The asbestos fibre burden in human lungs: new insights into the chrysotile debate

Feder, Inke Sabine; Tischoff, Iris; Theile, A.; Schmitz, Inge; Merget, R.; Tannapfel, Andrea

doi:10.1183/13993003.02534-2016

Cited by 55 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The recent publication by Feder et al on asbestos fibre burden in human lungs [9] fits very well in the studies casting doubt about the well-documented adverse health effects of chrysotile. Their non-substantiated claim that chrysotile fibres are persistent in human lung is contradicted by the collective experience of the Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine at the Justus Liebig-University of Giessen.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Misleading “New Insights into the Chrysotile Debate”

Woitowitz

Baur

2018

Pneumologie

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Although there is no dispute among independent scientists about the carcinogenic and fibrogenic effects of chrysotile, the asbestos industry has been continuously and successfully acting to cast doubts on its harm. Another approach including asbestos insurance entities is to refuse compensation by raising the bar and fight criminal prosecution for asbestos-related diseases by the help of paid scientists. A recent publication on asbestos fibre burden in human lungs fits well in this context. The claim that chrysotile fibres are biopersistent in human lung is not based on the data provided by these authors, and, additionally, exhibits serious inconsistencies and obvious mismeasurements and significant methodological problems. The conclusion of the authors that fibre analysis of workers' lungs "is of high significance for differential diagnosis, risk assessment and occupational compensation" is unfounded and reprehensible. Also the available literature, the statements of the WHO, IARC, other decisive independent international organizations, and all our experience provide abundant evidence to the contrary. Note, the method is generally restricted to research only and is not recognized for diagnostic purpose and compensation in any other country. In conclusion, fibre counting in lung tissues should not be used to estimate former exposure to chrysotile comprising c. 94 % of applied asbestos in Germany. The authors claim that the analyses can improve the compensation rates in Germany. However, the opposite has been the case; it significantly worsens the non-justified denial of well-substantiated compensation claims.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Misleading “New Insights into the Chrysotile Debate”

Woitowitz

Baur

2018

Pneumologie

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“…This may be exemplified by the figures for an insured person who had started hazardous work at the age of 20 and continued this work for 20 years. After another 40 years without any adtos which was the main type used in Germany, have a very long half-life in the human lung [29][30][31][32]. High asbestos body counts were obtained in lung tissue samples from insureds whose last asbestos exposure dated back to up to 40 years ago (Figure 3a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histological findings and lung dust analysis as the basis for occupational disease compensation in asbestos-related lung cancer in Germany

Feder

Theile

Tannapfel

2017

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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Objectives: This study has researched the significance of histologically raised findings and lung dust analyses in the context of claiming the recognition of and thus compensation for an asbestos-associated occupational disease. Material and Methods: For this approach, all findings from the German Mesothelioma Register in 2015 that included lung dust analyses were evaluated and were compared with information on asbestos fiber exposure at work based on fiber years, and with the results of radiological findings. Results: For 68 insured persons, recognition of an asbestos-induced lung disease according to Section 4104 of the German Ordinance on Occupational Diseases (Berufskrankheitenverordnung -BKV) could be recommended solely on the basis of the histological examinations of lung tissues and complementary lung dust analyses. Neither did the calculation of the cumulative asbestos dust exposure at work yield 25 fiber years, nor could bridge findings (e.g., plaques) be identified. In addition, the autopsies of 12 patients revealed plaques that had not been diagnosed during radiological examinations. These results show that -irrespective of the prescribed working techniques and radiological diagnosis -pathological/anatomical and histological diagnostics are often the only way for the insureds to demonstrate the causal connection between asbestos and their disease. Even after long intervals of up to 40 years post last exposure, the asbestos fibers would still be easily detectable in the lung tissues evaluated. Conclusions: Whenever suitable tissue is available, it should be examined for mild asbestosis with the aid of a lung dust analysis. Otherwise there is a risk that an occupational disease is wrongfully rejected. In the context of health insurance, the lung dust analysis and the resulting proof of the presence of asbestosis often constitute one option of providing evidence of an occupational disease. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(3):293 -305

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“…Asbestos fibers, including chrysotile/white asbestos have a very long half-life in the human lungs. There is plenty of literature about asbestos-exposed workers supporting this statement [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. All authors do find all types of asbestos in the human lungs long time after exposure cessation.…”

Section: As the Basis For Occupational Disease Compensation In Asbestmentioning

confidence: 96%

Authors’ response (March 14, 2018) to the letter to the Editor concerning the paper “Histological findings and lung dust analysis as the basis for occupational disease compensation in asbestos-related lung cancer in Germany”

Feder

Theile

Tannapfel

2018

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

Self Cite

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The asbestos fibre burden in human lungs: new insights into the chrysotile debate

Cited by 55 publications

References 35 publications

Misleading “New Insights into the Chrysotile Debate”

Misleading “New Insights into the Chrysotile Debate”

Histological findings and lung dust analysis as the basis for occupational disease compensation in asbestos-related lung cancer in Germany

Authors’ response (March 14, 2018) to the letter to the Editor concerning the paper “Histological findings and lung dust analysis as the basis for occupational disease compensation in asbestos-related lung cancer in Germany”

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