Asbestos, Smoking and Lung Cancer: An Update

Abstract

This review updates the scientific literature concerning asbestos and lung cancer, emphasizing cumulative exposure and synergism between asbestos exposure and tobacco smoke, and proposes an evidence-based and equitable approach to compensation for asbestos-related lung cancer cases. This update is based on several earlier reviews written by the second and third authors on asbestos and lung cancer since 1995. We reevaluated the peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies. In addition, selected in vivo and in vitro animal studies and molecular and cellular studies in humans were included. We conclude that the mechanism of lung cancer causation induced by the interdependent coaction of asbestos fibers and tobacco smoke at a biological level is a multistage stochastic process with both agents acting conjointly at all times. The new knowledge gained through this review provides the evidence for synergism between asbestos exposure and tobacco smoke in lung cancer causation at a biological level. The evaluated statistical data conform best to a multiplicative model for the interaction effects of asbestos and smoking on the lung cancer risk, with no requirement for asbestosis. Any asbestos exposure, even in a heavy smoker, contributes to causation. Based on this information, we propose criteria for the attribution of lung cancer to asbestos in smokers and non-smokers.

Investigation on Potential Correlation Between Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptide A and Lung Cancer

“…It is known that tobacco smoking is linked to the occurrence of lung cancer (Klebe et al, 2019 ). In our subgroup analysis, we found that high SNRPA expression was correlated with a poor clinical prognosis of both smokers and non-smokers.…”

Sozialmedizinische und sozialjuristische Aspekte in der Zusammenhangsbegutachtung asbestbedingter Berufskrankheiten

“…Die Dosishäufigkeitsbeziehungen von 25 Faserjahren für die Lungenkrebsmortalität sind aufgrund insgesamt 14 Studien abgeleitet worden. Neuere Untersuchungen sprechen dafür, dass die Verdopplungsdosis für den asbestbedingten Lungenkrebs deutlicher niedriger, nämlich in einem Bereich von etwa 4 -5 Faserjahren anzunehmen ist [19,20]. Dies ist aber ohne eine Änderung der Legaldefinition zur BK Nr.…”

Knowledge and stances on smoking tobacco in student population

“…Iz ovog razloga je SZO pušenje uvrstilo u bolest zavisnosti zajedno sa alkoholizmom i narkomanijom i šifrirala oznakom F17 u Međunarodnoj klasifikaciji bolesti, MKB-10 [2,3]. Noviji radovi potvrđuju uzročnu povezanost pušenja i karcinoma pluća, karcinoma bronha, infarkta miokarda i hronične opstruktivne bolesti pluća [4][5][6].…”