacci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Asbestos Fiber ◽  
Lung Burden ◽  
Autopsy Series

We read with interest the report by Visonà and coworkers on the lung asbestos fiber burden in an autopsy series of decedents from mesothelioma (MM: 59 cases) and individuals who “suffered from asbestosis and died of its complications” (13 cases) [...]

scholarly journals Inorganic Fiber Lung Burden in Subjects with Occupational and/or Anthropogenic Environmental Asbestos Exposure in Broni (Pavia, Northern Italy): An SEM-EDS Study on Autoptic Samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2053
Author(s):  
Silvia Damiana Visonà ◽  
Silvana Capella ◽  
Sofia Bodini ◽  
Paola Borrelli ◽  
Simona Villani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscope ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Energy Dispersive Spectrometer ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Lung Burden ◽  
Asbestos Cement ◽  
Median Amount ◽  
Scanning Electron

Increased mortality due to malignant mesothelioma has been demonstrated by several epidemiologic studies in the area around Broni (a small town in Lombardy, northern Italy), where a factory producing asbestos cement was active between 1932 and 1993. Until now, the inorganic fiber burden in lungs has not been investigated in this population. The aim of this study is to assess the lung fiber burden in 72 individuals with previous occupational and/or anthropogenic environmental exposure to asbestos during the activity of an important asbestos cement factory. Inorganic fiber lung burden was assessed in autoptic samples taken from individuals deceased from asbestos-related diseases using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer. Significant differences in the detected amount of asbestos were pointed out among the three types of exposure. In most lung samples taken from patients who died of mesothelioma, very little asbestos (or, in some cases, no fibers) was found. Such subjects showed a significantly lower median amount of asbestos as compared to asbestosis. Almost no chrysotile was detected in the examined samples. Overall, crocidolite was the most represented asbestos, followed by amosite, tremolite/actinolite asbestos, and anthophyllite asbestos. There were significant differences in the amount of crocidolite and amosite fibers according to the kind of exposure. Overall, these findings provide novel insights into the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, as well as the different impacts of the various types of asbestos on human health in relation to their different biopersistences in the lung microenvironment.

Asbestos Fiber Analysis in Nine Lung Cancer Cases with High Asbestos Exposure

1995 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Murai ◽  
Masanobu Kitagawa ◽  
Kazuhiro Matsui ◽  
Fumitomo Koizumi ◽  
Atsuo Miwa
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Asbestos Fiber ◽  
Fiber Analysis

scholarly journals Time Course of COVID-19 Cases in Austria

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanns Moshammer ◽  
Michael Poteser ◽  
Kathrin Lemmerer ◽  
Peter Wallner ◽  
Hans-Peter Hutter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Major Outbreak ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, which first appeared in China in late 2019, and reached pandemic distribution in early 2020. The first major outbreak in Europe occurred in Northern Italy where it spread to neighboring countries, notably to Austria, where skiing resorts served as a main transmission hub. Soon, the Austrian government introduced strict measures to curb the spread of the virus. Using publicly available data, we assessed the efficiency of the governmental measures. We assumed an average incubation period of one week and an average duration of infectivity of 10 days. One week after the introduction of strict measures, the increase in daily new cases was reversed, and the reproduction number dropped. The crude estimates tended to overestimate the reproduction rate in the early phase. Publicly available data provide a first estimate about the effectiveness of public health measures. However, more data are needed for an unbiased assessment.

Comparison of Lung Asbestos Fiber Content in Cancer Subjects with Healthy Individuals with no Known History of Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Korea

2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (21-22) ◽  
pp. 1292-1295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong Hee Han ◽  
Jung Duck Park ◽  
Kiyoshi Sakai ◽  
Naomi Hisanaga ◽  
Hee Kyung Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Fiber Content ◽  
Asbestos Fiber ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
History Of

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a 76-year-old woman with a history of asbestos fiber ingestion

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-165
Author(s):  
P. Van Kesteren ◽  
J. Bulten ◽  
C. Schijf ◽  
H. Boonstra ◽  
L. Massuger
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Malignant Mesothelioma ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Asbestos Fiber ◽  
Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma ◽  
Small Tumor ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
History Of ◽  
Omental Cake

We report on a woman with malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum. This is the first report of a subject with this disease who revealed a history of asbestos ingestion by asbestos-contaminated food. She presented with episodes of sweating and fever, ascites, and weight loss. At laparotomy, small tumor deposits were noted on the peritoneum. The omental cake was removed, together with the uterus, ovaries, and tubes which were all macroscopically normal. The diagnosis was established by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Postoperatively, her complaints of fever and sweating disappeared. She refused further chemotherapy. After questioning her for asbestos exposure, she told us that, years ago, she used to prepare vegetables for cooking in rain water collected from a roof made of asbestos.

scholarly journals Asbestos in Poland: Occupational health problems

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neonila Szeszenia-Dąbrowska ◽  
Beata Świątkowska ◽  
Zuzanna Szubert ◽  
Urszula Wilczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Medical Care System ◽  
Asbestos Fibre ◽  
Processing Plants

AbstractThe presentation 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 have also been discussed in relation to the particular types of asbestos-induced occupational diseases. The authors describe 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 have been outlined as well. 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. One of them is the governmental programme for “Elimination of asbestos and asbestos-containing products used in Poland, 2002–2032”. The programme was updated in 2009 to cover the workers contracted to perform demolition works and provide protective covers to asbestos waste landfills. This will be the exposed group who need prophylactic health care. The other is a programme of prophylactic examinations for former asbestos workers and is referred to as the AMIANTUS programme. Both programmes have been briefly described.

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