Asbestos Exposure and the Mesothelioma Incidence in Poland

Abstract

Asbestos is carcinogenic to humans; the exposure to asbestos causes a wide range of diseases. Aim: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is unique for asbestos exposure. Methods: Based on the physical inventory of asbestos-cement roofing, the social-economic situation of communes, the proximity of asbestos manufacturing plants, the land use data referring to the surface of the built-up area, and the historical data on the annexations, the amount of asbestos-containing products in use was estimated by computing best Random Forest models. Per capita asbestos use is an indicator to compare the state of asbestos use among countries. MM cases in the local administrative units (provinces) were tested by the application of Moran’s I and Getis and Ord statistic. Results: The total amount of asbestos roofing in Poland was estimated at 738,068,000 m2 (8.2 million tons). In total there were 28 plants in Poland located in 11 provinces throughout the country. The amount of asbestos-cement roofing in use is correlated primarily with the measurements of asbestos concentration fibers (rs = 0.597). MM raw morbidity rate was calculated, stratified by province, and classified into five groups with respect to incidence. Hotspots of MM cases are in the southern part of Poland. Conclusions: MM cases are concentrated in the same geographical areas, which may indicate an increasing impact of environmental exposure. The results of the local and global autocorrelation clearly indicate a statistically significant relationship between incidences of MM in provinces. Poland and other Eastern European countries are among countries with low MM incidence rate. Detailed investigation is desirable since the current MM morbidity rate in Poland seems to be underestimated.

Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland

“…In Poland, this revision was enforced in 1996. Measurements of the asbestos fibre concentrations in the air were carried out from 2004–2013 for the Ministry of Economy [41]. Data collected on the amount of the asbestos-cement products and the results of the measurements of asbestos fibre concentrations in the air have then been aggregated to the county level in order to determine the impact of the environmental exposure to asbestos.…”

“…The main aim of the undertaken study is to present the current state of asbestos exposure, both occupational and environmental, in Poland with the reference to the consumption, the manufacturing and the use of asbestos-containing products. The previous study undertaken by us was dedicated to stratifying the raw MM morbidity rate by province, which is the highest level of the administrative division of Poland [41]. This paper aims to present the current situation on possible sources of asbestos environmental exposure in counties, which are the lowest level of the administrative division in Poland.…”

“…This paper aims to present the current situation on possible sources of asbestos environmental exposure in counties, which are the lowest level of the administrative division in Poland. It is of high importance to analyse units as small as possible in order to prepare strategies for monitoring the risk of environmental asbestos exposure, since the investigation on the current MM raw morbidity rate in provinces has shown that a more detailed survey is desirable [41].…”

A case from India of pleural malignant mesothelioma probably due to domestic and environmental asbestos exposure: a posthumous report

“…Asbestos-related parenchymal lung disease was reported in India for the first time in 2005, and lung cancer in 2015 3 36. Mesothelioma causally related to asbestos is now in epidemic proportions in many western countries 13 37–46. Based on extrapolation of available data in western countries, it is estimated that there are ~14 000 deaths annually due to mesothelioma that can be causally related to asbestos 47.…”

Modelling the Spatial Distribution of Asbestos—Cement Products in Poland with the Use of the Random Forest Algorithm

“…Asbestos is a mineral which, due to its physical and chemical properties, has found wide application in many areas of industry and economy [1]. Traditionally, asbestos fibers were mainly used in the construction industry, in which asbestos fibers were used to manufacture asbestos-cement products, constituting over 80% of the products used, which were mainly used in roofing materials and façade claddings [2]. Due to the pathogenic effect of asbestos, in 1997, the ban on the production of asbestos-containing products was introduced in Poland; their use in an environmentally and human health safe manner is allowed until the end of 2032 [3].…”