No abstract available.
Asbestos*

XRD (X Ray powder Diffraction) is an effective analysis method for crystallized materials. This method can identify and reflexes characteristics of asbestos in solid materials clearly based on 3 highest peaks of specific diffraction spectrum from asbestos containing samples. However, asbestos concentration lower than 1% may cause certain biases in analysis. Our study focused on the XRD method for qualitative determination of asbestos in solid material samples in Vietnam environment
Asbestos ; Health ; Environment

A sixty-eight years old man was referred to the hospital for evaluation of lung adenocarcinoma treatment. Chest computed tomography (CT) imaging showed lung nodule, pleural plaques, ground-glass opacity, and parenchymal bands related to asbestosis. Pleural plaques are the proxy of asbestos exposure, and asbestosis is lung parenchymal fibrosis caused by asbestos. The interview revealed that the patient had worked as an owner of a construction firm for more than 37 years. Construction workers are at high risk of getting asbestos-related diseases because some building materials have asbestos. This case study aimed to describe chest CT findings of asbestosis and pleural plaques that suggest the presence of asbestos exposure in a lung cancer case. This case showed the pivotal role of chest CT to define asbestos-related lung diseases and a structured interview to obtain past asbestos exposure.
Lung Neoplasms ; Asbestos

The association between occupational asbestos exposure and the subsequent development of malignant mesothelioma of pleura is well recognized. We analyzed an asbestos body by energy dispersive X-ray analyser in a case of malignant mesothelioma of pleura who had a history of asbestos exposure 30 years ago. In transmission electron microscope, the asbestos body was composed of a core of refractile thin asbestos fiber bundle and beaded masses of electron-dense iron and protein complex. The core fibers were analyzed as an amphibole type crocidolite fiber [(Na2Fe3Fe2(Si8O22)(OH)2] which composed of high content of silicon, iron and sodium.
Asbestos* ; Asbestos, Crocidolite ; Iron ; Mesothelioma* ; Pleura ; Silicon ; Sodium

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm and arises from the serosal lining of the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities. The median survival rang from 5 to 12 months, mainly because of lack of effective treatment. The incidence is approximately one per 1,000,000 and peritoneal mesothelioma represents one fourth of all mesotheliomas. There is a relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, but non-asbestos related cases were reported. Treatments of malignant mesothelioma are cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, but current treatment options are unsatisfactory. We report two cases of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum and pericardium treated by operation and adjuvant chemotherapy with a brief review of literature.
Asbestos ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Incidence ; Mesothelioma ; Pericardium ; Peritoneum

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm and arises from the serosal lining of the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities. The median survival rang from 5 to 12 months, mainly because of lack of effective treatment. The incidence is approximately one per 1,000,000 and peritoneal mesothelioma represents one fourth of all mesotheliomas. There is a relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, but non-asbestos related cases were reported. Treatments of malignant mesothelioma are cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, but current treatment options are unsatisfactory. We report two cases of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum and pericardium treated by operation and adjuvant chemotherapy with a brief review of literature.
Asbestos ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Incidence ; Mesothelioma ; Pericardium ; Peritoneum

Asbestos has been banned in many countries but many countries, including developing countries, are still using asbestos or materials containing asbestos. Substitute materials have been studied and developed over a long period of time because of the hazards of asbestos, and many people have recently shown interest in the hazards of substitute materials. However, comprehensive information about the types of asbestos substitutes, their use and health hazards, and references for the protection for the health of workers is limited. The purpose of this study is to provide people in the related industries with information on the types and health hazards of fibrous materials that can be used as asbestos substitutes. According to the patent resources from the United States and Europe, fibrous materials have been used to develop asbestos-free products since before 1980. Recently, the health hazards of asbestos substitutes have been assessed and many additional researches are required. However, only some of the substitute materials have been assessed for health hazards, and health hazard data has not been sufficient in many cases. Therefore, efforts should be made to minimize workers’ exposure to substitute materials that do not contain asbestos.
Asbestos* ; Developing Countries ; Europe ; United States

