approximately 568,000 production and service industry workers and 114,000
construction industry workers were potentially exposed to asbestos.
16
Asbestos bodies were found in 48.3% of lungs of 3000 consecutive
autopsies from three hospitals in New York. Similar observations were made
in other big cities. In addition to the lungs, other organs, such as the thyroid,
spleen, pancreas, heart, adrenals, kidney, prostate, brain, and liver, have also
been shown to contain some asbestos.
9.7.4 HEALTH EFFECTS
Health problems related to exposure to asbestos were first observed by the
early 1900s. It was recognized in the 1950s and 1960s that asbestos was
responsible for lung and pleural tumors in asbestos miners.
19 The effects of
asbestos fibers in biological systems may result not only from the properties of
the fibers themselves, but also from contamination with inorganic or organic
substances that occur naturally or are added during mining, milling,
processing, or shipping.
The proven or suspected effects of asbestos minerals on human health
include nonmalignant changes, such as pulmonary and pleural fibrosis, and
several types of malignancy, especially of the lung, pleura, and peritoneum.
Association between asbestos and human disease was revealed by studies on
certain occupational groups, notably workers engaged in the mining and
milling of asbestos, the manufacture of asbestos-containing products, and the
application and removal of asbestos-containing insulating materials.
Asbestosis (or asbestotic pneumoconiosis) may develop after years of
intense exposure and was the first clearly demonstrated adverse effect of
asbestos in humans. The condition is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis
(scarring of the lungs). Victims become increasingly short of breath, and in
extreme cases may die of heart failure. Some researchers suggested that from
between 1950 and 1975, approximately 10% of the deaths among New York
City insulation workers were caused by asbestosis. Pulmonary fibrosis
sufficient to interfere with respiratory or cardiovascular function can be
prevented by reducing asbestos dust concentration to levels that are still far
above any likely to be encountered in community air. Calcified pleural plaques
occur frequently in workers exposed to asbestos.
On the basis of sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans, asbestos
and all commercial forms of asbestos are now recognized as ‘‘known to be
human carcinogens.’’
16 Occupational exposure to chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and mixtures containing crocidolite has resulted in a high incidence of
lung cancer. Mesotheliomas (a neoplasm derived from cells lining the chest or
abdominal cavities) have been observed after occupational exposure to
crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile asbestos. Gastrointestinal cancers occurred
at an increased incidence in groups occupationally exposed to several types of
asbestos. An excess of laryngeal cancer has also been observed in some groups
of exposed workers. No clear excess of cancer has been associated with the
presence of asbestos fibers in drinking water. Mesotheliomas have occurred in
Air Pollution – Particulate Matter
145
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Ref: 4365 MING-HO YU Chap-009 Page: 145 135-148
construction industry workers were potentially exposed to asbestos.
16
Asbestos bodies were found in 48.3% of lungs of 3000 consecutive
autopsies from three hospitals in New York. Similar observations were made
in other big cities. In addition to the lungs, other organs, such as the thyroid,
spleen, pancreas, heart, adrenals, kidney, prostate, brain, and liver, have also
been shown to contain some asbestos.
9.7.4 HEALTH EFFECTS
Health problems related to exposure to asbestos were first observed by the
early 1900s. It was recognized in the 1950s and 1960s that asbestos was
responsible for lung and pleural tumors in asbestos miners.
19 The effects of
asbestos fibers in biological systems may result not only from the properties of
the fibers themselves, but also from contamination with inorganic or organic
substances that occur naturally or are added during mining, milling,
processing, or shipping.
The proven or suspected effects of asbestos minerals on human health
include nonmalignant changes, such as pulmonary and pleural fibrosis, and
several types of malignancy, especially of the lung, pleura, and peritoneum.
Association between asbestos and human disease was revealed by studies on
certain occupational groups, notably workers engaged in the mining and
milling of asbestos, the manufacture of asbestos-containing products, and the
application and removal of asbestos-containing insulating materials.
Asbestosis (or asbestotic pneumoconiosis) may develop after years of
intense exposure and was the first clearly demonstrated adverse effect of
asbestos in humans. The condition is characterized by pulmonary fibrosis
(scarring of the lungs). Victims become increasingly short of breath, and in
extreme cases may die of heart failure. Some researchers suggested that from
between 1950 and 1975, approximately 10% of the deaths among New York
City insulation workers were caused by asbestosis. Pulmonary fibrosis
sufficient to interfere with respiratory or cardiovascular function can be
prevented by reducing asbestos dust concentration to levels that are still far
above any likely to be encountered in community air. Calcified pleural plaques
occur frequently in workers exposed to asbestos.
On the basis of sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans, asbestos
and all commercial forms of asbestos are now recognized as ‘‘known to be
human carcinogens.’’
16 Occupational exposure to chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and mixtures containing crocidolite has resulted in a high incidence of
lung cancer. Mesotheliomas (a neoplasm derived from cells lining the chest or
abdominal cavities) have been observed after occupational exposure to
crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile asbestos. Gastrointestinal cancers occurred
at an increased incidence in groups occupationally exposed to several types of
asbestos. An excess of laryngeal cancer has also been observed in some groups
of exposed workers. No clear excess of cancer has been associated with the
presence of asbestos fibers in drinking water. Mesotheliomas have occurred in
Air Pollution – Particulate Matter
145
[16:52 26/8/04 P:/CRC PRESS/4365 MING-HO.751 (1670)/4365-009.3d]
Ref: 4365 MING-HO YU Chap-009 Page: 145 135-148