Environmental asbestos exposure and risk of mesothelioma

Abstract

Mesothelioma is commonly considered an occupational disease occurring as a result of asbestos exposure in the workplace. Several avenues for environmental asbestos exposures have been described and may be associated with asbestos related disease, including mesothelioma. Worker take-home asbestos, or para-occupational exposure, has been well documented and is the most commonly reported pathway for asbestos exposure among mesothelioma cases that do not have history of occupational asbestos exposure. Observational studies have evaluated several communities with elevated mesothelioma incidence and environmental exposures attributed to local asbestos-related industries. Potential, but uncertain, mesothelioma risk also may be associated with general population asbestos exposure through contact with asbestos-containing commercial products, particularly housing materials that can be easily disturbed through normal activity. Finally, studies have described elevated mesothelioma incidence in several areas where populations are exposed to naturally occurring asbestos materials. These various environmental asbestos exposure pathways are poorly understood, and further studies should be pursued to evaluate their respective importance for population mesothelioma risk.

Case series: rheumatological manifestations attributed to exposure to Libby Asbestiform Amphiboles

“…Data suggest that exposure to LAA increases the risk of connective tissue disorders and that this requires further study and increased awareness among the rheumatology community. In view of recent discoveries of widespread exposure to similar amphibole fibers in several states (Buck, et al 2013;Noonan 2017), it is important to understand more about rheumatologic manifestations of exposure such that screening, surveillance and diagnostic procedures are able to detect and recognize autoimmune disease as a potential autoimmune outcome of asbestos exposure.…”

Factors influencing malignant mesothelioma survival: a retrospective review of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank cohort

“…Specifically, women may be more likely to have para-occupational exposures, which typically refer to an asbestos-exposed worker serving as a vector for the transport of fibers to the household setting and family members. Other terms used in this context include household contact, take-home exposure or domestic exposure 31 . Exact factors explaining survival advantage among women needs to be further investigated in future research.…”

Factors influencing malignant mesothelioma survival: a retrospective review of the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank cohort

“…Specifically, women may be more likely to have para-occupational exposures, which typically refer to an asbestos-exposed worker serving as a vector for the transport of fibers to the household setting and family members. Other terms used in this context include household contact, take-home exposure or domestic exposure 24 . Exact factors explaining survival advantage among women needs to be further investigated in future research.…”