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate cytotoxicity of TAFMAG, which is a trade name of natural mineral fiber mined and produced in China. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of TAFMAG was evaluated by measuring iron content, lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte hemolysis, and cytotoxicity in vitro. These results were compared with the data of chrystotile and wollastonite as a positive and negative control, respectively. RESULTS: There was significant increase of Fenton activity in TAFMAG and chrysotile with dose-response pattern. The iron chelating agent, desferrioxamine, significantly decreased Fenton activity of the particulates except wollastonite. TAFMAG and chrysotile fibers significantly increased malondialdehyde concentration from lipid peroxidation of the red blood cell membrane. In erythrocyte hemolysis test, TAFMAG & chrysotile had stronger effect on erythrocyte hemolysis than wollastonite with the concentration of 1,000g/ml. Furthermore, TAFMAG was more hemolytic than chrysotile with the concentration of 5.000 g/ml. There was a significant cytotoxic effect in TAFMAG and chrysotile on RAW cell compared with wollastonite. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro study suggested that TAFMAG may have a similar health hazard as usual asbestos.
Asbestos ; Asbestos, Serpentine ; China ; Deferoxamine ; Erythrocytes ; Hemolysis ; Iron ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; Membranes ; Mineral Fibers

OBJECTIVES: Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral substance formerly used widely in the construction industry, all forms of which, except for chrysotile asbestos, have been banned in the Philippines. This article aims to propose policy alternatives to reduce the health and economic effects of continued asbestos use in the country.
METHODS: Records of asbestos-related diseases, and asbestos industry-related data in the country were consolidated. The impact of continued asbestos use on the national economy were estimated incorporating natural mortality, regulations of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and concepts of multiplier effect and net present value. Round table discussions validated data and generated policy recommendations.
RESULTS: Filipinos directly and indirectly exposed to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are 5,289 and 30,000, respectively. The contributions of these groups to the national economy were estimated at PhP 1.08 Billion annually for workers directly exposed to ACMs and PhP 6.83 Billion annually for workers indirectly exposed. Two policy options--adjustment of threshold limit values, and a total ban--are presented.
CONCLUSION: A total ban on all forms of asbestos is shown to be the more cost-effective policy option for the country. It is recommended that government agencies, stakeholders in the asbestos industry, and the general public be involved in strategies for improving surveillance on asbestos exposure, increasing public awareness, and promoting the use of asbestos alternatives.

Asbestos, Serpentine ; Threshold Limit Values ; Construction Industry ; Philippines ; Asbestos ; Carcinogens ; Policy ; Government Agencies ; Employment

OBJECTIVETo analyze asbestos exposure level between 1984 and 2010 in a district of malignant mesothelioma with clustering incidence in Zhejiang Province, in order to improve the recognizing and early diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, protect the health of workers.

METHODSMonitoring data of total asbestos dust concentration in the air of workplace from 1984 to 2010 in asbestos textile enterprises, family hand spinning operation, brake production, and asbestos board production in Zhejiang Province were collected in the local CDC. A total of 766 TWA copies of mass concentration were collected, and 1233 copies of MAC data. Asbestos mass concentration and fibre counting concentration of 29 points of family hand spinning operation were parallel determinated in the same time and the same sampling point. Raw asesbtos materials and dust composition of local asbestos processing corporations were collected and analyzed using X-ray diffraction method.

RESULTSRaw materials of asbestos used between 1984 and 2010 in this area were chrysotile from Sichuan, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Russia, Zimbabwe, and some were mixed with SiO2, CaCO3 and other impurities. Raw materials used in asbestos board production were blue asbestos. Dust concentration between 1960s and 1980s in asbestos processing plants far exceeded the national standard. After then the dust concentration decreased significantly, but still higher than the national standard. 95.2% of air dust concentrations in the workplaces of asbestos factories exceeded the standard, and dust concentrations of workplaces of raw material, spinning, weaving, carding and labor insurance were above 90% in which carding work had the highest median concentration. 37.9% of dust mass concentrations in hand spinning work exceeded the standard where textile machinery side had the highest value. Beating job in asbestos board manufacturing and grinding job in brake production had higher concentrations.

CONCLUSIONSMost of production technologies in asbestos processing industry exceed the standard level, indicating that the workers were at risk for malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases, which should draw high attention.

Asbestos ; analysis ; Asbestos, Crocidolite ; analysis ; Asbestos, Serpentine ; analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; analysis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Mesothelioma ; epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Silicon Dioxide ; analysis ; Workplace